On Trial is an early talking

Sound film

A sound film is a motion picture with synchronized sound, or sound technologically coupled to image, as opposed to a silent film. The first known public exhibition of projected sound films took place in Paris in 1900, but decades would pass before sound motion pictures were made commercially...

 drama film

Drama film

A drama film is a film genre that depends mostly on in-depth development of realistic characters dealing with emotional themes. Dramatic themes such as alcoholism, drug addiction, infidelity, moral dilemmas, racial prejudice, religious intolerance, poverty, class divisions, violence against women...

 produced and distributed by Warner Brothers and directed by Archie Mayo

Archie Mayo

Archie Mayo was a movie director and stage actor who moved to Hollywood in 1915 and began working as a director in 1917....

. The picture stars Pauline Frederick

Pauline Frederick

Pauline Frederick was a leading Broadway actress who later became known for her motion picture work.-Early years:...

, Lois Wilson

Lois Wilson

Lois Wilson may refer to:*Lois Wilson , wife of Alcoholics Anonymous founder Bill Wilson, founder of Al-Anon*Lois Miriam Wilson, first female Moderator of the United Church of Canada from 1980 to 1982...

, Bert Lytell

Bert Lytell

Bert Lytell , Born Bertram Lytell, he was a popular screen star of the silent film era who starred in romantic, melodrama and adventure films....

, Holmes Herbert

Holmes Herbert

Holmes Herbert was an English character actor who appeared in Hollywood films from 1915 to 1952.Born as 'Horace Jenner', Holmes Herbert emigrated to the United States in 1912. He was the first son of Ned Herbert , who worked as and actor/comedian in the English Theatre...

 and Jason Robards

Jason Robards, Sr.

Jason Nelson Robards, Sr. was an American stage and screen actor, and the father of Oscar-winning actor Jason Robards, Jr...

. Obviously a film where many a silent

Silent film

A silent film is a film with no synchronized recorded sound, especially with no spoken dialogue. In silent films for entertainment the dialogue is transmitted through muted gestures, pantomime and title cards...

 player was crossing over to sound for the first time. The film is based on the 1914 Broadway play written by Elmer Rice

Elmer Rice

Elmer Rice was an American playwright. He received the Pulitzer Prize for Drama for his 1929 play, Street Scene.-Early years:...

.

Plot

A man is put on trial for the murder on his best friend. A young attorney wants to become successful and decides to defend him. However, he is very inexperienced.

Cast

• Pauline Frederick
  Pauline Frederick
  Pauline Frederick was a leading Broadway actress who later became known for her motion picture work.-Early years:...
  
   - Joan Trask
• Bert Lytell
  Bert Lytell
  Bert Lytell , Born Bertram Lytell, he was a popular screen star of the silent film era who starred in romantic, melodrama and adventure films....
  
   - Robert Strickland
• Lois Wilson - May Strickland
• Holmes Herbert
  Holmes Herbert
  Holmes Herbert was an English character actor who appeared in Hollywood films from 1915 to 1952.Born as 'Horace Jenner', Holmes Herbert emigrated to the United States in 1912. He was the first son of Ned Herbert , who worked as and actor/comedian in the English Theatre...
  
   - Gerald Trask
• Richard Tucker
  Richard Tucker
  Richard Tucker was an American operatic tenor.-Early life:Tucker was born Rivn Ticker in Brooklyn, New York, into a family of Romanian immigrants from Bessarabia. His father, Shmul Ticker, and mother Fanya-Tsipa Ticker had already adopted the surname "Tucker" by the time their son entered first...
  
   - Prosecuting Attorney
• Jason Robards Sr. - Defense Attorney
• Franklin Pangborn
  Franklin Pangborn
  Franklin Pangborn was an American comedic character actor. Pangborn was famous for small, but memorable roles, with a comic flair. He appeared in many Preston Sturges movies as well as the W.C. Fields films International House, The Bank Dick, and Never Give a Sucker an Even Break...
  
   - Turnbull
• Fred Kelsey
  Fred Kelsey
  Frederick Alvin "Fred" Kelsey was an American actor, film director, and screenwriter. He appeared in 404 films between 1911 and 1958, often playing policemen or detectives . He also directed 37 films between 1914 and 1920...
  
   - Clerk
• Vondell Darr
  Vondell Darr
  Vondell Darr is an American actress. She was born in Los Angeles. She achieved success in the late 1920s as a child actor and later played bit parts in her adult years...
  
   - Doris Strickland

Other versions

• The film was first made in 1917
  1917 in film
  The year 1917 in film involved some significant events.-Events:*Foundation of Universum Film AG , as a propaganda film company, in Berlin.*Technicolor System 1, a two-color process, is introduced...
  
  , starring Barbara Castleton
  Barbara Castleton
  Barbara Castleton was an American silent film actress. Castleton appeared in motion pictures from 1914 through 1923, accumulating twenty-eight screen credits.-Career:...
  
  , Sidney Ainsworth
  Sidney Ainsworth
  Sidney Ainsworth was a screen and stage actor who appeared in his first movie in 1909. He was born in Manchester, England and died in Madison, Wisconsin, USA.-Filmography:*Mr. Barnes of New York .... Danella...
  
  , and Mary McAllister
  Mary McAllister
  -External links:...
  
  .
• It was remade again in 1939
  1939 in film
  The year 1939 in motion pictures can be justified as being called the most outstanding one ever, when it comes to the high quality and high attendance at the large set of the best films that premiered in the year .- Events :Motion picture historians and film often rate...
  
  , starring John Litel
  John Litel
  John Litel was an American film actor. During World War I, Litel enlisted in the French Army and was twice decorated for bravery....
  
  , Margaret Lindsay
  Margaret Lindsay
  Margaret Lindsay was an American film actress. Her time as a Warner Bros. contract player during the 1930s was particularly productive...
  
  , and Edward Norris
  Edward Norris
  -Selected filmography:-External links:...
  
  .