The Swell Head

This article is about the 1928 short film. For the 1927 feature film, see The Swell-Head. For the 1930 feature film, see The Swellhead.

The Swell Head (also known as The Swelled Head and Eddie Foy, Jr., with Bessie Love in The Swelled Head)^[4][5][6] is a 1928 American romantic musical^[7] short starring Eddie Foy Jr. and Bessie Love, directed by Foy's brother Bryan. Variety mused that "this may be the first backstage sound short."^[2]

The Swell Head
Directed by	Bryan Foy[1]
Screenplay by	Hugh Hubert[2][3]
Starring	Eddie Foy Jr. Bessie Love
Production company	Warner Vitaphone[1]
Release date	March 1928 (1928-03) (U.S.)[4]
Running time	18 minutes;[2] 2 reels[3]
Country	United States
Language	English

The film is preserved at the UCLA Film & Television Archive.^[4]

Plot

A young man (Foy) and woman (Love) perform a vaudeville act multiple times a day. The young man's ego makes their collaboration difficult. When he is made aware of this, he changes his ways, and the pair fall in love.^[2][3]

Cast

• Eddie Foy Jr.
• Bessie Love
• Eugene Pallette
• Claude Sanders
• James T. Mack^[1][8]

Soundtrack

• "Cielito Lindo"
• "The Skaters' Waltz"
• "Turkey in the Straw"
• "Espanito"
• "Spring Song"^[6][8]

Production

A plagiarism lawsuit was filed against the studio.^[6]

Release and reception

Though it was a short film, because it was a sound film, it headlined at some theaters.^[9] The film had its New York premiere at the Strand Theatre.^[2]

Foy and Love received high praise for their performances,^[2][3] and the film left open the possibility for sequel shorts.^[2]