First National Pictures
| |
Industry | Motion picture exhibition, distribution and production |
---|---|
Fate | Merged with Warner Bros. |
Founded | 1917 |
Founders |
Thomas L. Tally J. D. Williams |
Defunct | 1936 (closing all 133, liquidation process) |
Headquarters | United States |
Products | Motion pictures, film distribution |
Parent |
Independent (1917–1928) Warner Bros. (1928–1936) |
First National Pictures was an American motion picture production and distribution company. It was founded in 1917 as First National Exhibitors' Circuit, Inc., an association of independent theater owners in the United States, and became the country's largest theater chain. Expanding from exhibiting movies to distributing them, the company reincorporated in 1919 as Associated First National Theatres, Inc., and Associated First National Pictures, Inc. In 1924 it expanded to become a motion picture production company as First National Pictures, Inc., and became an important studio in the film industry. In September 1928, control of First National passed to Warner Bros., into which it was completely absorbed on November 4, 1929. A number of Warner Bros. films were thereafter branded First National Pictures until 1936, when First National Pictures, Inc., was dissolved.
Early history
The First National Exhibitors' Circuit was founded in 1917 by the merger of 26 of the biggest first-run cinema chains in the United States. It eventually controlled over 600 cinemas, more than 200 of them first-run houses (as opposed to the less lucrative second-run or neighborhood theaters to which films moved when their initial box office receipts dwindled).
First National was the brainchild of Thomas L. Tally, who was reacting to the overwhelming influence of Paramount Pictures, which dominated the market. In 1912, he thought that a conglomerate of theaters throughout the nation could buy or produce and distribute its own films. In 1917 Tally and J. D. Williams formed First National Exhibitors' Circuit.
The first film released through First National was the 1916 British film, The Mother of Dartmoor. Between 1917 and 1918, the company made contracts with Mary Pickford and Charlie Chaplin, the first million-dollar deals in the history of film. Chaplin's contract allowed him to produce his films without a set release schedule. However, the production of the feature film The Kid ran so long that the company started to complain. To address their concerns Chaplin invited the exhibitors to the studio, and they were so impressed by the project and charmed by the players, especially co-star Jackie Coogan, that they agreed to be patient. That patience was ultimately rewarded when The Kid became a major critical and box office success.[1] First National's distribution of films by independent producers is credited with launching careers including that of Louis B. Mayer.[2]
Adolph Zukor of Paramount Pictures was threatened by First National's financial power and its control over the lucrative first-run theaters, and decided to enter the cinema business as well. With a $10 million investment, Paramount built its own chain of first-run movie theaters after a secret plan to merge with First National failed.
First National Exhibitors' Circuit was reincorporated in 1919 as Associated First National Pictures, Inc., and its subsidiary, Associated First National Theatres, Inc., with 5,000 independent theater owners as members.[3][4] In the early 1920s, Paramount attempted a hostile takeover, buying several of First National's member firms.
Associated First National Pictures expanded from only distributing films to producing them in 1924 and changed its corporate name to First National Pictures, Inc.[5] It built its 62-acre (25 ha) studio lot in Burbank in 1926.[6] The Motion Picture Theatre Owners of America and the Independent Producers' Association declared war in 1925 on what they termed a common enemy—the "film trust" of Metro-Goldwyn-Mayer, Paramount, and First National, which they claimed dominated the industry not only by producing and distributing motion pictures but also by entering into exhibition as well.[7]
Acquisition by Warner Bros.
The financial success of The Jazz Singer and The Singing Fool enabled Warner Bros. to purchase a majority interest in First National in September 1928. Warner Bros. held 42,000 shares of common stock out of 72,000 outstanding shares while Fox Pictures held 21,000 shares; 12,000 shares were publicly held.[8] Warner Bros. acquired access to First National's affiliated chain of theaters, while First National acquired access to Vitaphone sound equipment. Warner Bros. and First National continued to operate as separate entities.
On November 4, 1929, Fox sold its interest in First National to Warner Bros. for $10 million.[9][10]:66 The First National studio in Burbank became the official home of Warner Bros.–First National Pictures. Thereafter, First National Pictures became a trade name for the distribution of a designated segment of Warner Bros. product. Forty-five of the 86 Warner Bros. feature films released in 1929 were branded as First National Pictures.[10]:66 Half of the 60 feature films Warner Bros. announced for release in 1933–34 were to be First National Pictures.[11]
Although both studios produced "A" and "B" budget pictures, generally the prestige productions, costume dramas, and musicals were made by Warner Bros., while First National specialized in modern comedies, dramas, and crime stories. Short subjects were made by yet another affiliated company, The Vitaphone Corporation (which took its name from the sound process).
In July 1936, stockholders of First National Pictures, Inc. (primarily Warner Bros.) voted to dissolve the corporation and distribute its assets among the stockholders in line with a new tax law which provided for tax-free consolidations between corporations.[12]
From 1929 to 1958, most Warner Bros. films and promotional posters bore the combined trademark and copyright credits in the opening and closing sequences "A Warner Bros.–First National Picture".[13]
In 2002, Time Warner (now called WarnerMedia) sold the rights for the First National name to Ryan Kugler of Distribution Video & Audio (DV&A), a company specializing in acquiring excess inventory and close-out properties. However, pre-1936 First National library is owned by Turner Entertainment.
