After Midnight with Boston Blackie 1943 N/R, 64 min. Genre: Mystery / Drama
Director: Lew Landers Cast: Chester Morris, George E. Stone, Richard Lane, Ann Savage, Lloyd Corrigan, Cy Kendall, George McKay, Al Hill, Walter Sande, Jan Buckingham, Walter Baldwin, Dick Elliott, Don Barclay, John Harmon, Heinie Conklin
In this episode of the "Boston Blackie" series, reformed thief Boston Blackie (Chester Morris) helps his former lover Betty Barnaby (Ann Savage) retrieve a sack of diamonds that her father had hidden after a robbery. Betty wants her father, Diamond Ed Barnaby (Walter Baldwin), to change his ways, but he is killed, and now Blackie is arrested for the crime. Of course, Blackie escapes, saves Betty who is kidnapped by those who murdered her father, stops the gang, and returns the jewels to the owners.
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Alibi 1929 N/R, 90 min. Genre: Drama
Director: Roland West Cast: Chester Morris, Harry Stubbs, Mae Busch, Eleanore Griffith, Irma Harrison, Regis Toomey, Al Hill, Purnell Pratt, Pat O'Malley, DeWitt Jennings
This early talkie (which was also released as a silent film) was a recipient of Academy Award nominations for Best Picture and Actor (Chester Morris, who plays the gangster Chick Williams). A warehouse robbery goes bad, results in a death, and Chick must come up with an alibi because he is the prime suspect. A tough story.
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The Bank Dick 1940 N/R, 74 min. Genre: Comedy
Director: Edward F. Cline Cast: W.C. Fields, Cora Witherspoon, Una Merkel, Evelyn Del Rio, Jessie Ralph, Franklin Pangborn, Shemp Howard, George Moran, Dick Purcell, Pierre Watkin, Eddie Acuff, Russell Hicks, Al Hill, Jack Norton, Bill Wolfe
After a bank robber trips over the park bench that barfly Egbert Souse (W.C. Fields) is lying on, the robber is caught, and Egbert becomes the town hero. Egbert is given a job at the bank as a guard and becomes involved in a bank scam convincing Og Oggilby (Grady Sutton)–who happens to be the fiance of Egbert's daughter Myrtle (Una Merkel)–to embezzle funds to buy shares in the Beefsteak Mines. When bank examiner J. Pinkerton Snoopington (Franklin Pangborn) arrives on the scene, mayhem ensues culminating in a great car chase. W.C. Fields' mastery of the comic art makes this film a classic.
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Call of the Prairie 1936 N/R, 65 min. Genre: Western
Director: Howard Bretherton Cast: William Boyd, Muriel Evans, James Ellison, George "Gabby" Hayes, Chester Conklin, Al Bridge, Chill Wills, Hank Mann, Al Hill, Willie Fung
Outlaws are thwarted when Hopalong Cassidy (William Boyd) sneaks up on them and then convinces them to change their ways.
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Eve Knew Her Apples 1945 N/R, 64 min. Genre: Comedy / Romance
Director: Will Jason Cast: Ann Miller, William Wright, Robert Williams, Ray Walker, Charles D. Brown, John Eldredge, Eddie Bruce, Frank Jaquet, Betty Hill, Syd Saylor, Si Jenks, Jessie Arnold, Al Hill
In this re-make of 1934's Academy Award winning "It Happened One Night," Ann Miller plays popular singer Eve Porter (rather than the rich heiress) who needs to get away for a vacation–and away from her stuffy fiance. So, she skips town by hiding in the back seat of a car owned by newspaper reporter Ward Williams (William Wright). And the fun and adventures begin as Ward seeks a good story while keeping a step ahead of her pursuers. Love blossoms.
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The Hat Box Mystery 1947 N/R, 44 min. Genre: Mystery
Director: Lambert Hillyer Cast: Tom Neal, Pamela Blake, Allen Jenkins, Virginia Sale, Leonard Penn, Olga Andre, Tom Kennedy, Edward Keane, Al Hill, Jack Cheatham, Zon Murray, Bob Nunes, William Ruhl
An assignment of private detective Russ' (Tom Neal) assistant/secretary Susan (Pamela Blake) turns into a murder case, and Susan is the primary suspect. Russ comes to her rescue. Filmed concurrently with "Case of the Baby-Sitter" and with several of the same stars.
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I Cover the Waterfront 1933 N/R, 70 min. Genre: Drama
Director: James Cruze Cast: Claudette Colbert, Ben Lyon, Ernest Torrence, Hobart Cavanaugh, Maurice Black, Purnell Pratt, Harry Beresford, George Humbert, Wilfred Lucas, Rosita Marstini, Lee Phelps, Al Hill
While covering waterfront stories, reporter Joe Miller (Ben Lyon) zeroes in on fishing captain Eli Kirk (Ernest Torrence) who Joe believes is involved in a smuggling operation. But, after meeting and falling in love with Eli's daughter, Julie (Claudette Colbert), Joe must deal with conflicting loyalties.
