description The First Auto Overview
The First Auto is an American silent comedy-drama released in 1927 and directed by Roy Del Ruth. Its story is set against the spread of motor vehicles and the decline of horse-drawn transportation, using changes in travel and technology as a source of family and social conflict. The film belongs to the late silent period in Hollywood, when feature films often combined comedy with sentimental drama and presented technological change through personal stories.
help The First Auto FAQ
What is the family conflict in The First Auto?
The story begins in 1895 with Hank Armstrong, a horse racer and livery-stable owner, resisting the horseless carriage while his son Bob embraces automobiles. After Bob leaves for Detroit, a 1905 car race forces Hank to face the cost of his anti-car stance.
Is The First Auto completely silent?
It is usually grouped with silent films, but the 1927 Warner Bros. release used synchronized music and sound effects, with only a few spoken words. Intertitles carry most of the dialogue, so it is more precise to call it a synchronized-sound silent film.
Who plays the race driver in The First Auto?
Barney Oldfield appears as himself, the famous master driver, while Russell Simpson plays Hank and Charles Emmett Mack plays Bob. Oldfield also served as a technical adviser for the racing scenes.
Which studio made The First Auto and how long is it?
It was made by Warner Bros. Pictures with the Vitaphone sound process and runs about 75 minutes. Roy Del Ruth directed the 1927 American comedy-drama.
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