Filmography
Release Date | Title | Notes |
---|---|---|
June 23, 1917 | On Trial | Distribution[14] |
September 23, 1917 | The Fall of the Romanoffs | Distribution[14] |
December 3, 1917 | Alimony | Distribution[14] |
December 23, 1917 | Daughter of Destiny | Distribution[14] |
February 1918 | The Light Within | Distribution[14] |
March 1918 | The Sign Invisible | Distribution[14] |
March 10, 1918 | My Four Years in Germany | Distribution[14] |
April 2, 1918 | Tarzan of the Apes | Distribution[14] |
April 14, 1918 | A Dog's Life | Distribution[15] |
April 30, 1918 | The Life Mask | Distribution[14] |
May 21, 1918 | Pershing's Crusaders | Distribution[14] |
June 1, 1918 | The Passing of the Third Floor Back | Distribution[14] |
June 23, 1918 | Tempered Steel | Distribution[14] |
July 6, 1918 | Empty Pockets | Distribution[14] |
October 1918 | The Panther Woman | Distribution[14] |
October 1, 1918 | The Romance of Tarzan | Distribution[14] |
December 29, 1918 | Virtuous Wives | Distribution[14] |
January 19, 1919 | The Fighting Roosevelts | Distribution[14] |
January 19, 1919 | Auction of Souls | Distribution[14] |
March 10, 1919 | A Midnight Romance | Distribution[14] |
April 15, 1919 | Whom the Gods Would Destroy | Distribution[14] |
May 4, 1919 | Mary Regan | Distribution[14] |
May 11, 1919 | Daddy-Long-Legs | Distribution[14] |
May 11, 1919 | The Price of Innocence | Distribution[14] |
June 22, 1919 | Bill Apperson's Boy | Distribution[14] |
August 24, 1919 | Burglar by Proxy | Distribution[14] |
September 1, 1919 | The Hoodlum | Distribution[14] |
September 14, 1919 | A Temperamental Wife | Distribution[14] |
September 21, 1919 | Her Kingdom of Dreams | Distribution[14] |
September 29, 1919 | Back to God's Country | Distribution[16] |
October 1919 | In Wrong | Distribution[14] |
October 1919 | The Thunderbolt | Distribution[14] |
November 10, 1919 | The Mind-the-Paint Girl | Distribution[14] |
November 16, 1919 | A Virtuous Vamp | Distribution[14] |
November 17, 1919 | Heart o' the Hills | Distribution[14] |
December 15, 1919 | In Old Kentucky | Distribution[14] |
December 28, 1919 | The Greatest Question | Distribution[14] |
December 1, 1919 | The Beauty Market | Distribution[14] |
January 6, 1920 | A Daughter of Two Worlds | Distribution[14] |
January 15, 1920 | Even as Eve | Distribution[14] |
January 25, 1920 | Two Weeks | Distribution[14] |
February 1920 | The Turning Point | Distribution[14] |
February 1, 1920 | The River's End | Distribution[14] |
March 1920 | Polly of the Storm Country | Distribution[14] |
March 1920 | The Inferior Sex | Distribution[14] |
March 1, 1920 | The Fighting Shepherdess | Distribution[14] |
March 7, 1920 | In Search of a Sinner | Distribution[14] |
March 15, 1920 | The Family Honor | Distribution[14] |
March 21, 1920 | The Idol Dancer | Distribution[14] |
March 29, 1920 | The Woman Gives | Distribution[14] |
April 1, 1920 | Passion's Playground | Distribution[14] |
April 18, 1920 | Don't Ever Marry | Distribution[14] |
April 18, 1920 | The Love Expert | Distribution[14] |
May 3, 1920 | The Yellow Typhoon | Distribution[14] |
June 28, 1920 | Yes or No | Distribution[14] |
July 1920 | The Perfect Woman | Distribution[14] |
July 18, 1920 | Go and Get It | Distribution[14] |
August 1920 | 45 Minutes from Broadway | Production and distribution[14] |
August 1920 | Good References | Distribution[14] |
August 1920 | What Women Love | Production and distribution[14] |
August 1920 | The Woman in His House | Distribution[14] |
August 2, 1920 | Notorious Miss Lisle | Distribution[14] |
August 16, 1920 | The Jack-Knife Man | Distribution[14] |
September 12, 1920 | The Master Mind | Distribution[14] |
September 13, 1920 | Harriet and the Piper | Distribution[14] |
September 13, 1920 | The Kick in High Life | Distribution[14] |
September 26, 1920 | A Splendid Hazard | Distribution[14] |
October 1920 | Curtain | Distribution[14] |
October 1920 | In the Heart of a Fool | Distribution[14] |
October 4, 1920 | The Branded Woman | Distribution[14] |
October 10, 1920 | Peaceful Valley | Distribution[14] |
October 31, 1920 | Twin Beds | Distribution[14] |
November 1920 | Old Dad | Distribution[14] |
November 1, 1920 | Wet and Warmer | Distribution[14] |
November 22, 1920 | The Devil's Garden | Distribution[14] |
January 1921 | My Lady's Latchkey | Distribution[17] |
January 1921 | Not Guilty | Distribution[17] |
January 6, 1921 | The Great Adventure | Distribution[17] |
January 23, 1921 | Mama's Affair | Distribution[17] |
February 6, 1921 | The Kid | Distribution[17] |
February 27, 1921 | The Old Swimmin' Hole | Distribution[17] |
March 1921 | Scrambled Wives | Distribution[17] |
March 23, 1921 | Trust Your Wife | Distribution[17] |
March 27, 1921 | Man, Woman & Marriage | Distribution[17] |
April 1921 | The Girl in the Taxi | Distribution[17] |
April 1, 1921 | Jim the Penman | Distribution[17] |
April 1, 1921 | The Passion Flower | Distribution[17] |
April 1, 1921 | Sowing the Wind | Distribution[17] |
April 10, 1921 | The Oath | Distribution[17] |
April 17, 1921 | The Sky Pilot | Distribution[17] |
April 24, 1921 | Peck's Bad Boy | Distribution[17] |
May 1921 | Courage | Distribution[17] |
May 1921 | Lessons in Love | Distribution[17] |
