Skyscraper (1928 film)

Skyscraper is a 1928 American silent drama film directed by Howard Higgin. At the 2nd Academy Awards in 1930, Elliott J. Clawson was nominated for an Academy Award in the category Best Writing (Adapted Screenplay).^[1] Prints of the film exist.^[2]

Skyscraper
Lobby card
Directed by	Howard Higgin
Written by	Elliott J. Clawson Tay Garnett (titles) Dudley Murphy (story)
Produced by	Ralph Block Cecil B. DeMille (for PDC)
Starring	William Boyd
Cinematography	John W. Boyle
Edited by	Adelaide Cannon
Production company	DeMille Pictures Corporation
Distributed by	Pathé Exchange
Release date	April 8, 1928 (1928-04-08)
Running time	68 minutes
Country	United States
Language	Silent

Cast

• William Boyd as Blondy
• Alan Hale as Slim Strede
• Sue Carol as Sally
• Alberta Vaughn as Jane
• Wesley Barry as Redhead
• Paul Weigel as Redhead's father

Development

In 1927, Cecil B. DeMille charged Ayn Rand - at the time, recently arrived from the Soviet Union - with writing a script for what would become Skyscraper. The original story, by Dudley Murphy, was about two construction workers involved in building a New York skyscraper who are rivals for a woman's love. Rand rewrote the story, transforming the rivals into architects. One of them, Howard Kane, was an idealist dedicated to his mission and erecting the skyscraper despite enormous obstacles. The film would have ended with Kane's throwing back his head in victory, standing atop the completed skyscraper. DeMille rejected Rand's script, and the completed film followed Murphy's original idea, but Rand's version contained elements she would later use in The Fountainhead.^[3][4]