The First Degree (1923)
55 mins | Melodrama | 5 February 1923
Director:
Edward SedgwickWriter:
George Randolph ChesterCinematographer:
Benjamin KlineProduction Company:
Universal PicturesThe scenario was based on the short story, "The Summons" by George Parullo, which first appeared in the 14 Feb 1914 Saturday Evening Post. The same title was initially given to the film while it was in production, as noted in the 7 Oct 1922 Motion Picture News. Principal photography was completed in early Oct 1922 at Universal Studios in Universal City, CA, as indicated by a chart in the 14 Oct 1922 Camera. That same issue also credited Edward Sedgwick as director. Three days earlier, the 11 Oct 1922 Film Daily claimed that William Worthington had directed the picture.
The film’s official title, The First Degree, was announced in the 11 Nov 1922 Camera, and listed in the 2 Dec 1922 Motion Picture News as one of nine winter 1923 releases “personally endorsed” by Universal president Carl Laemmle.
The First Degree opened on 5 Feb 1923, followed by a New York City opening on 6 Feb 1923 at Loew’s New York Theatre.
An unrelated short comedy, also titled The First Degree, was released by Educational Pictures in 1922.
According to the International Federation of Film Archives (FIAF) Treasures from the Film Archives database, there is no known extant print of this film, as of 9 Oct 2020. ...
The scenario was based on the short story, "The Summons" by George Parullo, which first appeared in the 14 Feb 1914 Saturday Evening Post. The same title was initially given to the film while it was in production, as noted in the 7 Oct 1922 Motion Picture News. Principal photography was completed in early Oct 1922 at Universal Studios in Universal City, CA, as indicated by a chart in the 14 Oct 1922 Camera. That same issue also credited Edward Sedgwick as director. Three days earlier, the 11 Oct 1922 Film Daily claimed that William Worthington had directed the picture.
The film’s official title, The First Degree, was announced in the 11 Nov 1922 Camera, and listed in the 2 Dec 1922 Motion Picture News as one of nine winter 1923 releases “personally endorsed” by Universal president Carl Laemmle.
The First Degree opened on 5 Feb 1923, followed by a New York City opening on 6 Feb 1923 at Loew’s New York Theatre.
An unrelated short comedy, also titled The First Degree, was released by Educational Pictures in 1922.
According to the International Federation of Film Archives (FIAF) Treasures from the Film Archives database, there is no known extant print of this film, as of 9 Oct 2020.
Sam Bass receives a summons to testify in a sheep-rustling case before a grand jury, but he assumes that it concerns the murder of his brother, Will. The conscience-stricken Sam confesses that he killed his brother in a fight after Will framed him for bank robbery and then blackmailed him. However, the jury is sympathetic and refuses to indict Sam. The next witness is Will, very much alive, who is ultimately convicted of both sheep-rustling and ...
Sam Bass receives a summons to testify in a sheep-rustling case before a grand jury, but he assumes that it concerns the murder of his brother, Will. The conscience-stricken Sam confesses that he killed his brother in a fight after Will framed him for bank robbery and then blackmailed him. However, the jury is sympathetic and refuses to indict Sam. The next witness is Will, very much alive, who is ultimately convicted of both sheep-rustling and blackmail.
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