The Enemy (1927)

Ralph Forbes and Lillian Gish in THE ENEMY (1927)

327-15 Caption: Lillian Gish and Ralph Forbes in a charming love sequence in Metro-Goldwyn-Mayer's "The Enemy".

Scene from a Metro-Goldwyn-Mayer Picture

Photographed by Milton Browne, Kindly Credit

Ralph Forbes and Lillian Gish in THE ENEMY (1927)

327-23 Ralph Forbes and Lillian Gish

Ralph Emerson, Lillian Gish and Ralph Forbes in THE ENEMY (1927)

327-38 Ralph Emerson, Lillian Gish, Ralph Forbes

Lillian Gish and Ralph Forbes in THE ENEMY (1927)

327-63 Lillian Gish and Ralph Forbes

Lillian Gish and Ralph Forbes in THE ENEMY (1927)

327-76 Lillian Gish and Ralph Forbes

Lillian Gish and Ralph Forbes in THE ENEMY (1927)

327-84 Fritzi Ridgeway and Lillian Gish

Frank Currier, Ralph Emerson, George Fawcett, Ralph Forbes, Lillian Gish, and Fritzi Ridgeway in THE ENEMY (1927)

327-104 Frank Currier, Ralph Emerson, George Fawcett, Ralph Forbes, Lillian Gish, and Fritzi Ridgeway

Karl Dane, Frank Currier and Lillian Gish in THE ENEMY (1927)

Lillian Gish with Carl Dane
in "THE ENEMY"
Metro-Goldwyn-Mayer

Ex. Sup. Co. Chco.
Made in U.S.A.

Karl Dane, Frank Currier and Lillian Gish

THE ENEMY (1928) program

THE ENEMY

WHEN "The Enemy," an absorbing love story set against a background of war-mad Vienna, was presented on the stage, it stirred up an unparalleled amount of interest.  Men and women in all walks of life praised the play as gripping drama of a tremendously vital kind.  Metro-Goldwyn-Mayer, in acquiring the film rights to the production decided, that the story provided an ideal vehicle for Miss Gish.  The role of Pauli Arndt was seen to offer exceptional opportunity

THE ENEMY (1928) program

for this actress' histrionic talent.  Miss Gish, whose wide variety of parts include such memorable portrayals as those in "The White Sister," "Orphans of the Storm," "Romola," "La Boeheme" and "The Scarlet Letter," was herself enthusiastic about the play and eager to do it for the screen.

When Fred Niblo was selected ot direct "The Enemy", it marked, singularly enough, his first effort in association with Miss Gish, although bother are representative of some of the highest achievements of the cinema.  Mr. Niblo's best known production, perhaps, is "Ben-Hur"  He is also responsible for such outstanding photoplays as "The Mark of Zorro," "Camille," "Blood and Sand," "The Three Musketeers," "The Red Lily" and "The Temptress."

When Mr. Pollock's epoch-making play was running at the Times Square Theatre, New York, in 1925, messages of enthusiastic praise poured in from prominent persons throughout the country.  Col. Edward M. House called the play "magnificent," and Prof. William Lyon Phelps, of Yale, wrote: "If you have time for only one play, see 'The Enemy'."  Transferred to the screen, it vividly re-creates the hysteria, rare drama and pathos of wartime Vienna which made the play so profoundly moving.  "The Enemy" is a great love story, universal in its significance.  The central characters are Austrian, but might as well have been German, French or American.  The photo play has a backgroud of the war, but approaches the theme in a unique manner.  The under-currents of the war are brought out in such a way as to produce a far more dynamic impression than by the mere insertion of shots and shells.

The play has been produced in leading cities throughout the world, and immediate engagements are now scheduled for Paris, London and Vienna.  "The Enemy" was published in book form by Brentano's, reaching its second edition within three months.  A novel based on the play enjoyed a widely-distributed serialization.

THE ENEMY (1928) program

CAST

PAULI ARNDT

LILLIAN GISH

CARL BEHREND

Ralph Forbes

BRUCE GORDON

Ralph Emerson

PROFESSOR ARNDT

Frank Currier

AUGUST BEHRAND

George Fawcett

MITZI WINKELMANN

Fritzi Ridgeway

FRITZ WINKELMANN

John. S. Peters

JAN

Karl Dane

BARUSKA

Polly Moran

KURT 

Billy Kent Shaefer

Director: Fred Niblo
Author: Channing Pollock
Continuity: Agnes Christine Johnston
Adapted: Willis Goldbeck
Photographer: Oliver Marsh
Titles: John Colton

History: Play by Channing Pollock, Opened Oct. 22, 1925 at Times Square Theatre, N. Y. and ran about a year with Fay Bainter in leading role.

A METRO-GOLDWYN-MAYER PICTURE

ASTOR THEATRE

Broadway and 45th Street          New York


with Lillian Gish, Ralph Forbes and Karl Dane. Directed by Fred Niblo. MGM.

More Information on this film...

                        

            

Books

Dorothy and Lillian Gish, by Lillian Gish, pp. 170-171.

The Astor Theatre at CinemaTreasures.com

Last Modified November 18, 2022