Movielogr
Wall Street (1929)
Directed by Roy William Neill
Overview
A very topical early talkie from low-budget company Columbia Pictures, Wall Street starred Ralph Ince, brother of producer Thomas H. Ince, as Roller McCray, a steelworker turned ruthless tycoon whose tough business methods leads a rival (Philip Strange) to commit suicide. The widow (Aileen Pringle), believing she can ruin Ince by using his own methods, conspires with her husband’s former partner (Sam De Grasse), but a strong friendship between Ince and Pringle’s young son (Freddie Burke Frederick) changes things dramatically. According to future Three Stooges director Edward Bernds, who worked as a sound mixer on Wall Street, Ince’s reaction to his rival’s suicidal jump from a window ledge was changed from a sneering “I didn’t think he had the guts” to the more respectful “I didn’t think he’d do it” due to derisive laughter from the film’s crew.
Length 68 minutes
Actors
Ralph Ince | Aileen Pringle | Philip Strange | Sam De Grasse | Freddie Burke Frederick | Ernest Hilliard | James Finlayson | George MacFarlane | Camille Rovelle | Grace Wallace | Hugh McCormack | Marshall Ruth | Ben Hall | William Colvin | Frederick H. Graham | Louise Beavers