Riley the Cop (1928)

60 mins | Comedy-drama | 25 November 1928

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HISTORY

The 24 May 1928 FD announced Riley the Cop as a forthcoming release for Fox film Corp.’s 1928-29 season. The original story was written for Fox by Fred Stanley and James Gruen, as indicated in the 11 Jul 1928 Var. The picture was produced with sound effects and a musical score, but no dialogue.
       The 2 Jun 1928 Exhibitors Herald and Moving Picture World reported that Farrell MacDonald would play the title role and John Ford would direct. The story was set in New York City and Paris, France, and Ford was in Europe at that time, procuring “authentic atmosphere.”
       The 23 Jun 1928 ^Motion Picture News referred to the picture using a comma in the title as Riley, the Cop, and added Warren Burke as a cast member.
       Principal photography began on 6 Jul 1928 at Fox Studios in Hollywood, CA, according to the 11 Aug 1928 Exhibitors Herald and Moving Picture World. On 25 Aug 1928, another report indicated that filming had been completed in mid-Aug 1928. The 20 Sep 1928 Exhibitors Daily Review stated that the picture was currently “in the cutting room.”
       Although an advertisement in the 18 Jun 1928 FD listed an anticipated release date of 7 Jan 1929, the picture was released earlier, on 25 Nov 1928, according to the 15 Dec 1928 Exhibitors Herald and Moving Picture World. The national release unusually occurred before the New York opening at the Roxy Theatre on 1 Dec 1928, as indicated in the 5 Dec 1928 Var review.
       Var deemed Riley ...

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The 24 May 1928 FD announced Riley the Cop as a forthcoming release for Fox film Corp.’s 1928-29 season. The original story was written for Fox by Fred Stanley and James Gruen, as indicated in the 11 Jul 1928 Var. The picture was produced with sound effects and a musical score, but no dialogue.
       The 2 Jun 1928 Exhibitors Herald and Moving Picture World reported that Farrell MacDonald would play the title role and John Ford would direct. The story was set in New York City and Paris, France, and Ford was in Europe at that time, procuring “authentic atmosphere.”
       The 23 Jun 1928 ^Motion Picture News referred to the picture using a comma in the title as Riley, the Cop, and added Warren Burke as a cast member.
       Principal photography began on 6 Jul 1928 at Fox Studios in Hollywood, CA, according to the 11 Aug 1928 Exhibitors Herald and Moving Picture World. On 25 Aug 1928, another report indicated that filming had been completed in mid-Aug 1928. The 20 Sep 1928 Exhibitors Daily Review stated that the picture was currently “in the cutting room.”
       Although an advertisement in the 18 Jun 1928 FD listed an anticipated release date of 7 Jan 1929, the picture was released earlier, on 25 Nov 1928, according to the 15 Dec 1928 Exhibitors Herald and Moving Picture World. The national release unusually occurred before the New York opening at the Roxy Theatre on 1 Dec 1928, as indicated in the 5 Dec 1928 Var review.
       Var deemed Riley the Cop a “mildly amusing comedy.” The Jan 1929 Motion Picture Magazine noted that viewers would not be disappointed with the picture and could expect “loud laughs” and a “sentimental tear or two.”
       Riley the Cop was fully restored by The Film Foundation, an organization founded in 1990 by director Martin Scorsese.

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GEOGRAPHIC LOCATIONS
SOURCE CITATIONS
SOURCE
DATE
PAGE
Exhibitors Daily Review
20 Sep 1928
p. 3
Exhibitors Herald and Moving Picture World
2 Jun 1928
p. 96, 102
Exhibitors Herald and Moving Picture World
14 Jul 1928
p. 37
Exhibitors Herald and Moving Picture World
11 Aug 1928
p. 77
Exhibitors Herald and Moving Picture World
25 Aug 1928
p. 39
Exhibitors Herald and Moving Picture World
20 Sep 1928
p. 3
Exhibitors Herald and Moving Picture World
15 Dec 1928
p. 55
Film Daily
24 May 1928
p. 1, 11
Film Daily
18 Jun 1928
pp. 4-5
Film Daily
9 Dec 1928
---
Motion Picture Magazine
Jan 1929
p. 63
Motion Picture News
23 Jun 1928
p. 2105
New York Times
4 Dec 1928
p. 29
Variety
11 Jul 1928
p. 21
Variety
5 Dec 1928
p. 19
DETAILS
Alternate Title:
Riley, the Cop
Release Date:
25 November 1928
Premiere Information:
New York opening at the Roxy Theatre: 1 Dec 1928
Production Date:
began 6 Jul 1928
Copyright Info
Claimant
Date
Copyright Number
Fox Film Corp.
19 December 1928
LP25842
Physical Properties:
Silent with sound sequences
Sd eff and mus score by Movietone
Black and White
Sound, also silent
Also si; 5,993 ft.
Duration(in mins):
60
Length(in feet):
6,132
Length(in reels):
6
Country:
United States
Language:
English
SYNOPSIS

Joe Smith, an ordinary lad who works at the town bakery, becomes engaged to wealthy Mary Coronelli, and her snobbish aunt takes her to Europe to break up the affair. Using his own hard-earned savings, Joe goes after her, and is unjustly accused of embezzlement when the bakery funds are discovered missing. Riley the cop, a lifelong flatfoot well-liked by all, goes in pursuit of Joe; while in Europe, Riley falls in love with a German flapper in a beer garden, only to discover that she is the sister of Krausmeyer, the adjoining beat cop and Riley's nemesis. Riley brings Joe back to the United States, and he is proven innocent. All ends ...

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Joe Smith, an ordinary lad who works at the town bakery, becomes engaged to wealthy Mary Coronelli, and her snobbish aunt takes her to Europe to break up the affair. Using his own hard-earned savings, Joe goes after her, and is unjustly accused of embezzlement when the bakery funds are discovered missing. Riley the cop, a lifelong flatfoot well-liked by all, goes in pursuit of Joe; while in Europe, Riley falls in love with a German flapper in a beer garden, only to discover that she is the sister of Krausmeyer, the adjoining beat cop and Riley's nemesis. Riley brings Joe back to the United States, and he is proven innocent. All ends well.

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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.