On Trial
“SEE and HEAR WARNER BROS. 100% ALL-TALKING PICTURE”
Synopsis
A man is put on trial for the murder of his best friend. A young attorney wants to become successful and decides to defend him. However, he is very inexperienced.
Top Cast
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Pauline Frederick
Joan Trask
Bert Lytell
Robert Strickland
Lois Wilson
May Strickland
Holmes Herbert
Gerald Trask
Richard Tucker
Prosecuting Attorney
Jason Robards Sr.
Defense Attorney
Franklin Pangborn
Turnbull
Fred Kelsey
Clerk
Johnny Arthur
Stanley Glover
Vondell Darr
Doris Strickland
Edmund Breese
Judge
Edward Martindel
Dr. Morgan
Release History & Theatrical Window
December 1, 1928
Wide Cinema Exhibition
Financials & Box Office Performance
Production Budget
$130K
Filming & production cost
Worldwide Gross
$1.5M
Total global ticket sales
Box Office Return
11.18x
+$1.3M net gain
Theatrical Status
Mega Hit
Box office tier
Key Information & Fast Facts
- Director
- Archie Mayo
- Screenplay & Story
- Robert Lord
- Original Title
- On Trial
- Country of Origin
- United States of America
- Spoken Languages
- English
- Runtime
- 1h 31m
- Production Budget
- $130K
- Worldwide Gross
- $1.5M
- Production Studios
- Warner Bros. Pictures
Creative Leadership & Key Crew
Archie Mayo
Robert Lord, Elmer Rice
Byron Haskin
Thomas Pratt
Department Leadership Roster
Archie Mayo
Director
Robert Lord
Screenplay
Byron Haskin
Director of Photography
Thomas Pratt
Editor
Earl Luick
Costume Design
Age Classification & Content Advisories
Official viewer rating standards and content warnings across international classification boards.
NR: Not Rated — Evaluated outside standard classification boards.
International Certification Matrix
Not Rated — Evaluated outside standard classification boards.
Production Stills & Gallery
Official cinematic photography and background stills for On Trial.
Featured In Curated Collections
Editorial lists, community rankings, and cinematic collections featuring On Trial.
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Frequently Asked Questions About On Trial
Quick factual answers about cast, synopsis, director, box office, and release information.
What is On Trial about?
A man is put on trial for the murder of his best friend. A young attorney wants to become successful and decides to defend him. However, he is very inexperienced.
Who directed On Trial?
On Trial was directed by Archie Mayo.
Who stars in On Trial?
The principal cast of On Trial includes Pauline Frederick, Bert Lytell, Lois Wilson, Holmes Herbert, Richard Tucker.
When was On Trial released and how long is it?
On Trial was released in 1928 with a total runtime of 1h 31m.
What was the box office and production budget of On Trial?
On Trial had a reported production budget of $130K and grossed $1.5M at the worldwide box office (11.18 return on budget, classified as a blockbuster success).
What is the age rating and content advisory for On Trial?
On Trial holds official age classifications: US: NR (Not Rated — Evaluated outside standard classification boards.).