Betrayal is a 1929 American silent drama film produced for Famous Players-Lasky and released by Paramount Pictures.[1] The film is the last silent film directed by Lewis Milestone,[2] the last silent performance by Gary Cooper,[3] the last silent performance by Germany's Emil Jannings,[4][3] and the only onscreen pairing of Cooper and Jannings.[1] It is considered a lost film.[5]

Betrayal
Lobby card
Directed by	Lewis Milestone
Written by	Hanns Kräly Julian Johnson (titles)
Story by	Victor Schertzinger Nicholas Soussanin
Produced by	Lewis Milestone David O. Selznick
Starring	Emil Jannings Esther Ralston Gary Cooper
Cinematography	Henry W. Gerrard
Edited by	Del Andrews
Music by	Louis De Francesco J.S. Zamecnik
Production company	Famous Players-Lasky
Distributed by	Paramount Pictures
Release dates	April 28, 1929 (1929-04-28) (NYC) May 11, 1929 (1929-05-11) (USA)
Running time	80 minutes 8 reels, 6,614 ft
Country	United States
Languages	Silent (English intertitles and talking sequences)

Plot

Swiss peasant girl Vroni (Esther Ralston) is having a secret summer romance with Viennese artist Andre Frey (Gary Cooper). When Andre later returns to Switzerland, he learns that Vroni has been forced to marry wealthy burgomeister Poldi Moser (Emil Jannings). Explaining Andre's appearance, Vroni introduces him as a young man who has just lost his sweetheart, and in sympathy, Poldi invites Andre to be a guest in his house.

Several times over the next few years Andre visits, during which time Poldi and Vroni have two children. Andre is overwrought by his repressed feelings toward Vroni, and after seven years, begs her to run off with him. She refuses, but agrees to one last tryst. While speeding down a dangerous run on a toboggan together, Vroni is killed and Andre fatally injured. Poldi learns the truth of the relationship while attending Vroni's funeral, and swears vengeance but discovers that Andre has died from the severity of his injuries.

Cast

• Emil Jannings as Poldi Moser
• Esther Ralston as Vroni
• Gary Cooper as Andre Frey
• Douglas Haig as Peter
• Jada Weller as Hans
• Bodil Rosing as Andre's Mother
• Ann Brody
• Paul Guertzman
• Leone Lane

Production

Filmed at locations near Lake Tahoe, the film was intended to be a "part-talkie" and incorporated talking sequences, synchronized music, and sound effects,[1][6] but because of Jannings's heavy German accent and the poor recording of Ralston's voice, it was released as a silent.[3]

References

External links

• Betrayal at IMDb
• Synopsis at AllMovie
• Lobby card