Description: This is a vintage original 11x14 in. US lobby card from the 1930's alcohol-themed drama, THE STRUGGLE, released in 1931 by United Artists and directed by D.W. Griffith. Based upon a screen story by Anita Loos and John Emerson, Hal Skelly and Zita Johann co-star as a young couple whose marriage is jeopardized by the husband's descent into alcoholism. The image is from the very last scene (and, we believe, even the final shot) and features an interior medium shot of recovering alcoholic Jimmie Wilson (Hal Skelly) lying in bed as his young daughter, Mary (Edna Hagan), gives him a hug as his wife, Florrie (Zita Johann), lovingly holds his hand to comfort him just before the final fade-out. This vintage original lobby card is unrestored in fine- condition with a clean 3 in. vertical tear on the top border that does into Miss Johann's hair that connect with a 1 in. scratch below it and light signs of wear on the corners. There are no pinholes, tears, stains, or other flaws and the beautiful color tints are fresh and vibrant without any signs of fading. The lobby card offered here represents the very last image in a film directed by D.W. Griffith and is and important piece of American film history. Zita Johann is best remembered today for her performance as "Helen Grosvenor" the following year in Universal's classic horror film, The Mummy, starring Boris Karloff. The Struggle was the final film in the 23-year directorial career of "the father of film," D.W. Griffith" and was his only other full-sound film besides Abraham Lincoln (1930). It was made primarily at the Audio-Cinema studios in the Bronx, New York with some outdoor filming on the streets of the Bronx. The film was inspired in part by Griffith's own battles with alcoholism and he partially funded it himself with a 1929 tax refund that had been invested in stocks that did well despite the Depression. Filming took place from July to August 1931. Unfortunately for Griffith, the film received poor reviews and was not a success at the box office. In 1935, United Artists considered re-releasing the film but could not get a Code Seal from the Breen Office unless cuts were made, so decided not to do it. In 1940, another distributor (B.A. Mills) considered re-releasing it under the title Ten Nights in a Barroom but encountered similar difficulties. Griffith never made another movie although he did marry an actress from the film, Evelyn Baldwin. Longtime Griffith actress Kate Bruce (who started with Griffith in 1908 when he began directing) made her final film appearance in this film as Granny; this was also the final film for actor Claude Cooper.
Price: 250 USD
Location: Valley Village, California
End Time: 2023-10-25T16:00:07.000Z
Shipping Cost: N/A USD
Product Images
Item Specifics
Restocking Fee: No
Return shipping will be paid by: Buyer
All returns accepted: Returns Accepted
Item must be returned within: 14 Days
Refund will be given as: Money Back
ITEM: Vintage original 11x14 US lobby card
ACTORS: Hal Skelly, Zita Johann, Edna Hagan
ITEM NUMBER: CH-STRUGGLE-LC4
FILM TITLE: The Struggle
STUDIO: United Artists
Modified Item: No
Country/Region of Manufacture: United States
Year: 1931
DIRECTOR: D.W. Griffith (David Wark Griffith)