May 1921 | Playthings of Destiny | Distribution[17] |
May 1921 | Scrap Iron | Distribution[17] |
May 1921 | The Sign on the Door | Distribution[17] |
May 1, 1921 | Bob Hampton of Placer | Distribution[17] |
May 1, 1921 | The Sky Pilot | Distribution[17] |
June 1921 | Love's Penalty | Distribution[17] |
June 1921 | Stranger than Fiction | Distribution[17] |
June 17, 1921 | Wedding Bells | Distribution[17] |
June 26, 1921 | Salvation Nell | Distribution[17] |
July 10, 1921 | The Golden Snare | Distribution[17] |
July 24, 1921 | Nobody | Distribution[17] |
August 1, 1921 | Serenade | Distribution[17] |
August 1, 1921 | A Midnight Bell | Distribution[17] |
August 20, 1921 | The Child Thou Gavest Me | Distribution[17] |
September 12, 1921 | Wife Against Wife | Distribution[17] |
September 26, 1921 | Bits of Life | Distribution[17] |
October 10, 1921 | The Invisible Fear | Distribution[17] |
October 17, 1921 | Two Minutes to Go | Distribution[17] |
October 17, 1921 | Woman's Place | Distribution[17] |
October 24, 1921 | Her Social Value | Distribution[17] |
October 31, 1921 | My Lady Friends | Distribution[17] |
November 7, 1921 | The Silent Call | Distribution[17] |
November 7, 1921 | The Wonderful Thing | Distribution[17] |
November 20, 1921 | Molly O' | Distribution[17] |
November 21, 1921 | Stardust | Distribution[17] |
November 21, 1921 | Tol'able David | Distribution[17] |
November 27, 1921 | The Lotus Eater | Distribution[17] |
December 1921 | My Boy | Distribution[17] |
December 5, 1921 | R.S.V.P. | Distribution[17] |
December 12, 1921 | Her Mad Bargain | Distribution[17] |
December 19, 1921 | Love's Redemption | Distribution[17] |
December 26, 1921 | The Beautiful Liar | Distribution[17] |
December 26, 1921 | The Cave Girl | Distribution[17] |
January 1922 | The Barnstormer | Distribution[17] |
January 2, 1922 | The Song of Life | Distribution[17] |
January 16, 1922 | The Rosary | Distribution[17] |
January 30, 1922 | Polly of the Follies | Distribution[17] |
February 6, 1922 | The Seventh Day | Distribution[17] |
February 6, 1922 | Shattered Idols | Distribution[17] |
February 13, 1922 | Red Hot Romance | Distribution[17] |
February 13, 1922 | Smilin' Through | Distribution[17] |
February 20, 1922 | Penrod | Distribution[17] |
February 27, 1922 | Kindred of the Dust | Distribution[17] |
March 1922 | Gas, Oil and Water | Distribution[17] |
March 1922 | A Question of Honor | Distribution[17] |
March 1922 | The Woman's Side | Distribution[17] |
April 2, 1922 | The Infidel | Distribution[17] |
May 1922 | The Deuce of Spades | Distribution[14] |
May 1922 | One Clear Call | Distribution[14] |
May 1, 1922 | The Woman He Married | Distribution[17] |
May 15, 1922 | The Primitive Lover | Distribution[17] |
May 22, 1922 | Sonny | Distribution[17] |
May 27, 1922 | Fools First | Distribution[17] |
June 1922 | The Half Breed | Distribution[17] |
June 4, 1922 | Domestic Relations | Distribution[17] |
June 22, 1922 | The Crossroads of New York | Distribution[17] |
July 1922 | Alias Julius Caesar | Distribution[17] |
July 1922 | Hurricane's Gal | Distribution[17] |
July 1922 | The Masquerader | Distribution[17] |
July 1922 | Smudge | Distribution[14] |
July 1922 | Rose o' the Sea | Distribution[17] |
August 7, 1922 | Trouble | Distribution[17] |
August 21, 1922 | Heroes and Husbands | Distribution[17] |
September 1, 1922 | Skin Deep | Distribution[17] |
September 1, 1922 | The Light in the Dark | Distribution[17] |
September 17, 1922 | The Eternal Flame | Distribution[17] |
October 1922 | White Shoulders | Distribution[17] |
October 1, 1922 | Lorna Doone | Distribution[17] |
October 8, 1922 | The Bond Boy | Distribution[17] |
October 15, 1922 | East Is West | Distribution[17] |
October 30, 1922 | Oliver Twist | Distribution[17] |
November 1, 1922 | Brawn of the North | Distribution[17] |
December 1922 | Omar the Tentmaker | Distribution[17] |
December 1922 | The Woman Conquers | Distribution[17] |
December 4, 1922 | Minnie | Distribution[17] |
December 25, 1922 | The Hottentot | Distribution[17] |
January 1, 1923 | Fury | Distribution[17] |
January 19, 1923 | Bell Boy 13 | Distribution[17] |
January 23, 1923 | Money! Money! Money! | Distribution[17] |
January 28, 1923 | The Voice from the Minaret | Distribution[17] |
February 4, 1923 | What a Wife Learned | Distribution[17] |
February 4, 1923 | The Dangerous Age | Distribution[17] |
February 12, 1923 | Mighty Lak' a Rose | Distribution[17] |
February 26, 1923 | The Pilgrim | Distribution[17] |
March 5, 1923 | Scars of Jealousy | Distribution[17] |
March 12, 1923 | Refuge | Distribution[17] |
March 18, 1923 | The Isle of Lost Ships | Distribution[17] |
March 26, 1923 | Daddy | Distribution[17] |
April 9, 1923 | Her Fatal Millions | Distribution[17] |
April 16, 1923 | Slander the Woman | Distribution[17] |
April 22, 1923 | The Bright Shawl | Distribution[17] |
April 23, 1923 | The Sunshine Trail | Distribution[17] |
April 30, 1923 | Within the Law | Distribution[17] |
May 3, 1923 | The Girl of the Golden West | Production and distribution[18] |
May 7, 1923 | The Lonely Road | Distribution[17] |
June 3, 1923 | A Man of Action | Distribution[17] |
June 4, 1923 | Children of the Dust | Distribution[17] |
