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Sins of the Fathers

  • 1928
  • 1h 13m
IMDb RATING
6.5/10
35
YOUR RATING
Emil Jannings in Sins of the Fathers (1928)
Drama

A married restaurant owner is persuaded to become a bootlegger by a beautiful young girl. When he starts making money at it, she steals it, then runs off with another man. His wife finds out... Read allA married restaurant owner is persuaded to become a bootlegger by a beautiful young girl. When he starts making money at it, she steals it, then runs off with another man. His wife finds out what happened. Complications ensue.A married restaurant owner is persuaded to become a bootlegger by a beautiful young girl. When he starts making money at it, she steals it, then runs off with another man. His wife finds out what happened. Complications ensue.

  • Director
    • Ludwig Berger
  • Writers
    • Norman Burnstine
    • Julian Johnson
    • E. Lloyd Sheldon
  • Stars
    • Emil Jannings
    • Ruth Chatterton
    • Barry Norton
  • See production info at IMDbPro
  • IMDb RATING
    6.5/10
    35
    YOUR RATING
    • Director
      • Ludwig Berger
    • Writers
      • Norman Burnstine
      • Julian Johnson
      • E. Lloyd Sheldon
    • Stars
      • Emil Jannings
      • Ruth Chatterton
      • Barry Norton
    • 1User review
    • 5Critic reviews
  • See production info at IMDbPro
  • See production info at IMDbPro
    • Awards
      • 3 wins total

    Photos9

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    Top cast17

    Edit
    Emil Jannings
    Emil Jannings
    • Wilhelm Spengler
    Ruth Chatterton
    Ruth Chatterton
    • Greta Blanke
    Barry Norton
    Barry Norton
    • Tom Spengler
    Jean Arthur
    Jean Arthur
    • Mary Spengler
    Jack Luden
    Jack Luden
    • Otto Schmidt
    Zasu Pitts
    Zasu Pitts
    • Mother Spengler
    Matthew Betz
    Matthew Betz
    • Gus Newman
    Harry Cording
    Harry Cording
    • The Hijacker
    Arthur Housman
    Arthur Housman
    • The Count
    Frank Reicher
    Frank Reicher
    • The Eye Specialist
    Douglas Haig
    • Tom, as a child
    Anne Shirley
    Anne Shirley
    • Mary, as a child
    • (as Dawn O'Day)
    Rose Curley
    • Bit
    Carrie Daumery
    Carrie Daumery
    • Bit
    Isabelle Keith
    Isabelle Keith
    • Bit
    Milla Davenport
    • Bit Part
    • (uncredited)
    'Speed' Webb
    • And His Orchestra
    • (uncredited)
    • Director
      • Ludwig Berger
    • Writers
      • Norman Burnstine
      • Julian Johnson
      • E. Lloyd Sheldon
    • All cast & crew
    • Production, box office & more at IMDbPro

    User reviews1

    6.535
    1
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    10

    Featured reviews

    creightonhale

    Another Lost One - Or So We Thought

    Silentera.com now reports that a print exists of this film. It does not, however, provide any information about where such a print can be found, as it does for other extent films of the silent era.

    Of course, I haven't seen this film since it's lost. But I do find it interesting that of the six films that Emil Jannings made in the US for Paramount between 1927 and 1929, only one of them still exists: THE LAST COMMAND (1928), for which he won the first Best Actor Oscar. That award was shared with THE WAY OF ALL FLESH (1927), another lost film. STREET OF SIN (1928), THE PATRIOT (1928), and BETRAYAL (1929) are all lost or presumed lost. My question would be why didn't Paramount take better care of Jannings's films? Not only was he a prestige item for them but his films meant box office. They even distributed his early German talkie THE BLUE ANGEL (1930). But Paramount also lost films starring Clara Bow, Ruth Chatterton, and others, so it probably wasn't anything personal. Still, it's a shame. SINS is also Ruth Chatterton's film debut. Who wouldn't want to see her in her only silent film, starting a successful run as the most prestigious female star at Paramount for the next three years?

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    Storyline

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    Did you know

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    • Trivia
      Ruth Chatterton's only silent movie.

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    Details

    Edit
    • Release date
      • December 29, 1928 (United States)
    • Country of origin
      • United States
    • Languages
      • None
      • English
    • Also known as
      • Los pecados de los padres
    • Filming locations
      • Paramount Studios - 5555 Melrose Avenue, Hollywood, Los Angeles, California, USA(Studio)
    • Production company
      • Paramount Famous Lasky Corporation
    • See more company credits at IMDbPro

    Tech specs

    Edit
    • Runtime
      1 hour 13 minutes
    • Color
      • Black and White
    • Aspect ratio
      • 1.33 : 1

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    By what name was Sins of the Fathers (1928) officially released in Canada in English?
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