Name: Salute (1929) Director: John Ford Studio: Fox Film Corporation Starring: George O’Brien, Helen Chandler, William Janney, Stepin Fetchit, Frank Albertson, and John Wayne Release Date: November 3, 1929 Runtime: 84 minutes Format: Black and White, Sound-on-film (Movietone system) Country: United States Language: English Genres: | Drama | War | Sports | --- Summary: Salute follows two brothers whose loyalties are divided between rival military academies — one attending the United States Naval Academy at Annapolis and the other at West Point. As the brothers navigate honor, duty, and competition, their sibling rivalry comes to a head during the annual Army–Navy football game. Against the backdrop of military tradition and patriotic fervor, the film explores themes of family pride, sacrifice, and the spirit of American service. --- Background: Directed by the legendary John Ford, *Salute* was produced during Hollywood’s early transition to sound. The film combines Ford’s trademark visual storytelling with patriotic themes that would appear throughout his later career. It was also one of the earliest screen appearances of John Wayne, who served as both an extra and a prop assistant during production. Shot partly on location at the actual U.S. Naval Academy in Annapolis, the film aimed for authenticity in depicting academy life and the camaraderie among cadets. Though not as well-known as Ford’s later masterpieces, *Salute* stands as an interesting example of his early sound-era experimentation. --- Trivia: * John Wayne, then working as a prop man for Fox, appeared in several scenes as a midshipman — one of his earliest film roles. * The film was one of the few early talkies shot on location at the U.S. Naval Academy. * Stepin Fetchit’s performance marked one of his early sound-era roles, adding comic relief to the military drama. * Ford’s brother, Francis Ford, also appears in the film in a small part. * *Salute* was among the last Fox films made before the 1930 merger that formed 20th Century-Fox. * The Army–Navy football sequence was filmed with real cadets and midshipmen for added realism. --- Hashtags: #Salute1929 #JohnFord #JohnWayne #FoxFilmCorporation #EarlyTalkies #MilitaryDrama #OldHollywood #FilmHistory #ClassicCinema #Annapolis