June 11, 1923 | Slippy McGee | Distribution[17] |
June 18, 1923 | Penrod and Sam | Distribution[17] |
July 1, 1923 | Wandering Daughters | Distribution[17] |
July 15, 1923 | The Scarlet Lily | Distribution[17] |
July 22, 1923 | The Brass Bottle | Distribution[17] |
July 29, 1923 | Trilby | Distribution[17] |
July 30, 1923 | Circus Days | Distribution[17] |
August 20, 1923 | The Huntress | Distribution[17] |
August 27, 1923 | Dulcy | Distribution[17] |
September 1923 | The Age of Desire | Distribution[17] |
September 1923 | Her Reputation | Distribution[17] |
September 1, 1923 | The Broad Road | Distribution[17] |
September 10, 1923 | The Fighting Blade | Distribution[17] |
September 16, 1923 | Potash and Perlmutter | Distribution[17] |
October 1, 1923 | Ashes of Vengeance | Distribution[17] |
October 8, 1923 | The Bad Man | Distribution[17] |
October 15, 1923 | Thundergate | Distribution[17] |
October 22, 1923 | The Meanest Man in the World | Distribution[17] |
October 29, 1923 | Ponjola | Distribution[17] |
November 12, 1923 | Flaming Youth | Production and distribution[18] |
November 12, 1923 | Jealous Husbands | Distribution[17] |
November 19, 1923 | The Dangerous Maid | Distribution[17] |
November 26, 1923 | The Wanters | Distribution[17] |
November 28, 1923 | Anna Christie | Distribution[18] |
December 17, 1923 | The Eternal City | Distribution[17] |
December 17, 1923 | Twenty-One | Distribution[17] |
December 23, 1923 | Boy of Mine | Distribution[18] |
December 23, 1923 | Her Temporary Husband | Distribution[18] |
December 24, 1923 | The Song of Love | Distribution[17] |
December 29, 1923 | Black Oxen | Distribution[17] |
December 30, 1923 | Boy of Mine | Distribution[17] |
December 31, 1923 | Chastity | Distribution[17] |
January 1924 | Painted People | Distribution[17] |
January 21, 1924 | Abraham Lincoln | Distribution[17] |
February 1924 | The Love Master | Distribution[17] |
February 3, 1924 | When a Man's a Man | Distribution[17] |
February 25, 1924 | Torment | Distribution[17] |
February 29, 1924 | Lilies of the Field | Distribution[17] |
March 1, 1924 | Flowing Gold | Distribution[17] |
March 3, 1924 | Why Men Leave Home | Distribution[17] |
March 10, 1924 | The Galloping Fish | Distribution[17] |
March 24, 1924 | The Enchanted Cottage | Production and distribution[17] |
March 24, 1924 | Secrets | Distribution[17] |
March 30, 1924 | The Goldfish | Distribution[17] |
April 5, 1924 | The Marriage Cheat | Distribution[17] |
April 13, 1924 | A Son of the Sahara | Distribution[17] |
April 20, 1924 | The Woman on the Jury | Production and distribution[18] |
April 27, 1924 | Those Who Dance | Distribution[17] |
May 4, 1924 | Cytherea | Distribution[17] |
May 11, 1924 | The White Moth | Distribution[17] |
May 25, 1924 | The Perfect Flapper | Production and distribution[18] |
June 14, 1924 | The Sea Hawk | Distribution[17] |
June 15, 1924 | For Sale | Production and distribution[17] |
June 29, 1924 | A Self-Made Failure | Distribution[17] |
July 20, 1924 | The Girl in the Limousine | Distribution[17] |
July 27, 1924 | Single Wives | Distribution[17] |
August 1924 | Tarnish | Distribution[17] |
September 1, 1924 | In Hollywood with Potash and Perlmutter | Distribution[17] |
September 28, 1924 | In Every Woman's Life | Distribution[17] |
October 1, 1924 | Her Night of Romance | Distribution[16] |
October 5, 1924 | The Silent Watcher | Distribution[16] |
October 12, 1924 | Christine of the Hungry Heart | Distribution[16] |
October 19, 1924 | Madonna of the Streets | Distribution[16] |
October 26, 1924 | The Only Woman | Distribution[16] |
November 2, 1924 | Husbands and Lovers | Distribution[16] |
November 23, 1924 | Classmates | Distribution[16] |
November 30, 1924 | Inez from Hollywood | Distribution[16] |
December 7, 1924 | Born Rich | Distribution[16] |
December 14, 1924 | Love's Wilderness | Distribution[16] |
December 21, 1924 | Idle Tongues | Distribution[16] |
December 28, 1924 | So Big | Production and distribution[19] |
January 4, 1925 | Flaming Love | Distribution[20] |
January 11, 1925 | As Man Desires | Production and distribution[19] |
January 18, 1925 | A Thief in Paradise | Distribution[20] |
January 25, 1925 | The Lady | Distribution[20] |
January 25, 1925 | Learning to Love | Distribution[20] |
February 1, 1925 | Enticement | Distribution[20] |
February 2, 1925 | The Lost World | Production and distribution[19] |
February 15, 1925 | If I Marry Again | Production and distribution[19] |
February 22, 1925 | Her Husband's Secret | Distribution[20] |
March 1, 1925 | New Toys | Distribution[20] |
March 15, 1925 | The Heart of a Siren | Distribution[20] |
March 15, 1925 | One Year to Live | Production and distribution[19] |
March 22, 1925 | Déclassée | Distribution[20] |
March 22, 1925 | I Want My Man | Distribution[20] |
March 29, 1925 | Sally | Production and distribution[19] |
April 12, 1925 | His Supreme Moment | Distribution[20] |
April 12, 1925 | One Way Street | Production and distribution[19] |
April 30, 1925 | Playing with Souls | Distribution[20] |
May 3, 1925 | Soul-Fire | Distribution[20] |
May 10, 1925 | Chickie | Production and distribution[19] |
May 17, 1925 | The Necessary Evil | Production and distribution[19] |
