Ned McCobb's Daughter is a 1928 American synchronized sound drama film directed by William J. Cowen and starring Irene Rich, Theodore Roberts, and Robert Armstrong. While the film has no audible dialog, it was released with a synchronized musical score with sound effects using the RCA Photophone sound-on-film process.
Carrie Callahan (Irene Rich) runs a bustling restaurant serving "Carried Shore Dinners" in part of the large seaside home of her father, Ned McCobb (Theodore Roberts), a retired sea captain who now pilots the local ferry. Her husband, George Callahan (George Barraud), works alongside them, collecting fares from ferry passengers.
GeorgeâÂÂs brother, Babe Callahan (Robert Armstrong), a bootlegger posing as a building materials dealer, arrives with plans to use McCobbâÂÂs Ferry as a liquor distribution hub. Carrie, unaware of BabeâÂÂs true occupation, welcomes him with open-hearted New England hospitality. But Butterworth (Edward Hearn) and Kelly (Louis Natheaux), two suspicious prohibition agents who frequent CarrieâÂÂs restaurant, quickly grow wary of the new guest.
Carrie knows George once served time in prison, a secret she has kept from her father, but believes him to be reformed. In truth, George has been embezzling fare money to buy gifts for Jennie (Carole Lombard), a waitress in the restaurant with whom he is having an affair. When the transportation company uncovers the theft, the evidence emerges shortly after BabeâÂÂs arrival. The shock causes Ned McCobb to suffer a fatal stroke.
The company demands George repay $2,000 immediately to avoid prosecution. Carrie learns that George already persuaded her father to mortgage the McCobb house for a loan. Desperate and without options, she accepts BabeâÂÂs offer to cover the debtâÂÂon the condition that she allow him to base his bootlegging operation at the house. Reluctantly, she agrees, though the choice torments her conscience.
Jennie initially agrees to run off with George, but changes her mind upon discovering he intends to steal the money Carrie borrowed from Babe. Outraged, Carrie throws them out, but Babe insists they stay to preserve appearances critical to the success of his smuggling scheme.
Babe sets up headquarters in the basement, hiding liquor in a secret cache. Trucks with false bottoms carry the contraband, disguised under loads of sand meant for his phony building enterprise. His gang of rough bootleggers begins to overrun the restaurant, replacing its once-respectable patrons. Despite the grim transformation, Babe comes to admire CarrieâÂÂs strength and integrity, warning his men to treat her with respect. Carrie, in turn, sees in Babe a courageous if rough-edged manâÂÂso unlike her weak, dishonest husband. She tells him, âÂÂYouâÂÂre a man, like Pa.âÂÂ
Meanwhile, the prohibition officers plan a raid. Kelly begins snooping, and George, hoping to save himself, betrays BabeâÂÂs operation. But Kelly pulls out a pair of handcuffs, revealing GeorgeâÂÂs reward is arrest. In a panic, George kills him. Babe arrives, and though tempted to flee, chooses to stay and help Carrie and her children. He and George hide the body, narrowly evading a police raid.
Though nothing is found in the house, the officers discover the hidden compartments in the trucks and plan an ambush at a nearby bridge. Babe forces George to place KellyâÂÂs body in one of the trucks and drive itâÂÂaccompanied by his own children, whom George brings along to avoid suspicion. Carrie, horrified, turns to Babe for help.
A wild pursuit ensues. George speeds down a steep grade, but his truckâÂÂs brake rod snaps. Babe races alongside in another truck, risking his life to rescue the childrenâÂÂa little girl (Carmencita Johnson) and a little boy (Billy Naylor)âÂÂpulling them to safety moments before George's truck plunges off the bridge. George, too frightened to jump, perishes in the crash.
The authorities arrest Babe, but spare Carrie, recognizing her suffering. Before being taken away, Babe grasps her hand. "The Callahans have given you a raw deal," he says. "Will you let me try to make it up when I get out?" CarrieâÂÂs tearful eyes and swift kiss are her answer.
The song "High Up On A Hill Top" by Ian Campbell, Abel Baer, and George Whiting is featured on the soundtrack as the theme song.
This film is now lost.