Noah's Ark (1928)

Set in 1914 Europe before America enters WWI, an American playboy (George O'Brien) and his pal (Guinn Williams) are traveling through Europe. The playboy falls in love with a German girl (Dolores Costello) and they get married but the war separates them. Directed by Michael Curtiz (CASABLANCA), this ambitious film is a real curiosity. The first part of the film is almost unbearable with someone or other quoting the bible frequently. It has a real heavy handed preachy quality to it. The second half of the movie goes back in time with the actors from the first part all playing different characters as the movie tells the story of Noah and the flood. The flood sequence is excellent and the special effects are amazing for its day. Reputedly, three background actors (there were over 7,000) drowned and another had his leg amputated. The modern part of the film has dialogue while the biblical part of the movie is silent with a synchronized score. Worth checking out for the excellent flood special effects but man, is it a slog to get trough the first half. Reviews were poor but the public flocked to it. With Myrna Loy, Noah Beery and Louise Fazenda.