Inherit the Wind (1960) in Color — Starring Spencer Tracy & Fredric March

Interference (1928) — Buy This Classic in Color

Buy Interference (1928) in color — Lothar Mendes and Roy Pomeroy’s pioneering all-talking drama that marked Paramount’s bold leap into the sound era. Starring William Powell, Evelyn Brent, Clive Brook, and Doris Kenyon. Paramount’s All Talking Picture — available now as an instant, DRM-free digital download.

Plot Summary

Sir John Dowan (Clive Brook) is a respected London gentleman who has rebuilt his life and reputation after the presumed death of his first wife, Deborah Kane (Evelyn Brent). He has married the gentle and devoted Faith (Doris Kenyon), and together they enjoy a quiet, respectable existence in fashionable society. Their happiness is shattered when Deborah, far from dead, reappears in London. She has spent years living a shadowy and troubled life on the Continent, and her return threatens to expose secrets that could destroy Sir John’s standing and his marriage. Philip Dowan (William Powell), a charming but morally compromised man entangled in Deborah’s past, becomes a dangerous figure in the unfolding crisis. Philip knows damaging truths about both Deborah and Sir John, and he is willing to use that knowledge for his own purposes. Deborah, desperate and unstable, attempts to manipulate the situation to reclaim some hold on her former husband, while Faith gradually becomes aware that her seemingly perfect marriage rests on foundations she never understood. The tension mounts as Sir John is forced to confront the consequences of decisions made years earlier, and Deborah’s presence grows increasingly threatening to everyone involved. Philip’s scheming reaches a critical point when Deborah takes drastic action to prevent the exposure she fears most, and Sir John must decide how far he is willing to go to protect the woman he now loves. The resolution hinges on sacrifice, deception, and a devastating moral choice that leaves no one untouched. The drawing rooms of Edwardian London become a claustrophobic arena where love, duty, and self-preservation collide, and the final act delivers a shocking twist that challenged audiences accustomed to neat Hollywood endings. The film builds its suspense through dialogue and character rather than spectacle, proving that the new technology of synchronized sound could serve sophisticated storytelling.

Cast & Crew

• Directors: Lothar Mendes, Roy Pomeroy
• Starring: William Powell as Philip Dowan, Evelyn Brent as Deborah Kane, Clive Brook as Sir John Dowan, Doris Kenyon as Faith Dowan
• Runtime: 75 minutes
• Year: 1928
• Rated: Approved
• Genre: Drama, Romance
• Country: USA

Why Buy This Classic in Color?

This professionally colorized version of Interference brings breathtaking new life to Paramount’s historic first all-talking picture. The frame-by-frame colorization process reveals the elegant world of late 1920s London society in rich, atmospheric detail — the warm mahogany of gentlemen’s clubs, the deep greens and burgundies of fashionable drawing rooms, and the cool grey of rain-slicked streets outside. William Powell’s magnetic screen presence gains extraordinary depth in color, with every subtle shift of expression rendered in naturalistic tones that highlight his masterful underplaying. Evelyn Brent’s Deborah Kane emerges as a more complex and sympathetic figure when her wan complexion and shadowed eyes tell the visual story of years of hardship and regret. Clive Brook’s impeccable English restraint is perfectly served by the muted, conservative palette of his surroundings, while Doris Kenyon’s Faith radiates warmth in soft pastels that underscore her gentle nature. The contrast between the bright, secure world of the Dowan household and the darker, more ambiguous spaces where Deborah and Philip operate becomes a powerful visual motif in this colorized version. Every carefully dressed set and period costume reveals new details that were invisible in the original black and white photography. This restored and colorized edition preserves the groundbreaking sound design that made Interference a landmark in cinema history while adding a visual dimension that draws modern viewers deeper into its world of secrets and sacrifice.

Historical Significance

Interference holds a unique place in cinema history as Paramount Pictures’ first all-talking feature film, released in November 1928 during the revolutionary transition from silent films to sound. Based on the successful stage play by Roland Pertwee and Harold Dearden, the film demonstrated that synchronized dialogue could serve a sophisticated, adult drama rather than merely novelty musical numbers. Roy Pomeroy, who had won the first Academy Award for Engineering Effects for his work on Wings (1927), co-directed to ensure technical excellence in the sound recording. William Powell, who would go on to become one of Hollywood’s biggest stars in The Thin Man series, delivered one of the earliest acclaimed performances in a talking picture. The film proved that actors with strong vocal abilities — particularly stage-trained performers like Clive Brook and Evelyn Brent — would thrive in the new sound era. Interference was both a critical and commercial success, helping to cement Paramount’s reputation as a leader in the transition to talkies and influencing the studio’s decision to convert its entire production slate to sound. The classic film remains an essential document of Hollywood’s most transformative technological moment.

Technical Details

• Original Format: Black and White (1928)
• Colorized: Professional frame-by-frame HD colorization and restoration
• Resolution: HD 720p
• File Format: MP4 / MKV
• Running Time: 75 minutes
• Language: English
• Delivery: Instant download link on-screen and sent to your email upon purchase
• Price: €15.00
• License: Personal, non-commercial use

Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ)

Why is Interference historically important?
Interference was Paramount Pictures’ first all-talking feature film, released in 1928 at the dawn of the sound era. It proved that synchronized dialogue could carry a sophisticated dramatic narrative, not just musical novelty, and helped establish the template for the talking pictures that would permanently transform Hollywood.

Who directed Interference?
The film was co-directed by Lothar Mendes and Roy Pomeroy. Mendes handled the dramatic direction while Pomeroy, an Academy Award-winning technical innovator, supervised the sound recording and technical aspects of the production.

Is William Powell in this film?
Yes, William Powell stars as Philip Dowan, displaying the suave charm and intelligence that would later make him famous as Nick Charles in The Thin Man series. This is one of his earliest significant roles in a talking picture.

What is the film about?
Interference tells the story of Sir John Dowan, a London gentleman whose seemingly perfect second marriage is threatened when his first wife, presumed dead, reappears. The resulting web of secrets, manipulation, and moral choices drives the film toward a shocking conclusion.

Is this the original film with added color?
Yes, this is the complete original 1928 film that has been restored and enhanced with professional colorization technology. Every scene and all original dialogue are preserved exactly as intended.

What devices can I watch this on?
You can watch this colorized version on any device that plays MP4 or MKV files, including computers, tablets, smartphones, smart TVs, and media players like Roku or Apple TV.

Is the download DRM-free?
Absolutely. Your purchase is completely DRM-free, meaning you own the file outright with no restrictions on how many times you watch it or on which devices you play it.

How and when will I receive my download?
You will receive your download link instantly on-screen after purchase, and a backup link will also be sent to your email address. No waiting period — you can start watching immediately.

How much does it cost to buy this colorized classic?
The price for this restored and professionally colorized edition is €15.00 — a one-time payment for a permanent, DRM-free download you can watch anytime.

Also available in colour for international viewers. This restored and professionally colorized edition of Interference brings Paramount’s groundbreaking first talkie to vivid new life for a generation of classic film fans. Watch this landmark classic movie and experience the colorization that reveals every detail of its elegant drama of secrets and sacrifice.

Related Colorized Classics

• The Last Command (1928)
• Judgment at Nuremberg (1961)
• The Last Hurrah (1958)
• Pat and Mike (1952)
• The Letter (1940)