THE JOHNSTOWN FLOOD (Fox, 1926), an Irving Cummings Production, directed by Irving Cummings, became the silent screen adaptation to the 1889 disaster known as the Johnstown Flood. Starring George O'Brien and Janet Gaynor, who were most famously paired in SUNRISE (Fox 1927), appear as major attractions to a story of their personal lives along with others involved before its climatic reproduction of the title disaster.
Opening with a view of the town of Johnstown, the story introduces Tom O'Day (George O'Brien), an engineer of Hamilton Lumber Company, who is loved by Anna (Janet Gaynor), daughter of Joe Burger (Paul Panzer), a logging foreman, but Tom's sole interest is on Gloria (Florence Gilbert), niece of the company's owner, John Hamilton (Anders Randolph). Regardless of Tom's warning about the Conemangh Dam's overflow due to the heavy rain that will cause flooding and destruction to Johnstown, he is ignored, with Hamilton putting all his trust on Ward Peyton (Paul Nicholson) instead. O'Day eventually quits his job. On the very day of his wedding to Gloria, Anna's horse ride through town warning of a disaster waiting to happen puts everyone in fear of their lives. Supporting cast includes Max Davidson (Isador Mandel of the Johnston Clothing Emporium); George Harris (Sidney Mandel, his son); Walter Perry (Patrick O'Day) and George Reed.
THE JOHNSTOWN FLOOD is one of those handful of silent movies that has been forgotten through the passage of time due to its unavailability for viewing. Viewing finally became a reality when it premiered January 8, 2024, on Turner Classic Movies cable channel, restored with new and satisfactory orchestration. Quite short for 66 minutes, regardless of reported inaccuracies and fictional characters, the highlight being the Johnstown flood realistically staged to make up for its shortcomings. Janet Gaynor, early in her career, is attractive enough to obtain enough attention from its viewers. Though it's been said that future stars of Carole Lombard, Clark Gable and Gary Cooper appear as extras, it's easier to spot Lombard as one of the bridesmaids, but a bit harder trying to find either Gable or Cooper.
In the wake of disaster movies of the 1930s, namely the 1906 earthquake from SAN FRANCISCO (MGM, 1936), the big wind for THE HURRICANE (United Artists, 1937) and the Chicago fire in IN OLD CHICAGO (20th Century-Fox, 1937), it's amazing someone over at 20th Century-Fox didn't think about remaking THE JOHNSTOWN FLOOD, even as a second feature starring either Warner Baxter or Preston Foster, with Simone Simon and Lynn Bari in the O'Brien, Gaynor and Gilbert roles. The studio did do THE RAINS CAME (1939) about heavy rain disaster flick, which is as close to THE JOHNSTOWN FLOOD the studio ever did regarding floods.
Due to availability, THE JOHNSTOWN FLOOD can be studied as a motion picture and researched for its historical disaster to learn more about the historic event that took many lives and obtaining information about those who had survived to tell of their experience first-hand. (***)
Opening with a view of the town of Johnstown, the story introduces Tom O'Day (George O'Brien), an engineer of Hamilton Lumber Company, who is loved by Anna (Janet Gaynor), daughter of Joe Burger (Paul Panzer), a logging foreman, but Tom's sole interest is on Gloria (Florence Gilbert), niece of the company's owner, John Hamilton (Anders Randolph). Regardless of Tom's warning about the Conemangh Dam's overflow due to the heavy rain that will cause flooding and destruction to Johnstown, he is ignored, with Hamilton putting all his trust on Ward Peyton (Paul Nicholson) instead. O'Day eventually quits his job. On the very day of his wedding to Gloria, Anna's horse ride through town warning of a disaster waiting to happen puts everyone in fear of their lives. Supporting cast includes Max Davidson (Isador Mandel of the Johnston Clothing Emporium); George Harris (Sidney Mandel, his son); Walter Perry (Patrick O'Day) and George Reed.
THE JOHNSTOWN FLOOD is one of those handful of silent movies that has been forgotten through the passage of time due to its unavailability for viewing. Viewing finally became a reality when it premiered January 8, 2024, on Turner Classic Movies cable channel, restored with new and satisfactory orchestration. Quite short for 66 minutes, regardless of reported inaccuracies and fictional characters, the highlight being the Johnstown flood realistically staged to make up for its shortcomings. Janet Gaynor, early in her career, is attractive enough to obtain enough attention from its viewers. Though it's been said that future stars of Carole Lombard, Clark Gable and Gary Cooper appear as extras, it's easier to spot Lombard as one of the bridesmaids, but a bit harder trying to find either Gable or Cooper.
In the wake of disaster movies of the 1930s, namely the 1906 earthquake from SAN FRANCISCO (MGM, 1936), the big wind for THE HURRICANE (United Artists, 1937) and the Chicago fire in IN OLD CHICAGO (20th Century-Fox, 1937), it's amazing someone over at 20th Century-Fox didn't think about remaking THE JOHNSTOWN FLOOD, even as a second feature starring either Warner Baxter or Preston Foster, with Simone Simon and Lynn Bari in the O'Brien, Gaynor and Gilbert roles. The studio did do THE RAINS CAME (1939) about heavy rain disaster flick, which is as close to THE JOHNSTOWN FLOOD the studio ever did regarding floods.
Due to availability, THE JOHNSTOWN FLOOD can be studied as a motion picture and researched for its historical disaster to learn more about the historic event that took many lives and obtaining information about those who had survived to tell of their experience first-hand. (***)