The Draw-Back (1927)
| The Draw-Back | |
|---|---|
| Directed by | Norman Taurog |
| Produced by | E. W. Hammons |
Production company | Goodwill Comedies, Inc. |
| Distributed by | Educational Film Exchanges |
Release date | April 10, 1927 |
Running time | 2 reels (approx. 26 minutes) |
| Country | United States |
| Language | Silent |
Search The Draw-Back (1927) on Amazon.
The Draw-Back is a 1927 American silent short comedy film directed by Norman Taurog and produced by Goodwill Comedies, Inc. The film stars Johnny Arthur, Kathryn McGuire, and Wallace Lupino, and was distributed by Educational Film Exchanges as part of the Tuxedo Comedies series.[1] The film was released on April 10, 1927, and survives in archival holdings.
Plot
Horace Hayseed, a timid and physically unimpressive man from the countryside, enrolls in college only to become the target of elaborate pranks by students and faculty. His wife mistakenly believes he is a star athlete, leading to his reluctant placement on the football team. The climactic game devolves into slapstick chaos, including a mud pit on the field and a wasp nest used as a football.[1]
Cast
- Johnny Arthur as Horace Hayseed
- Kathryn McGuire as The Girl
- Wallace Lupino as The College Football Captain
- Al Thompson as The College President
- Duke Morrison (John Wayne) as Football Player (uncredited)[1]
Production
The film was produced by Goodwill Comedies and presented by E. W. Hammons, a major figure in short‑form comedy distribution during the silent era.[2] It was photographed in 35mm spherical format (1.33:1) and released as a two‑reel silent comedy. Taurog, who later won an Academy Award for Skippy (1931), was at this time an established director of short comedies.
Release
The Draw-Back was distributed by Educational Film Exchanges and released on April 10, 1927, in the United States.[1] It formed part of the Tuxedo Comedies line, which specialized in slapstick and character‑driven humor.
Preservation
The film is not considered lost. Surviving prints are held in archival collections documented by the FIAF American Silent Feature Film Database and the Library of Congress.[3] The film has been screened in preserved form by film archives and remains accessible for research.
Reception
Contemporary reviews are scarce, but the film has been noted by silent‑film historians for its early appearance by Duke Morrison (later known as John Wayne) in a minor role.[1] Johnny Arthur’s performance has also been cited as representative of his “timid man” persona common in 1920s short comedies.
References
- ↑ 1.0 1.1 1.2 1.3 1.4 "The Draw-Back (1927)". Silent Era: Progressive Silent Film List. Retrieved 1 March 2026.
- ↑ "The Draw-Back". AFI Catalog of Feature Films. American Film Institute. Retrieved 1 March 2026.
- ↑ "The Draw-Back (1927)". Library of Congress – FIAF American Silent Feature Film Database. Retrieved 1 March 2026.
References
This article "The Draw-Back (1927)" is from Wikipedia. The list of its authors can be seen in its historical and/or the page Edithistory:The Draw-Back (1927). Articles copied from Draft Namespace on Wikipedia could be seen on the Draft Namespace of Wikipedia and not main one.