May 24, 1925 | The Talker | Production and distribution[19] |
June 7, 1925 | The White Monkey | Distribution[20] |
June 16, 1925 | Just a Woman | Production and distribution[19] |
June 21, 1925 | The Desert Flower | Distribution[20] |
June 21, 1925 | The Making of O'Malley | Production and distribution[19] |
July 12, 1925 | The Lady Who Lied | Production and distribution[19] |
July 19, 1925 | The Marriage Whirl | Distribution[20] |
July 26, 1925 | The Scarlet West | Distribution[20] |
August 2, 1925 | Her Sister from Paris | Distribution[20] |
August 9, 1925 | Fine Clothes | Distribution[20] |
August 16, 1925 | The Half-Way Girl | Production and distribution[19] |
August 16, 1925 | Winds of Chance | Production and distribution[19] |
August 23, 1925 | The Knockout | Distribution[20] |
August 30, 1925 | Graustark | Distribution[20] |
September 1925 | Sandra | Distribution[20] |
September 6, 1925 | Shore Leave | Distribution[20] |
September 13, 1925 | What Fools Men | Production and distribution[19] |
September 20, 1925 | The Live Wire | Distribution[20] |
September 27, 1925 | The Dark Angel | Distribution[20] |
October 4, 1925 | The Pace That Thrills | Production and distribution[19] |
October 5, 1925 | The Silent Watcher | Production and distribution[19] |
October 11, 1925 | Classified | Distribution[20] |
October 18, 1925 | The Pace That Thrills | Production and distribution[19] |
October 18, 1925 | Why Women Love | Distribution[20] |
October 25, 1925 | The Beautiful City | Distribution[20] |
November 1, 1925 | The New Commandment | Distribution[20] |
November 8, 1925 | Scarlet Saint | Production and distribution[19] |
November 15, 1925 | We Moderns | Distribution[20] |
November 22, 1925 | The Unguarded Hour | Production and distribution[19] |
November 25, 1925 | Clothes Make the Pirate | Distribution[20] |
December 6, 1925 | The Splendid Road | Distribution[20] |
December 13, 1925 | Joanna | Distribution[20] |
December 27, 1925 | Infatuation | Distribution[20] |
January 3, 1926 | Too Much Money | Production and distribution[19] |
January 10, 1926 | Just Suppose | Distribution[20] |
January 13, 1926 | Bluebeard's Seven Wives | Production and distribution[19] |
January 24, 1926 | The Reckless Lady | Distribution[19] |
January 31, 1926 | The Girl from Montmartre | Distribution[20] |
February 1, 1926 | Memory Lane | Distribution[19] |
February 7, 1926 | Rainbow Riley | Distribution[19] |
February 14, 1926 | The Far Cry | Production and distribution[19] |
February 21, 1926 | Irene | Production and distribution[20] |
February 28, 1926 | The Dancer of Paris | Production and distribution[19] |
March 14, 1926 | High Steppers | Distribution[20] |
March 21, 1926 | Mademoiselle Modiste | Distribution[19] |
March 21, 1926 | Tramp, Tramp, Tramp | Distribution[19] |
March 28, 1926 | Her Second Chance | Production[19] |
April 4, 1926 | Kiki | Distribution[20] |
April 11, 1926 | Old Loves and New | Distribution[20] |
May 2, 1926 | The Greater Glory | Production and distribution[19] |
May 16, 1926 | The Wilderness Woman | Distribution[20] |
May 23, 1926 | The Wise Guy | Distribution[20] |
May 30, 1926 | Ranson's Folly | Distribution[20] |
June 6, 1926 | Ella Cinders | Distribution[20] |
June 13, 1926 | Sweet Daddies | Production and distribution[19] |
June 17, 1926 | The Sporting Lover | Distribution[20] |
June 20, 1926 | Puppets | Distribution[20] |
June 27, 1926 | Miss Nobody | Production and distribution[19] |
July 4, 1926 | The Brown Derby | Distribution[20] |
July 11, 1926 | Men of Steel | Production and distribution[19] |
July 11, 1926 | The Savage | Production and distribution[19] |
July 25, 1926 | The Great Deception | Distribution[20] |
July 26, 1926 | Mismates | Production and distribution[19] |
August 1, 1926 | Señor Daredevil | Distribution[20] |
August 8, 1926 | Into Her Kingdom | Distribution[20] |
August 8, 1926 | Pals First | Distribution[20] |
August 15, 1926 | The Amateur Gentleman | Distribution[20] |
August 22, 1926 | It Must Be Love | Distribution[20] |
September 4, 1926 | Don Juan's Three Nights | Distribution[20] |
September 5, 1926 | The Duchess of Buffalo | Distribution[20] |
September 5, 1926 | The Strong Man | Distribution[20] |
September 12, 1926 | Subway Sadie | Distribution[20] |
September 26, 1926 | Paradise | Distribution[20] |
October 17, 1926 | The Prince of Tempters | Distribution[20] |
October 17, 1926 | Forever After | Production and distribution[21] |
October 25, 1926 | Midnight Lovers | Distribution[20] |
October 31, 1926 | Syncopating Sue | Distribution[20] |
November 14, 1926 | Stepping Along | Distribution[20] |
November 14, 1926 | The Unknown Cavalier | Distribution[20] |
November 15, 1926 | Ladies at Play | Production and distribution[19] |
November 20, 1926 | The Blonde Saint | Distribution[20] |
November 21, 1926 | The Silent Lover | Production and distribution[20] |
November 28, 1926 | Twinkletoes | Distribution[20] |
December 12, 1926 | Just Another Blonde | Distribution[20] |
December 12, 1926 | The White Black Sheep | Distribution[20] |
January 1, 1927 | The Lady in Ermine | Distribution[20] |
January 2, 1927 | The Lunatic at Large | Production and distribution[20] |
January 16, 1927 | The Masked Woman | Production and distribution[19] |
