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The History of American Cinema: 1926

July - December

Hungarian director Mihaly Kertesz arrives in Hollywood to work for Warner Brothers, and anglicises his name to Michael Curtiz. [ADD]

Louise Brooks marries A Edward Sutherland, her director in the film It’s The Old Army Game in which she appears with W. C. Fields. [ADD]

So This is Paris, Ernst Lubitsch’s last film for Warner Brothers, proves a hit with critics upon its release. [ADD]

Will Hay’s powers and salary are increased following an extension to his tenure as head of the MPPDA from three to five years. [ADD]

Don Juan, the first feature film with a synchronised soundtrack premieres at the Warner Theatre in New York.   The Vitaphone presentation, including classical music and a speech by MPPDA president Will Hays proves a resounding success, boosting the standing of Warners, previously one of the lesser Hollywood studios. [ADD]

Clara Bow signs a five-year contract with Paramount, but refuses to agree to a morality clause that enables the studio to cancel the contract if she becomes involved in a scandal. [ADD]

31-year-old Rudolph Valentino dies of peritonitis at the height of his success and while $200,000 in debt.   Rumours claim he was poisoned by a jilted lover. [ADD]

40,000 people – most of them distraught women – turn out for Valentino’s funeral in New York.   The actor’s coffin was carried by Douglas Fairbanks, Marcus Loew, Adolph Zukor, and Joseph M. Schenck. [ADD]

The Fox Film Corporation buys 100 acres of land in West Los Angeles on which it will build its new studios. [ADD]

After appearing as an extra in a number of films, 25-year-old Gary Cooper wins his first starring role in Henry King’s The Winning of Barbara Worth opposite Vilma Banky. [ADD]

Sam Taylor’s Exit Smiling, starring theatrical comedienne Beatrice Lillie, is released. [ADD]

Soviet actor Ivan Mosjoukine arrives in the country to begin a five year contract with Universal. [ADD]

Paramount’s Old Ironsides is shown at the Rivoli Theater using the Magnascope projection system during two sequences.   The system employed a lens that doubled the image size to 30ft x 40ft. [ADD]

Buster Keaton’s classic comedy The General, which is based on a true incident, premieres today before going on general release.   It proves to be a financial disaster, inducing Keaton to give up his own production company and sign with MGM. [ADD]

The Flesh and the Devil, director Clarence Brown’s first film for MGM, marks the first screen pairing of John Gilbert and Greta Garbo, premieres.   The couple became lovers during filming. [ADD]

– Amkino, a US film distribution company formed by the Soviet government, begins trading in New York. [ADD]

– $1,500m is invested in the US film industry in this year.[ADD]

– Theodore W. Case and E. I. Sponable demonstrate their sound-on-film system to William Fox and executives of the Fox Film Corporation.   Their system will later become known as Movietone. [ADD]