The Scarlet Lady
About The Scarlet Lady
In Petrograd, the revolutionary Lya, tied to the leader Zaneriff but drawn to luxury, escapes a Cossack raid and hides on the estate of Prince Nicholas. He protects her. She insults his fiancée, refuses to leave, and stays even after Zaneriff comes for her. A valet betrays her, and she swears revenge. In the revolution she reappears among the Reds as the Scarlet Lady, finds Nicholas brought low, and torments him before admitting she loves him. When Zaneriff orders the prince shot, she kills Zaneriff instead, and the two flee.
Cast & crew
More about The Scarlet Lady
Harry Cohn produced it. Alan Crosland directed Bess Meredyth's story and scenario, with Elmer Harris also credited on the writing. James Van Trees photographed it. Columbia released it on August 1, 1928. It has no spoken dialogue. A synchronized score and effects were played on the Western Electric sound-on-film system. It was the first sound feature Columbia released.
Themes
Background
Columbia was still a small company in 1928. Putting a Western Electric track on a Russian-revolution melodrama was how it entered the sound-feature market.
In film history
It is the first feature with sound that Columbia Pictures released.
Making
Crosland had already directed the part-talking Don Juan and The Jazz Singer. On this Columbia job he used sound only for music and effects under silent intertitles.
Look
James Van Trees photographed the palace hiding place, the Cossack raid, and Lya's return as the Scarlet Lady.
Technique
Columbia's first released sound feature, using Western Electric sound-on-film for music and effects only.
Music
No spoken dialogue. A synchronized score and effects run on the Western Electric sound-on-film system, with Lou Herscher's theme "My Heart Belongs to You."
Preservation
A print is at the Cineteca Nazionale in Rome. It was long treated as lost.
Notes
- Lya de Putti plays Lya. Don Alvarado is Prince Nicholas, Warner Oland is Zaneriff, and Otto Matieson is the valet.
- Lou Herscher wrote the theme song "My Heart Belongs to You.
- For years the film was treated as lost.
- Sony included it as a bonus on the Columbia Classics Volume 5 Ultra HD Blu-ray, released October 22, 2024.
Scenes
- Lya hides from the Cossacks inside Prince Nicholas's house and will not leave when his fiancée wants her gone.
- As the Scarlet Lady she faces the humbled Nicholas, then shoots Zaneriff to stop the execution.
Also available
- Sony Pictures Home Entertainment, Columbia Classics Volume 5 (Ultra HD Blu-ray, October 22, 2024)
Quotes
Yes… if you'll be so kind as to hand me your revolver, I'll deliver my reply in lead.
