The Fleet's In is a 1928 American silent comedy film directed by Malcolm St. Clair and written by Monte Brice, George Marion Jr., and J. Walter Ruben. The film stars Clara Bow, James Hall, Jack Oakie, Bodil Rosing, Eddie Dunn, and Jean Laverty. The film was released on September 15, 1928, by Paramount Pictures.Dwyer, 1996 p. 212-213: Filmography
Plot Trixie “Peachy" Dearie is a “taxi-dancer”, and a 10 cent-per-dance entertainer at a San Francisco amusement park that services sailors. Trixie retains her innocence despite her vocation. She prefers would-be swain “Searchlight” Doyle over his rival Eddie Briggs, who tries to seduce her.
During a power failure the lights go out at the hall and are accidentally paired in a dance contest. The rival Doyle and Eddie fight, and Eddie is put in jail. Peachy, the object of the dispute, blames herself and defends Eddie before the magistrate. Eddie is set free and sails with his ship, pledging himself to Peachy and promising he will remain faithful in all the worldwide ports he visits.Dwyer, 1996 p. 212-213: Filmography, film synopsis.
Cast Clara Bow as Trixie Deane James Hall as Eddie Briggs Jack Oakie as Searchlight Doyle Bodil Rosing as Mrs. Deane Eddie Dunn as Al Pearce Jean Laverty as Betty Dan Wolheim as Double Duty Duffy Richard Carle as Judge Hartley Joseph W. Girard as Commandant
Reception New York Times critic Mordaunt Hall panned the film as merely a vehicle “written for the purpose of giving Miss Bow an opportunity to smile and cry.” He adds that the scenario “makes about as much impression on one's mind as a colored comic strip.” Reportedly, the vaudeville stage show was more impressive than the film, performed by “an expert Russian dancer, who has a ready wit and a keen ear for music. His show is one of the best entertainments of its type that has been seen at the Paramount for some time.”Hall, 1928
Survival status The Fleet's In is presumed to be a lost film.Progressive Silent Film List: The Fleet's In at silentera.com
Notes
References Dwyer, Ruth Anne. 1996. Malcolm St. Clair: His Films, 1915-1948. The Scarecrow Press, Lantham, Md., London. Hall, Mordaunt. 1928. THE SCREEN; “Motion Picture Sailors. The Football Feud. A Moon and a Mirror. Other Photoplays.” New York Times, October 1, 1928.https://www.nytimes.com/1928/10/01/archives/the-screen-motion-picture-sailors-the-football-feud-a-moon-and-a.html Retrieved 12 June 2024.
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