Lucky Star (1929) Director: Frank Borzage Studio: Fox Film Corporation Starring: Janet Gaynor (Mary Tucker), Charles Farrell (Tim Osborn), Guinn “Big Boy” Williams (Martin Wrenn) Release Date: November 15, 1929 Runtime: ~100 minutes Format: Black & White | Silent (with part-talkie sequences) | Romance | Drama Country: United States Language: English (intertitles with limited dialogue) Genres: Silent Romance | War Drama Summary: Lucky Star tells the tender and emotional story of Mary, a poor farm girl, and Tim, a kind-hearted telephone lineman who becomes crippled during World War I. After returning home, Tim struggles with his disability and isolation until he reconnects with Mary. Their growing affection faces challenges from Martin, a selfish rival suitor. Through hardship and perseverance, the film explores themes of love, sacrifice, and redemption, culminating in one of Borzage’s most heartfelt endings—a cinematic celebration of love’s ability to overcome suffering. Background: This film is one of the final collaborations between director Frank Borzage and the beloved silent-era duo Janet Gaynor and Charles Farrell. It stands as a bridge between silent and sound cinema, blending Borzage’s poetic visual style with limited synchronized dialogue. Long thought lost for decades, Lucky Star was rediscovered and restored in the 1990s, earning renewed recognition as one of Borzage’s masterpieces of romantic storytelling. Trivia: The eighth of twelve films Gaynor and Farrell made together. Considered one of the finest examples of Borzage’s romantic idealism and emotional visual style. Features a rare “part-talkie” structure during the transition from silent to sound films. Rediscovered in a Dutch archive in 1990 and restored by the UCLA Film & Television Archive. Hashtags: #LuckyStar1929 #FrankBorzage #JanetGaynor #CharlesFarrell #SilentFilm #FoxFilmCorporation #LostFilm #SilentEra #ClassicHollywood #RomanticDrama #FilmRestoration