Paramount Famous Lasky
Directed by Ernst Lubitsch, “The Patriot,” a silent historical drama, starred Emil Jannings as the vicious lusty Russian czar, Paul I, and Lewis Stone as the man who masterminded his assassination.
After the film was shot, the studio synchronized some sound effects and the film opened in August 1928.
A film about the murder of Czar Paul I by his friend Count Pahlen. Had a decidedly tragic text, but Lubitsch stamped his signature, and made the film more in the vein of his sly and suave (serio) comedies
Emil Jannings, who was the first Best Actor Oscar winner, had returned to Germany by the time the film was released.
Oscar Nominations: 5
Best Production, produced by Ernst Lubitsch
Director: Ernst Lubitsch
Writing Achievement: Hans Kraly
Actor: Lewis Stone
Interior Decoration: Hans Dreier
Oscar Awards: 2
Writing Achievement
Oscar Context
In 1928-9, “The Patriot competed for the Best Production, as the top award was then called, with “Alibi,” “The Broadway Melody,” which won, “The Hollywood Revue of 1929,” and the Western “In Old Arizona.”
Frank Lloyd won the directing Oscar for “The Divine Lady,” and Cedric Gibbons the Art Direction for “The Bridge of San Luis Rey.”