January 23, 1927 | The Perfect Sap | Distribution[20] |
January 31, 1927 | The Overland Stage | Distribution[20] |
February 6, 1927 | McFadden's Flats | Production and distribution[19] |
February 13, 1927 | An Affair of the Follies | Distribution[20] |
February 20, 1927 | Easy Pickings | Production and distribution[19] |
February 27, 1927 | The Sea Tiger | Production and distribution[19] |
March 5, 1927 | Three Hours | Distribution[20] |
March 6, 1927 | Orchids and Ermine | Distribution[20] |
March 13, 1927 | High Hat | Distribution[20] |
March 20, 1927 | Venus of Venice | Production and distribution[19] |
March 26, 1927 | Long Pants | Distribution[20] |
March 27, 1927 | The Notorious Lady | Distribution[20] |
April 3, 1927 | Somewhere in Sonora | Distribution[20] |
April 17, 1927 | See You in Jail | Distribution[20] |
April 21, 1927 | Camille | Distribution[20] |
April 24, 1927 | Convoy | Distribution[20] |
May 1, 1927 | All Aboard | Distribution[20] |
May 1, 1927 | The Tender Hour | Distribution[20] |
May 15, 1927 | Broadway Nights | Distribution[20] |
May 22, 1927 | Babe Comes Home | Production and distribution[19] |
May 29, 1927 | Lost at the Front | Distribution[20] |
June 5, 1927 | The Land Beyond the Law | Distribution[20] |
June 5, 1927 | The Sunset Derby | Production and distribution[19] |
June 12, 1927 | Dance Magic | Distribution[20] |
June 19, 1927 | Framed | Production and distribution[19] |
June 26, 1927 | Naughty but Nice | Distribution[20] |
July 3, 1927 | Lonesome Ladies | Production and distribution[19] |
July 9, 1927 | The Prince of Headwaiters | Distribution[20] |
July 10, 1927 | The Devil's Saddle | Distribution[20] |
July 24, 1927 | White Pants Willie | Distribution[20] |
July 31, 1927 | For the Love of Mike | Distribution[20] |
August 7, 1927 | The Poor Nut | Distribution[20] |
August 14, 1927 | The Stolen Bride | Production and distribution[19] |
August 21, 1927 | Hard-Boiled Haggerty | Production and distribution[19] |
August 28, 1927 | Three's a Crowd | Distribution[20] |
September 1, 1927 | The Patent Leather Kid | Production and distribution[19] |
September 3, 1927 | The Life of Riley | Production and distribution[19] |
September 11, 1927 | Smile, Brother, Smile | Distribution[20] |
September 25, 1927 | The Drop Kick | Production and distribution[19] |
September 25, 1927 | Rose of the Golden West | Production and distribution[19] |
September 27, 1927 | The Red Raiders | Distribution[20] |
October 9, 1927 | American Beauty | Production and distribution[19] |
October 16, 1927 | The Crystal Cup | Distribution[20] |
October 23, 1927 | Breakfast at Sunrise | Distribution[20] |
October 30, 1927 | No Place to Go | Distribution[20] |
November 6, 1927 | Gun Gospel | Distribution[20] |
November 13, 1927 | The Gorilla | Production and distribution[19] |
November 20, 1927 | Home Made | Distribution[20] |
November 27, 1927 | Man Crazy | Distribution[20] |
December 4, 1927 | A Texas Steer | Production and distribution[19] |
December 4, 1927 | The Valley of the Giants | Production and distribution[19] |
December 9, 1927 | The Private Life of Helen of Troy | Production and distribution[19] |
December 10, 1927 | French Dressing | Production and distribution[19] |
December 18, 1927 | The Love Mart | Production and distribution[19] |
December 25, 1927 | Her Wild Oat | Production and distribution[19] |
January 22, 1928 | Sailors' Wives | Production and distribution[19] |
January 29, 1928 | The Noose | Production and distribution[19] |
February 5, 1928 | The Whip Woman | Production and distribution[19] |
February 26, 1928 | Flying Romeos | Production and distribution[19] |
March 18, 1928 | The Heart of a Follies Girl | Production and distribution[19] |
April 15, 1928 | Chinatown Charlie | Production and distribution[19] |
April 22, 1928 | The Canyon of Adventure | Distribution[20] |
April 29, 1928 | Harold Teen | Production and distribution[19] |
May 6, 1928 | Lady Be Good | Production and distribution[19] |
May 13, 1928 | Vamping Venus | Production and distribution[19] |
May 20, 1928 | The Yellow Lily | Production and distribution[19] |
May 27, 1928 | The Hawk's Nest | Production and distribution[19] |
June 10, 1928 | Three-Ring Marriage | Production and distribution[19] |
June 17, 1928 | Wheel of Chance | Production and distribution[19] |
June 24, 1928 | Happiness Ahead | Production and distribution[19] |
July 8, 1928 | The Good-Bye Kiss | Distribution[19] |
July 8, 1928 | The Head Man | Production and distribution[19] |
July 22, 1928 | Heart to Heart | Production and distribution[19] |
August 19, 1928 | Out of the Ruins | Production and distribution[19] |
August 26, 1928 | Oh, Kay! | Production and distribution[19] |
September 9, 1928 | The Night Watch | Production and distribution[19] |
September 16, 1928 | Waterfront | Production and distribution[19] |
September 23, 1928 | Show Girl | Production and distribution[19] |
October 14, 1928 | Do Your Duty | Production and distribution[19] |
October 18, 1928 | Lilac Time | Production and distribution[19] |
October 21, 1928 | The Companionate Marriage | Distribution[20] |
November 4, 1928 | The Haunted House | Production and distribution[19] |
