Becky Sharp 1935  N/R, 83 min.
Genre: Drama
Director: Rouben Mamoulian
Cast: Miriam Hopkins, Frances Dee, Cedric Hardwicke, Billie Burke, Alison Skipworth, Nigel Bruce, Alan Mowbray, G.P. Huntley, William Stack, George Hassell, William Faversham, Charles Richman, Doris Lloyd, Colin Tapley
Often cited as the first full-length color movie, this film is based on William Makepeace Thackeray's "Vanity Fair." Miriam Hopkins takes on the title role of self-centered social-climber Becky Sharp who does not care how she gets there on her rise to the top of British society.
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The Casino Murder Case 1935  N/R, 82 min.
Genre: Mystery
Director: Edwin L. Marin
Cast: Paul Lukas, Alison Skipworth, Donald Cook, Rosalind Russell, Arthur Byron, Ted Healy, Eric Blore, Isabel Jewell, Louise Fazenda, Leslie Fenton, Leo G. Carroll, Purnell Pratt
Paul Lukas, accent and all, becomes the fourth Philo Vance. After people are poisoned, Philo is brought in to sort through the suspects in this stretch-in-credibility plot. Rosalind Russell was just beginning to blossom into stardom at the time of this film.
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Dangerous 1935 N/R, 80 min.
Genre: Drama
Director: Alfred E. Green
Cast: Bette Davis, Franchot Tone, Margaret Lindsay, Alison Skipworth, John Eldredge, Dick Foran, Pierre Watkin, Milton Kibbee, George Irving, Mary Treen
Bette Davis won the Oscar for her role as alcoholic ex-star Joyce Heath in this fair movie. Obviously, she is the highlight and makes it worth watching.
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The Devil Is a Woman 1935  N/R, 85 min.
Genre: Drama
Director: Josef von Sternberg
Cast: Marlene Dietrich, Lionel Atwill, Edward Everett Horton, Alison Skipworth, Cesar Romero, Don Alvarado, Tempe Pigott, Francisco Moreno, Hank Mann, Morgan Wallace, Lawrence Grant, Edwin Maxwell
Told in flashbacks, this story involves the memories of Captain Don Pasqual "Pasqualito" Costelar (Lionel Atwill) as he tells young military officer Antonio Galvan (Cesar Romero)–who has just met Concha Perez (Marlene Dietrich)–of the trials and tribulations he suffered when seduced by her many years before. Later that same evening, Pasqual encounters Antonio with Concha and, in a fit of jealousy, challenges him to a duel.
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The Girl from 10th Avenue 1935 N/R, 70 min.
Genre: Drama
Director: Alfred E. Green
Cast: Bette Davis, Ian Hunter, Colin Clive, Alison Skipworth, John Eldredge, Philip Reed, Katharine Alexander, Helen Jerome Eddy, Adrian Rosley, Mary Treen
Miriam (Bette Davis) helps her boss Geoffrey Sherwood (Ian Hunter) out of his alcoholic doldrums and into their marriage–just in time to be confronted with his ex-flame who now wants him back. Good performance, as usual, by Bette Davis, but lots of soap.
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Here Is My Heart 1934 N/R, 77 min.
Genre: Comedy
Director: Frank Tuttle
Cast: Bing Crosby, Kitty Carlisle, Roland Young, Alison Skipworth, Reginald Owen, Cecilia Parker, William Frawley, Akim Tamiroff, Charles Arnt, Charles C. Wilson
A radio star (Bing Crosby) pretends to be a waiter to get close to a princess (Kitty Carlisle). "Love is Just Around the Corner" is one of the featured songs in this musical comedy.
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King of the Newsboys 1938 N/R, 65 min.
Genre: Drama
Director: Bernard Vorhaus
Cast: Lew Ayres, Helen Mack, Alison Skipworth, Victor Varconi, Sheila Bromley, Alice White, Horace McMahon, William "Billy" Benedict, Ray Cooke, Jack Pennick, Mary Cornman, Gloria Rich, Oscar O'Shea, Marjorie Main
After Jerry Flynn's (Lew Ayres) girlfriend Mary Ellen Stephens (Helen Mack) gives in to her materialism and leaves him for gangster Wire Arno (Victor Varconi) who can give her all that she thinks she wants, Jerry pours his time and energy into a newspaper trucking business. His efforts pay off, Jerry obtains wealth, and sets out to regain Mary's affections. By story's end, Jerry has lost the business–but not Mary.
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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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The Notorious Sophie Lang 1934 N/R, 64 min.
