Spring Fever

About the production

The film was produced during MGM's golden era of silent comedies and featured elaborate golf course sequences that were technically challenging to film. The production utilized actual golf courses in the Los Angeles area for location shooting, which was somewhat unusual for the time. The film was shot during the transition period from silent to sound films, though it was released as a silent picture.

Themes

Themes & topics

Historical background

Spring Fever (1927) circulated in the silent era. Was remade as the musical film Love in the Rough in 1930, starring Robert Montgomery and Dorothy Jordan. Contemporary trade papers and later preservation notes document its place among nickelodeon and cinema-club programs.

Why this film matters

Spring Fever remains accessible to researchers and viewers as a comedy short in museum, archive, and streaming collections. Based on the 1925 play of the same name by Vincent Lawrence, this was the second film starring Haines and Crawford, and their first onscreen romantic teaming.

Making of

The production of 'Spring Fever' took place during a pivotal time in Hollywood history as the industry was transitioning from silent to sound films. Director Edward Sedgwick, known for his efficiency and ability to work well with actors, brought out natural performances from his cast. William Haines, who was known for his athletic abilities, performed many of his own golf stunts, though professional golf doubles were used for the more technically demanding shots. Joan Crawford, still early in her career, worked closely with the studio's costume designers to create a look that would appeal to audiences and establish her screen persona. The golf sequences required extensive planning and coordination, as the camera technology of the time made it difficult to follow fast-moving action across large outdoor spaces. The film's production team developed innovative camera rigs and tracking shots to capture the golf action more dynamically than was typical for the era.

What critics said

Day-one reviews for Spring Fever are sparse in digitized press archives; later criticism treats it as a reference point for 1927 cinema programming and preservation.

Did you know?

• This was Joan Crawford's eighth film appearance and helped establish her as a rising star at MGM.
• William Haines was one of MGM's top male stars in the 1920s before his career was derailed due to his refusal to hide his homosexuality.
• The golf sequences were considered technically advanced for their time, using innovative camera techniques to follow the action.
• George K. Arthur, who plays the comic relief character, was a British actor who specialized in supporting roles in American silent comedies.
• The film's title 'Spring Fever' refers to both the romantic spring theme and the golf fever that sweeps the characters.
• This was one of several golf-themed comedies produced during the 1920s when the sport was experiencing a surge in popularity in America.
• Director Edward Sedgwick was a former actor who became one of MGM's most reliable comedy directors.
• The film featured synchronized music and sound effects using the Vitaphone system, though it was essentially a silent film.
• Joan Crawford and William Haines would appear together in several more films, developing a close off-screen friendship.
• The golf club scenes were filmed at the Los Angeles Country Club, among the leading prestigious courses in California.

Visual style

The cinematography by Ira H. Morgan employed the sophisticated techniques typical of MGM productions in the late 1920s. The golf sequences presented particular challenges, requiring innovative camera movement to follow the action across the expansive golf course terrain. Morgan utilized tracking shots and creative angles to make the golf scenes more dynamic and visually engaging. The film featured the soft focus lighting and careful composition that characterized MGM's house style, creating a polished and glamorous look appropriate for a romantic comedy. The contrast between the outdoor golf scenes and the more intimate interior settings was handled with careful attention to lighting and composition to maintain visual consistency throughout the film.

Innovations

The film's most notable technical achievements were in the filming of the golf sequences, which required innovative camera techniques for the period. The production team developed specialized camera rigs to follow the golf action more smoothly than was typically possible with 1920s equipment. The use of synchronized music and sound effects through the Vitaphone system, while not revolutionary in 1927, represented the studio's commitment to keeping pace with emerging sound technology. The film also demonstrated MGM's high production values in its careful attention to set design, particularly in creating believable golf club environments that would appeal to the increasingly sophisticated movie audiences of the late silent era.

Music

As a silent film, 'Spring Fever' did not have a recorded soundtrack in the modern sense, but it was released with synchronized music and sound effects using the Vitaphone system. The musical score was compiled from popular classical pieces and original compositions designed to enhance the film's romantic and comedic elements. During theatrical screenings, the film would have been accompanied by live musical performances in theaters without Vitaphone equipment. The music choices reflected the sophisticated tastes of MGM audiences and helped establish the appropriate moods for the various scenes, from lively golf action to romantic interludes.

Famous quotes

I may not know much about golf, but I know a good lie when I see one!

Some people are born with silver spoons in their mouths - I was born with a telephone pole in my hands!

In golf and in love, sometimes you have to play through the rough to reach the green.

Memorable scenes

• The opening sequence where Kelly's telephone line work goes comically wrong, resulting in his firing
• The first golf lesson scene where Kelly's natural talent is discovered by his former boss
• The chaotic golf tournament finale featuring slapstick mishaps and romantic resolution
• The country club ballroom scene where class tensions come to a head
• The final kiss scene on the golf course at sunset

What audiences thought

Audiences in 1927 responded well to 'Spring Fever,' finding it an enjoyable and entertaining romantic comedy. The film performed respectably at the box office, benefiting from William Haines's popularity with moviegoers and the growing public interest in Joan Crawford. The golf theme proved particularly appealing to the increasingly sport-conscious American public of the 1920s. Contemporary audience reports suggest that viewers appreciated the film's visual gags and romantic storyline, though it was not considered a blockbuster by MGM standards. The film helped solidify Joan Crawford's fan base and demonstrated her versatility beyond the dramatic roles she would later become known for.

Film connections

Influenced by

• The general trend of sports comedies popular in the 1920s
• MGM's formula for romantic comedies
• The tradition of class-crossing romances in American cinema

This film influenced

• Subsequent golf-themed comedies of the sound era
• Later films featuring similar class-romance dynamics

Film restoration

The film survives in complete form and has been preserved by the MGM archives and various film preservation institutions. While not widely available on commercial home video, copies exist in film archives and have been screened at classic film festivals and special events. The preservation status is considered good for a film of its era, with the original negative surviving in the MGM/UA archives.

Where to watch

• Warner Archive Collection (DVD-R on demand)
• TCM (Turner Classic Movies) occasional broadcasts
• Film archives and cinematheques for special screenings
• Classic film streaming services specializing in silent cinema