November 11, 1928 | Outcast | Production and distribution[20] |
December 2, 1928 | Adoration | Production and distribution[19] |
December 5, 1928 | The Barker | Production and distribution[19] |
December 16, 1928 | Naughty Baby | Production and distribution[19] |
December 23, 1928 | The Phantom City | Production and distribution[19] |
December 29, 1928 | Scarlet Seas | Production and distribution[19] |
January 6, 1929 | Synthetic Sin | Production and distribution[20] |
February 10, 1929 | Weary River | Production and distribution[19] |
February 17, 1929 | Seven Footprints to Satan | Production and distribution[19] |
March 3, 1929 | Children of the Ritz | Production and distribution[19] |
March 12, 1929 | Why Be Good? | Production and distribution[19] |
March 24, 1929 | Love and the Devil | Production and distribution[19] |
March 31, 1929 | The Divine Lady | Production and distribution[20] |
April 2, 1929 | His Captive Woman | Production and distribution[19] |
April 7, 1929 | The California Mail | Production and distribution[19] |
April 28, 1929 | The House of Horror | Production and distribution[19] |
May 5, 1929 | Hot Stuff | Production and distribution[19] |
May 8, 1929 | The Squall | Production and distribution[19] |
May 12, 1929 | Two Weeks Off | Production and distribution[19] |
June 2, 1929 | Careers | Production and distribution[19] |
June 21, 1929 | Broadway Babies | Production and distribution[19] |
June 23, 1929 | The Girl in the Glass Cage | Production and distribution[19] |
July 7, 1929 | The Man and the Moment | Production and distribution[19] |
July 20, 1929 | Drag | Production and distribution[19] |
July 28, 1929 | Smiling Irish Eyes | Production and distribution[19] |
August 4, 1929 | Hard to Get | Production and distribution[19] |
August 25, 1929 | Her Private Life | Production and distribution[19] |
August 31, 1929 | The Girl from Woolworth's | Production and distribution[19] |
September 15, 1929 | The Great Divide | Production and distribution[19] |
October 1, 1929 | Young Nowheres | Production and distribution[19] |
October 25, 1929 | The Isle of Lost Ships | Production and distribution[19] |
November 4, 1929 | Paris | Production and distribution[20] |
Films as a Warner Bros. subsidiary
As a subsidiary of Warner Bros., First National Pictures, Inc., continued to be a copyright claimant and trademark on motion pictures until 1936. Notable examples of First National Pictures titles are listed below.[19][20]
1929
1930
- Back Pay
- The Bad Man
- Bride of the Regiment
- Bright Lights
- College Lovers
- The Dawn Patrol
- The Flirting Widow
- The Furies
- The Girl of the Golden West
- Going Wild
- The Gorilla
- In the Next Room
- Kismet
- The Lash
- Lilies of the Field
- Loose Ankles
- Mothers Cry
- Murder Will Out
- No, No, Nanette
- A Notorious Affair
- Numbered Men
- One Night at Susie's
- The Other Tomorrow
- Playing Around
- Road to Paradise
- Scarlet Pages
- Show Girl in Hollywood
- Son of the Gods
- Song of the Flame
- Spring Is Here
- Strictly Modern
- Sunny
- Sweet Mama
- Sweethearts and Wives
- Top Speed
- The Truth About Youth
- The Way of All Men
- The Widow from Chicago
1931
- The Bargain
- Big Business Girl
- Broadminded
- Chances
- Compromised
- Father's Son
- The Finger Points
- Five Star Final
- Her Majesty, Love
- Honor of the Family
- The Hot Heiress
- I Like Your Nerve
- Kiss Me Again
- The Lady Who Dared
- The Last Flight
- Little Caesar
- Local Boy Makes Good
- Men of the Sky
- Misbehaving Ladies
- The Naughty Flirt
- Party Husband
- Penrod and Sam
- The Reckless Hour
- The Right of Way
- The Ruling Voice
- Safe in Hell
- Too Young to Marry
- Woman Hungry
1932
- Alias the Doctor
- Cabin in the Cotton
- Central Park
- The Crash
- Crooner
- The Dark Horse
- Doctor X
- The Famous Ferguson Case
- Fireman, Save My Child
- The Hatchet Man
- It's Tough to Be Famous
- Life Begins
- Love Is a Racket
- The Match King
- Miss Pinkerton
- The Rich Are Always with Us
- Silver Dollar
- The Strange Love of Molly Louvain
- The Tenderfoot
- They Call It Sin
- Three on a Match
- Tiger Shark
- 20,000 Years in Sing Sing
- Two Seconds
- Union Depot
- Week-End Marriage
- The Woman from Monte Carlo
- You Said a Mouthful
1933
- Blondie Johnson
- Bureau of Missing Persons
- Central Airport
- Convention City
- Elmer, the Great
- Employees' Entrance
- Female
- Frisco Jenny
- Goodbye Again
- Grand Slam
- Havana Widows
- Heroes for Sale
- I Loved a Woman
- Lilly Turner
- The Little Giant
- The Mind Reader
- She Had to Say Yes
- Son of a Sailor
- Wild Boys of the Road
- The World Changes
1934
- Babbitt
- Bedside
- The Big Shakedown
- British Agent
- The Church Mouse
- The Circus Clown
- Dark Hazard
- The Dragon Murder Case
- Fashions of 1934
- Flirtation Walk
- Fog Over Frisco
- Gentlemen Are Born
- Happiness Ahead
- I Sell Anything
- Journal of a Crime
- A Lost Lady
- The Man with Two Faces
- Mandalay
- Massacre
- The Merry Frinks
- Midnight Alibi
- Murder in the Clouds
- Registered Nurse
- Return of the Terror
- Side Streets
- 6 Day Bike Rider
- Twenty Million Sweethearts
- A Very Honorable Guy
- Wonder Bar
1935
1936
See also
References
- ↑ Kevin Brownlow, David Gill (1983). Unknown Chaplin: The Great Director (Television production). Thames Television.
