Vintage original 11x14 in. US lobby card from the first sound version of the famous Temperance-themed drama, TEN NIGHTS IN A BAR-ROOM, released in 1931 on a states rights basis by multiple distributors across the US and directed by William A. O'Connor. It follows the storyline in the 1854 novel, Ten Nights in a Bar-Room and What I Saw There, by Timothy Shay Arthur, and based upon the play by Edwin Waugh, in which a man's (William Farnum) heavy drinking drives away his family and threatens to destroy his relationship with his little daughter (Patty Lou Lind). The cast includes Tom Santschi, Robert Frazer, Phyllis Barrington, Rosemary Theby, Thomas Jefferson, Lionel Belmore, and Harry Todd.
Printed for the film's original 1931 US theatrical release, the image depicts an interior long shot inside of a seedy bar as Joe Morgan (William Farnum) sits at a table with two prostitutes (one of whom is tucking money inside of her stocking) as he is served a glass of beer by handsome Frank Slade (John Darrow). As this film was made several times before this version, it was noted that this was an "ALL NEW--ALL TALKING" production. The border artwork along the left side features different characters inside of a beer glass on each card and this one depicts comic relief characters Fanny (Fern Emmett) and Sample (Harry Todd). As this film was made several times before this version, it was noted that this was an "ALL NEW--ALL TALKING" production. This vintage original lobby card is unrestored in fine- condition with a 1 in. horizontal tear on the left border below the center; varying amounts of light wear on each corner; a 1 in. thin chip on the right border above the center; and a small nick on the bottom edge to the right of center. The rich color tints are fresh and vibrant without any signs of fading and there are no pinholes or other flaws.
The corollary 1854 novel written by Arthur was a financial success and the second most popular book of the Victorian era--only Uncle Tom's Cabin sold better. The mood of the country supported the Temperance movement and anti-alcohol sentiment. The prohibition theme was adapted into a 1858 Broadway play by William W. Pratt, a 1901 silent film, a now lost 1910 silent film, a 1913 adaption silent film, a 1921 silent film directed by Oscar Apfel, and then this 1931 film. There is a 1926 silent film version where a drunkard is swindled out of his mill business, but is later reborn and he runs for mayor. This 1931 version is sometimes confused with D. W. Griffith's 1931 talkie, The Struggle. In 1940, a distributor named B. A. Mills of B&M Pictures considered re-releasing the Griffith film under the new title but dropped the idea when informed of the heavy Code cuts that would be required (Source: March 7, 1940 letter from F. S. Harmon in the MPPDA/MPAA files at the Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences).