The First Auto
The First Auto is a 1927 American drama film directed by Roy Del Ruth about the transition from horses to cars and the rift it causes in one family. It stars Charles Emmett Mack and Patsy Ruth Miller, with Barney Oldfield having a guest role in the movie. While mainly a silent film, it does have a Vitaphone sound-on-disc soundtrack with a synchronized musical score and sound effects, as well as some spoken words, cheering, and laughter. As of January 1st, 2023, the film is now in the public domain.
Plot
In 1895, champion horse racer and livery stable owner Hank Armstrong is greatly disturbed by the advent of the "horseless carriage" in Maple City. He mocks Elmer Hays, a car manufacturer, when he states in a public lecture that the days of the horse are numbered and that a car will one day go 30 miles an hour. However, Armstrong's efforts are in vain. He quarrels with his friends when they start purchasing the machines and is only stopped from horsewhipping his own car-mad son Bob by the timely appearance of Bob's girlfriend Rose Robbins.
More details
author | Anthony Coldeway |
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director | Roy Del Ruth |
editor | Martin Wall Bolger |
genre | comedy-drama |
keywords | barney oldfield car crash car race detroit disturb drive find a job horrify horse race horseless carriage kill livery stable machine manufacture |
musicBy | Herman S. Heller |
producer | Darryl F. Zanuck |
productionCompany | Warner Bros. Pictures |
publisher | Warner Bros. Pictures |
theme | silent |