The Flag: A Story Inspired by the Tradition of Betsy Ross (1927) - Turner Classic Movies

Brief Synopsis

In this silent short film, George Washington appeals to Betsy Ross to help create a flag for the new United States.

Cast & Crew

Read More

Arthur Maude

Johnny Walker

Alice Calhoun

Francis X. Bushman

Enid Bennett

Samuel Bischoff

Film Details

Also Known As

Flag, The

Genre

Short

Drama

Historical

Silent

Release Date

1927

Production Company

Metro-Goldwyn-Mayer Studios Inc.; Technicolor Corporation

Distribution Company

Metro-Goldwyn-Mayer Studios Inc.

Technical Specs

Duration

19m

Synopsis

In this silent short film, George Washington appeals to Betsy Ross to help create a flag for the new United States.

Director

Arthur Maude

Cast

Johnny Walker

Alice Calhoun

Francis X. Bushman

Enid Bennett

Crew

Samuel Bischoff

L. V. Jefferson

Arthur Maude

Ray Rennahan

Cinematographer

Film Details

Also Known As

Flag, The

Genre

Short

Drama

Historical

Silent

Release Date

1927

Production Company

Metro-Goldwyn-Mayer Studios Inc.; Technicolor Corporation

Distribution Company

Metro-Goldwyn-Mayer Studios Inc.

Technical Specs

Duration

19m

Articles

The Flag: A Story Inspired by the Tradition of Betsy Ross

January 22, 2007

In an Independence Day salute to American composers, TCM honors Vivek Maddala, a 2000 Grand Prize winner of our Young Composers Competition, with a showing of the MGM Technicolor short The Flag: A Story Inspired by the Tradition of Betsy Ross (1927). Just this year, Maddala composed, orchestrated and conducted a new symphonic score for the film. A San Francisco-based composer, Maddala also has created scores for the classic silents The Ace of Hearts (1921), starring Lon Chaney, and The Mysterious Lady (1928), starring Greta Garbo.

The Flag, set during the days of the American Revolution, stars Francis X. Bushman as President George Washington and Enid Bennett as Betsy Ross, the flag maker who reputedly made the first American flag, which became a national emblem after being adopted by the Continental Congress in 1777. A year before The Flag, Bushman had his most famous role as Messala, Ramon Novarro's rival in Ben-Hur (1925).

Director: Arthur Maude
Screenplay: Arthur Maude
Cinematography: Ray Rennahan
Music: new score composed by Vivek Maddala
Cast: Francis X. Bushman (George Washington), Enid Bennett (Betsy Ross), Johnnie Walker (Charles Brandon), Alice Calhoun (Edith Brandon).
BW-20m.

By Roger Fristoe

The Flag: A Story Inspired By The Tradition Of Betsy Ross

The Flag: A Story Inspired by the Tradition of Betsy Ross

In an Independence Day salute to American composers, TCM honors Vivek Maddala, a 2000 Grand Prize winner of our Young Composers Competition, with a showing of the MGM Technicolor short The Flag: A Story Inspired by the Tradition of Betsy Ross (1927). Just this year, Maddala composed, orchestrated and conducted a new symphonic score for the film. A San Francisco-based composer, Maddala also has created scores for the classic silents The Ace of Hearts (1921), starring Lon Chaney, and The Mysterious Lady (1928), starring Greta Garbo. The Flag, set during the days of the American Revolution, stars Francis X. Bushman as President George Washington and Enid Bennett as Betsy Ross, the flag maker who reputedly made the first American flag, which became a national emblem after being adopted by the Continental Congress in 1777. A year before The Flag, Bushman had his most famous role as Messala, Ramon Novarro's rival in Ben-Hur (1925). Director: Arthur Maude Screenplay: Arthur Maude Cinematography: Ray Rennahan Music: new score composed by Vivek Maddala Cast: Francis X. Bushman (George Washington), Enid Bennett (Betsy Ross), Johnnie Walker (Charles Brandon), Alice Calhoun (Edith Brandon). BW-20m. By Roger Fristoe

Quotes

Trivia

By using this site, you agree to our updated Privacy Policy and our Terms of Use