Applause (1929 film)
| Applause | |
|---|---|
Theatrical release poster | |
| Directed by | Rouben Mamoulian |
| Written by | Garrett Fort |
| Based on | Applause by Beth Brown |
| Produced by | Monta Bell Walter Wanger (uncredited) |
| Starring | Helen Morgan Jack Cameron Joan Peers |
| Cinematography | George J. Folsey |
| Edited by | John Bassler |
| Distributed by | Paramount Pictures |
Release dates |
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Running time | 80 minutes |
| Country | United States |
| Language | English |
Applause is a 1929 pre-Code American backstage musical "talkie" directed by Rouben Mamoulian in his directorial debut and starring Helen Morgan, Jack Cameron, and Joan Peers. It was shot at Paramount's Astoria Studios in Astoria, New York during the early years of sound films.
Applause is adapted from the 1928 novel by Beth Brown, a former chorus girl, about an aging burlesque queen who sacrifices herself for her daughter so that the latter can escape her mother's sordid fate.
The film is notable as one of the earliest films of its time to break free from the restrictions of bulky sound technology equipment in order to shoot on location around Manhattan. In 2006, Applause was included in the annual selection of 25 motion pictures added to the National Film Registry of the Library of Congress, being deemed "culturally, historically, or aesthetically significant" and recommended for preservation.
The film's copyright expired on January 1, 2025, resulting in the film entering the public domain.