Waking Up the Town
"Electric dreams for a drowsy town"
Keys: Space play/pause · ←/→ 10s · F fullscreen · M mute · </> speed
About this film
Residents of a sleepy town resist modernization until an enterprising pair proposes bringing electric power and industry to Main Street, stirring debate, romance, and civic pride.
More about this film
About the production
Themes
Themes & topics
Historical background
James Cruze directed Waking Up the Town in 1925 for Paramount as part of the era's fascination with rural modernization.
Why this film matters
The premise reflects 1920s booster rhetoric about electricity and progress in small communities.
Making of
Production records for Waking Up the Town are limited, though release paperwork confirms its place in 1925 distribution.
What critics said
Contemporary reviews treated it as a routine Paramount feature; Cruze scholars list it among his lesser-known 1925 assignments.
Did you know?
- Directed by James Cruze.
- Released by Paramount Pictures in 1925.
What audiences thought
Audience documentation for Waking Up the Town is limited; availability today depends on archive and streaming copies.
Film restoration
Status uncertain; consult Paramount era holdings and silent-film databases.