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HISTORY

The title was announced in the 15 Feb 1926 Film Daily and the 27 Feb 1926 Motion Picture News as one of two original stories purchased by Gotham Productions for canine star Peter the Great. The latter article attributed the story to Edward J. Meagher, while the 17 Aug 1927 Variety claimed that it was written by production supervisor Frank Foster Davis. An advertisement in the 29 Sep 1926 Variety noted the start of principal photography earlier that month. The 30 Oct 1926 Moving Picture World revealed that the film was to mark Peter the Great’s final screen appearance. Nearly nine months later, the 16 Jul 1927 Exhibitors Herald stated that a dog named “Thunder,” described as a Belgian shepherd in the 17 Aug 1927 Variety, had replaced Peter the Great. A review in the 12 Nov 1927 [Yonkers, NY] Yonkers Herald recounted scenes in which “‘Thunder’ the Marvel Dog” saved a speeding train from falling off of the highest trestle in the U.S., and was then pushed over a cliff by bear, enabling the dog to save a boy from drowning in the river below. Duane Thompson was the only credited female member of the cast.
       The Silent Avenger opened on 9 Aug 1927 at Loew’s New York Theatre in New York City, and on 14 Aug 1927 at the Iris Theatre in Chicago, IL.
       According to the International Federation of Film Archives (FIAF) Treasures from the Film Archives database, this film is partially extant. ...

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The title was announced in the 15 Feb 1926 Film Daily and the 27 Feb 1926 Motion Picture News as one of two original stories purchased by Gotham Productions for canine star Peter the Great. The latter article attributed the story to Edward J. Meagher, while the 17 Aug 1927 Variety claimed that it was written by production supervisor Frank Foster Davis. An advertisement in the 29 Sep 1926 Variety noted the start of principal photography earlier that month. The 30 Oct 1926 Moving Picture World revealed that the film was to mark Peter the Great’s final screen appearance. Nearly nine months later, the 16 Jul 1927 Exhibitors Herald stated that a dog named “Thunder,” described as a Belgian shepherd in the 17 Aug 1927 Variety, had replaced Peter the Great. A review in the 12 Nov 1927 [Yonkers, NY] Yonkers Herald recounted scenes in which “‘Thunder’ the Marvel Dog” saved a speeding train from falling off of the highest trestle in the U.S., and was then pushed over a cliff by bear, enabling the dog to save a boy from drowning in the river below. Duane Thompson was the only credited female member of the cast.
       The Silent Avenger opened on 9 Aug 1927 at Loew’s New York Theatre in New York City, and on 14 Aug 1927 at the Iris Theatre in Chicago, IL.
       According to the International Federation of Film Archives (FIAF) Treasures from the Film Archives database, this film is partially extant.

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SOURCE CITATIONS
SOURCE
DATE
PAGE
Exhibitors Herald
29 May 1926
p. 134
Exhibitors Herald
16 Jul 1927
p. 44
Film Daily
15 Feb 1926
p. 2
Film Daily
8 Aug 1927
p. 2
Film Daily
21 Aug 1927
p. 11
Motion Picture News
27 Feb 1926
p. 992
Motion Picture News
23 Oct 1926
p. 1579
Moving Picture World
30 Oct 1926
p. 551
Oak Park Leaves [Oak Park, IL]
13 Aug 1927
p. 8
Variety
29 Sep 1926
p. 17
Variety
17 Aug 1927
p. 25
Yonkers Herald [Yonkers, NY]
12 Nov 1927
p. 5
CAST
PRODUCTION CREDITS
NAME
PARENT COMPANY
PRODUCTION COMPANY
DISTRIBUTION COMPANY
NAME
CREDITED AS
CREDIT
DIRECTOR
James P. Hogan
Dir
PRODUCERS
Sam Sax
Pres
PHOTOGRAPHY
Dir of photog
FILM EDITOR
Film ed
DETAILS
Release Date:
9 August 1927
Premiere Information:
New York opening: 9 Aug 1927; Chicago, IL, opening: 14 Aug 1927
Production Date:
began Sep 1926
Copyright Info
Claimant
Date
Copyright Number
Lumas Film Corp.
2 August 1927
LP24264
Physical Properties:
Silent
Black and White
Length(in feet):
5,690
Length(in reels):
6
Country:
United States
Language:
English
SYNOPSIS

Stanley Gilmore, the son of a railroad president, atones for a series of wild escapades by traveling to Tennessee to secure a right-of-way through the property of farmer Dave Wade. Accompanied by his dog, Thunder, Stanley meets with Dave and initiates a friendship with the farmer’s daughter, Patsy. Stanley's arrival is noted by Joe Sneed, a henchman of Bill Garton, engineer for a rival railroad. When the dog thwarts Bill’s attempt to steal important documents from Stanley, the engineer informs the corrupt sheriff. Later, Thunder battles a bear in defense of Little Bud Wade, then saves the boy from drowning at the hands of Joe and the sheriff. While sending his father a telegram, Stanley is kidnapped, but Thunder rescues his master, flags down a train, and drives the villains to their death. Stanley finds happiness with Patsy, and his father acquires the ...

More Less

Stanley Gilmore, the son of a railroad president, atones for a series of wild escapades by traveling to Tennessee to secure a right-of-way through the property of farmer Dave Wade. Accompanied by his dog, Thunder, Stanley meets with Dave and initiates a friendship with the farmer’s daughter, Patsy. Stanley's arrival is noted by Joe Sneed, a henchman of Bill Garton, engineer for a rival railroad. When the dog thwarts Bill’s attempt to steal important documents from Stanley, the engineer informs the corrupt sheriff. Later, Thunder battles a bear in defense of Little Bud Wade, then saves the boy from drowning at the hands of Joe and the sheriff. While sending his father a telegram, Stanley is kidnapped, but Thunder rescues his master, flags down a train, and drives the villains to their death. Stanley finds happiness with Patsy, and his father acquires the right-of-way.

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Legend
Viewed by AFI
Partially Viewed
Offscreen Credit
Name Occurs Before Title
AFI Life Achievement Award

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The American Film Institute is grateful to Sir Paul Getty KBE and the Sir Paul Getty KBE Estate for their dedication to the art of the moving image and their support for the AFI Catalog of Feature Films and without whose support AFI would not have been able to achieve this historical landmark in this epic scholarly endeavor.