The Scar of Shame

19291929
PassedPassed
1h 8m

IMDb RATING

6.2/10

422

YOUR RATING

POPULARITY

84,624

51,355

Harry Henderson, Norman Johnstone, Lucia Lynn Moses, and William E. Pettus in The Scar of Shame (1929)

Crime Drama Romance

An educated, upscale young black musician marries a woman from a lower socioeconomic class to get her out of the clutches of her stepfather, who beats and abuses her. However, once he "saves... Read allAn educated, upscale young black musician marries a woman from a lower socioeconomic class to get her out of the clutches of her stepfather, who beats and abuses her. However, once he "saves" her, he won't let his new wife meet his mother, as he knows she will be angry and disapp... Read allAn educated, upscale young black musician marries a woman from a lower socioeconomic class to get her out of the clutches of her stepfather, who beats and abuses her. However, once he "saves" her, he won't let his new wife meet his mother, as he knows she will be angry and disappointed with him for marrying someone "below his station".

IMDb RATING

6.2/10

422

YOUR RATING

POPULARITY

84,624

51,355

Top credits

See production, box office & company info

See more at IMDbPro

Awards
- 1 nomination

Photos6

Lucia Lynn Moses in The Scar of Shame (1929)

Harry Henderson, Norman Johnstone, and Lucia Lynn Moses in The Scar of Shame (1929)

Pearl McCormack in The Scar of Shame (1929)

Storyline

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Did you know

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Trivia
While appearing in this film, Lucia Lynn Moses was commuting back and forth between the studio in Philadelphia and a chorus-line spot at the Cotton Club in New York City.

Quotes
Title Card: One half the world doesn't know how the other half lives.

Alternate versions
The Library of Congress Video Collection has a restored version of this film with a new piano score composed and performed by Philip Carli. Its running time is 76 minutes. A small missing section is summarized by an intertitle. Other restoration credits: Simmon, Scott ....... restoration producer Fleming, Dina T. .... restoration production co-ordinator McConnell, Allan .... restoration magnetic recording laboratory head Winther, James ...... restoration videotape transfer and editor Chrisman, Paul ...... restoration music recordist DeAnna, Gene ........ restoration titles

Connections
Featured in American Experience: Midnight Ramble (1994)

User reviews20

Review

Featured review

7/10

Good if somewhat overly melodramatic

An all black silent film made exclusively for black audiences in the 1920s (back then theatres were segregated). Poor but beautiful Louise Howard (Lucia Lynn Moses) is beaten by her stepfather (William E Pettus) but dreams of a better life. She meets good honest Alvin Hillyard (Harry Henderson) and he falls in love with her. But her stepfather and evil Eddie Blake (Norman Johnson) aren't going to let her go without a fight.

Interesting from a historical standpoint and not too bad as a drama either. It does get overly melodramatic with a lot of eye-rolling speeches and gets more than a little ridiculous during it's last half hour but I was never bored. The acting is actually pretty good and it moves quickly. Also the cards telling us what's going on have some interesting designs. When Blake is introduced there's a wolf shown on the title card! So, a pretty good movie. Also interesting to see how blacks were shown and treated back then. A 7.

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