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Little Caesar 1931 N/R, 77 min. Genre: Drama
Director: Mervyn LeRoy Cast: Edward G. Robinson, Douglas Fairbanks Jr., Glenda Farrell, William Collier Jr., Stanley Fields, Sidney Blackmer, Ralph Ince, George E. Stone, Thomas E. Jackson, Armand Kaliz, Nicholas Bela, Landers Stevens, Al Hill, Tom McGuire, Lucille La Verne
Edward G. Robinson stars as small-time gangster Cesare Enrico "Rico" Bandello who, with his good friend Joe Massara (Douglas Fairbanks Jr.), joins Sam Vettori's (Stanley Fields) gang. When Cesare rises to become the leader of the gang, he takes on the moniker of "Little Caesar," and faces many problems–both personal and professional. This film marks the first "talkie" in the gangster genre and provides the vehicle for Robinson's certain stardom. Its success gave rise to many more gangster movies in the 1930s.
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Night After Night 1932 N/R, 70 min. Genre: Drama
Director: Archie Mayo Cast: George Raft, Constance Cummings, Wynne Gibson, Mae West, Alison Skipworth, Roscoe Karns, Louis Calhern, Bradley Page, Al Hill, Harry Wallace, George Templeton, Marty Martyn, Tom Kennedy
Retired boxer Joe Anton (George Raft) owns a New York speakeasy when he decides that marriage to socialite Miss Jerry Healy (Constance Cummings) will provide his entrance into society. But, complications arise when his old flame Maudie (Mae West) appears on the scene. While catching a glimpse of Maudie's diamonds, a hatcheck girl shouts, "Goodness, what beautiful diamonds." Maudie replies, "Goodness had nothing to do with it, dearie."
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Partners of the Plains 1938 N/R, 70 min. Genre: Western
Director: Lesley Selander Cast: William Boyd, Harvey Clark, Russell Hayden, Gwen Gaze, Hilda Plowright, John Warburton, Al Bridge, John Beach, Al Hill, Earle Hodgins
A lone woman is an inept rancher when she arrives in the West. However, Hopalong Cassidy (William Boyd) proves to be an able friend as he helps her over the rough spots and wards off an evil land grabber.
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Picture Brides 1934 N/R, 66 min. Genre: Adventure
Director: Phil Rosen Cast: Regis Toomey, Dorothy Mackaill, Dorothy Libaire, Alan Hale, Will Ahern, Mary Kornman, Fred Malatesta, Harvey Clark, Gladys Ahern, Esther Muir, Brooks Benedict, Viva Tattersall, Al Hill, Michael Visaroff
Five mail-order brides arrive at a remote mining community in the jungles of Brazil where all does not go as planned after the women are introduced to the harsh environment, lecherous men, and the unscrupulous mine boss (Alan Hale).
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The Racketeer 1929 N/R, 66 min. Genre: Drama
Director: Howard Higgin Cast: Robert Armstrong, Carole Lombard, Roland Drew, Jeanette Loff, John Loder, Paul Hurst, Kit Guard, Al Hill, Hedda Hopper, Winifred Harris, Budd Fine, Winter Hall
Fast-talking gangster Mahlon Keane (Robert Armstrong) helps Rhoda (Carole Lombard) win money cheating at poker. She plans to use the money to help her boyfriend, Tony (Roland Drew), who wants to be a classical violinist, but Mahlon has other plans for Rhoda's future.
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The Star 1952 N/R, 90 min. Genre: Drama
Director: Stuart Heisler Cast: Bette Davis, Sterling Hayden, Natalie Wood, Warner Anderson, Minor Watson, June Travis, Katherine Warren, Barbara Woodell, Fay Baker, Barbara Lawrence, Paul Frees, Robert Warrick, Herb Vigran, Byron Foulger, Al Hill
Aging star Margaret Elliot (Bette Davis) strives for a comeback and then realizes her time has passed, and she must look other places for pleasures in life. Davis received an Oscar nomination for Best Actress.
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| 1. After Midnight with Boston Blackie (1943)
2. Alibi (1929)
3. The Bank Dick (1940)
4. Call of the Prairie (1936)
5. Eve Knew Her Apples (1945)
6. The Hat Box Mystery (1947)
7. I Cover the Waterfront (1933)
8. Little Caesar (1931)
9. Night After Night (1932)
10. Partners of the Plains (1938)
11. Picture Brides (1934)
12. The Racketeer (1929)
13. The Star (1952)
In The News
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