East Side, West Side | 1927 | Drama

Title: East Side, West Side | 1927 | Drama Director: Allan Dwan Studio: Fox Film Corporation Starring: George O’Brien, Virginia Valli, J. Farrell MacDonald, Holmes Herbert, June Collyer Based on: East Side, West Side by Felix Riesenberg. Release Date: October 9, 1927. Runtime: 90 Format: Silent, black-and-white; 35mm; 1.33:1; English intertitles. Country: United States Language: Silent Genres: Drama; Romance --- Chapters: 00:00:00 East River barge catastrophe 00:18:00 East Side upbringing and the ring 00:36:00 Mentor from the West Side 00:56:00 Hidden parentage revealed 01:12:30 Ocean liner disaster 01:24:00 Choosing a future in New York --- Summary: After an East River barge accident leaves teenage John Breen orphaned, he is taken in by a Lower East Side family and fights his way up from street tough to prizefighter and aspiring engineer. A Park Avenue benefactor with a concealed connection draws John into the world of uptown wealth, while his loyalty to his childhood sweetheart Becka tests his ambitions and identity. Set against a vividly rendered New York City, the film interweaves immigrant life, social mobility, and spectacle—including a dramatic ocean‑liner sinking—into a citywide portrait of loss, resolve, and reinvention. --- Background: Allan Dwan’s film was adapted from Felix Riesenberg’s bestselling 1927 novel and shot extensively on New York City locations, with additional work at Fox’s New York studios at 55th Street and Tenth Avenue. Preserved by the Museum of Modern Art, it is often noted as one of the last and finest major features made at Fox’s Manhattan facility; the story was later remade as the 1931 sound feature Skyline. --- Trivia: June Collyer made her screen debut in this film. The movie was released internationally under alternate titles, including Titanic and Die Katastrophe eines Ozeanriesen . Cinematography credits include George Webber with additional work by Theodore J. Pahle; stunt work was performed by Buddy Roosevelt and Jack Roper. Location shooting ranged across the city, from the Bowery to Washington Heights, contributing to the film’s reputation as a New York City epic. --- Public Domain / Rights: Original Release: October 9, 1927. Original Studio / Distributor: Fox Film Corporation. Copyright Status: Public Domain . Renewal: No. --- Hashtags: PublicDomain SilentFilm AllanDwan GeorgeOBrien FoxFilm NewYorkCity 1927 FilmHistory Source page: https: //commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:East_Side,_West_Side_(1927).webm Direct media URL: https: //upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/4/4f/East_Side%2C_West_Side_%281927%29.webm