Genre: Comedy
Director: Ralph Murphy
Cast: Gertrude Michael, Paul Cavanagh, Alison Skipworth, Arthur Byron, Leon Errol, Norman Ainsley, Arthur Hoyt, Ben Taggart, Ferdinand Gottschalk, Edward McWade
Sophie (Gertrude Michael) is a jewel thief who has been successful in England and now returns home to New York City. The police use the services of a European thief (Paul Cavanagh) to follow her, hoping she will lead them to bigger game. The nonstop chase is on in this so-so film, which was followed by two sequels.
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The Princess Comes Across 1936  N/R, 75 min.
Genre: Comedy
Director: William K. Howard
Cast: Carole Lombard, Fred MacMurray, Douglass Dumbrille, Alison Skipworth, William Frawley, Porter Hall, Sig Ruman, Mischa Auer, George Barbier, Lumsden Hare
Pretending to be Swedish Princess Olga (Carole Lombard), a young actress from Brooklyn falls in love while sailing across the sea to get a movie contract.
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Raffles 1930 N/R, 72 min.
Genre: Drama
Director: Harry d'Abbadie D'Arrast
Cast: Ronald Colman, Kay Francis, Bramwell Fletcher, Frances Dade, David Torrence, Alison Skipworth, John Rogers, Wilson Benge, Virginia Bruce
Based on E.W. Hornung's story of an ex-policeman (Ronald Colman) who finds thievery more profitable than that of his former profession, this is an entertaining film.
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Satan Met a Lady 1936 N/R, 74 min.
Genre: Mystery
Director: William Dieterle
Cast: Bette Davis, Warren William, Alison Skipworth, Arthur Treacher, Marie Wilson, Barbara Blane, Wini Shaw, Porter Hall, Olin Howland, Charles C. Wilson
This lackluster film is based loosely on "The Maltese Falcon." However, it is a ram's horn instead of a falcon that is being used to transport stolen jewels.
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Sinners in the Sun 1932 N/R, 70 min.
Genre: Drama
Director: Alexander Hall
Cast: Carole Lombard, Adrienne Ames, Chester Morris, Cary Grant, Walter Byron, Alison Skipworth, Rita La Roy, Ida Lewis, Reginald Barlow, Zita Moulton
When choosing between "money" and "love," a young woman learns that "love" is the best choice.
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Song of Songs 1933 N/R, 90 min.
Genre: Drama / Romance
Director: Rouben Mamoulian
Cast: Marlene Dietrich, Brian Aherne, Lionel Atwill, Alison Skipworth, Hardie Albright, Helen Freeman, Morgan Wallace, Wilson Benge, Hans Schumm, Eric Wilton, James A. Marcus, Florence Roberts, Adrienne D'Ambricourt
Peasant girl Lily Czepanek (Marlene Dietrich) is orphaned but finds a short happiness with aspiring sculptor Richard Waldrow (Brian Aherne). Then, Baron von Merzbach (Lionel Atwill) enters the picture, talks Richard into leaving Lily, and marries her himself. Lily is soon disgusted with the hedonistic Baron, and when Richard visits the castle, she learns about the deal the two men made. Lily leaves the Baron and heads for Berlin where she becomes a cabaret singer. One night, Richard appears at the nightclub and tells Lily that he still loves her. But, will Lily allow Richard back into her life?
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Tonight or Never 1931 N/R, 80 min.
Genre: Comedy
Director: Mervyn LeRoy
Cast: Gloria Swanson, Melvyn Douglas, Ferdinand Gottschalk, Robert Greig, Alison Skipworth, Warburton Gamble, Greta Meyer, Boris Karloff, J. Carrol Naish, Eric Mayne
Young opera singer Nella Vago (Gloria Swanson) lacks passion in her performances. But, a holiday in Venice improves her ability to exhibit passion after she meets and falls for handsome Jim Fletcher (Melvin Douglas), and her career zooms upward.
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| 1. Becky Sharp (1935)
2. The Casino Murder Case (1935)
3. Dangerous (1935)
4. The Devil Is a Woman (1935)
5. The Girl from 10th Avenue (1935)
6. Here Is My Heart (1934)
7. King of the Newsboys (1938)
8. Night After Night (1932)
9. The Notorious Sophie Lang (1934)
10. The Princess Comes Across (1936)
11. Raffles (1930)
12. Satan Met a Lady (1936)
13. Sinners in the Sun (1932)
14. Song of Songs (1933)
15. Tonight or Never (1931)
In The News
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