| The Scarlet Lady | |
| Director: | Alan Crosland |
| Producer: | Harry Cohn |
| Starring: | Lya de Putti Don Alvarado |
| Cinematography: | James Van Trees |
| Editing: | Frank Atkinson |
| Distributor: | Columbia Pictures |
| Runtime: | 72 minutes |
| Country: | United States |
| Language: | Sound (Synchronized) English Intertitles |
The Scarlet Lady is a 1928 American synchronized sound drama film, written by Bess Meredyth and directed by Alan Crosland. While the film has no audible dialog, it was released with a synchronized musical score with sound effects using the sound-on-film Western Electric Sound System process. It was produced and distributed by Columbia Pictures.[1] [2] This film is important historically as it was the first sound feature released by Columbia Pictures.
During the Russian Civil War, Lya seeks refuge from Cossack soldiers at the palace of Prince Nicholas. She becomes his majordomo and they fall in love, but Nicholas expels her after learning she is a revolutionary and the former mistress of the Bolshevik leader Zaneriff. After returning to her home village, Lya becomes a terrorist. She reencounters Nicholas in disguise as a servant after the Red Army captures his palace. After he is discovered and sentenced to death, she rescues him and they escape together.[3]
The film featured a theme song entitled "My Heart Belongs To You" which was composed by Lou Herscher.
A print is held at Cineteca Nazionale, Rome.[4] It was previously thought to be lost.[5]
The film will be released as part of Columbia Classics Volume 5 on Ultra HD Blu-ray/Blu-ray Disc on October 1, 2024, by Sony Pictures Home Entertainment as a bonus film.[6]