- ↑ "J. D. Williams, Film Pioneer, Dies". The New York Times. August 29, 1934. Retrieved 2015-12-28.
- ↑ "New Incorporations", The New York Times, November 18, 1919, p. 25.
- ↑ "Picture Plays and People", The New York Times, February 1, 1920, p. XX4.
- ↑ "New Incorporations", The New York Times, May 6, 1924, p. 36.
- ↑ "First National Properties", The Wall Street Journal, May 21, 1926, p. 16.
- ↑ "Theatre Owners Open War on Hays", The New York Times, May 12, 1925, p. 14.
- ↑ "Warner Buys First National", The Wall Street Journal, September 27, 1928, p. 3.
- ↑ "Fox Holdings in First National Pictures Sold", The Washington Post, November 4, 1929, p. 3.
- 1 2 3 Hirschhorn, Clive. The Warner Bros. Story. New York: Crown Publishers. ISBN 0-517-53834-2.
- ↑ "Warners to Issue 60 Feature Films". The New York Times. August 2, 1933. Retrieved 2015-12-27.
- ↑ "Film Concern Dissolves", The New York Times, July 12, 1936, p. F1.
- ↑ American Film Institute Catalog of Motion Pictures, volumes F4 and F5.
- 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 13 14 15 16 17 18 19 20 21 22 23 24 25 26 27 28 29 30 31 32 33 34 35 36 37 38 39 40 41 42 43 44 45 46 47 48 49 50 51 52 53 54 55 56 57 58 59 60 61 62 63 64 65 66 67 68 69 70 71 72 73 74 75 76 "First National Exhibitors' Circuit, Inc". AFI Catalog of Feature Films. American Film Institute. Retrieved 2015-12-26.
- ↑ "A Dog's Life". BFI Film & TV Database. British Film Institute. Retrieved 2016-01-01.
- 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 "First National Pictures". AFI Catalog of Feature Films. American Film Institute. Retrieved 2015-12-26.
- 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 13 14 15 16 17 18 19 20 21 22 23 24 25 26 27 28 29 30 31 32 33 34 35 36 37 38 39 40 41 42 43 44 45 46 47 48 49 50 51 52 53 54 55 56 57 58 59 60 61 62 63 64 65 66 67 68 69 70 71 72 73 74 75 76 77 78 79 80 81 82 83 84 85 86 87 88 89 90 91 92 93 94 95 96 97 98 99 100 101 102 103 104 105 106 107 108 109 110 111 112 113 114 115 116 117 118 119 120 121 122 123 124 125 126 127 128 129 130 131 132 133 134 135 136 137 138 139 140 141 142 143 144 145 146 147 148 149 150 151 152 153 154 155 156 157 158 159 160 161 162 163 164 "Associated First National Pictures". AFI Catalog of Feature Films. American Film Institute. Retrieved 2015-12-26.
- 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 "Associated First National Pictures". AFI Catalog of Feature Films. American Film Institute. Retrieved 2015-12-26.
- 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 13 14 15 16 17 18 19 20 21 22 23 24 25 26 27 28 29 30 31 32 33 34 35 36 37 38 39 40 41 42 43 44 45 46 47 48 49 50 51 52 53 54 55 56 57 58 59 60 61 62 63 64 65 66 67 68 69 70 71 72 73 74 75 76 77 78 79 80 81 82 83 84 85 86 87 88 89 90 91 92 93 94 95 96 97 98 99 100 101 102 103 104 105 106 107 108 109 110 111 112 113 114 115 "First National Pictures, Inc". AFI Catalog of Feature Films. American Film Institute. Retrieved 2015-12-26.
- 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 13 14 15 16 17 18 19 20 21 22 23 24 25 26 27 28 29 30 31 32 33 34 35 36 37 38 39 40 41 42 43 44 45 46 47 48 49 50 51 52 53 54 55 56 57 58 59 60 61 62 63 64 65 66 67 68 69 70 71 72 73 74 75 76 77 78 79 80 81 82 83 84 85 86 87 88 89 90 91 92 93 94 95 96 97 98 99 100 101 102 103 104 105 106 107 108 109 110 "First National Pictures, Inc". AFI Catalog of Feature Films. American Film Institute. Retrieved 2015-12-26.
- ↑ Munden, Kenneth White. The American Film Institute Catalog of Motion Pictures Produced in the United States, Part 1. University of California Press, 1997. p.268
External links
Wikimedia Commons has media related to First National Pictures. |
- First National Pictures on IMDbPro (subscription required)
- Warner Bros. Archives at the University of Southern California School of Cinematic Arts
- The Lost Films of First National Pictures — in Lost Film Files by Arne Andersen.