All Quiet on the Western Front 1930  N/R, 140 min.
Genre: Drama / Action
Director: Lewis Milestone
Cast: Louis Wolheim, Lew Ayres, John Wray, Raymond Griffith, Slim Summerville, Fred Zinnemann, Russell Gleason, Ben Alexander, Harold Goodwin, William Bakewell, Arnold Lucy, Scott Kolk, Owen Davis Jr., Walter Rogers, Richard Alexander
The horrors of war along the Western Front during World War I are experienced by a group of young German soldiers and are told in this powerful story about the futility of war. Paul Bauman (Lew Ayres) and his classmates arrive on the front lines ready for battle. Their sergeant, Katczinsky (Louis Wolheim), briefs them on how to survive, but that night one of them is shot, and they learn that they are low on supplies and food. Now, they face days and nights fighting from the trenches and realize that fighting for their country is not what they had once believed it would be. The film won Academy Awards for Best Picture and Director.
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Buried Alive 1939  N/R, 74 min.
Genre: Drama
Director: Victor Halperin
Cast: Beverly Roberts, Robert Wilcox, George Pembroke, Ted Osborne, Paul McVey, Alden "Stephen" Chase, Don Rowan, George Lynn, Wheeler Oakman, Robert McKenzie, Robert Fiske, Boyd Irwin, Edward Earle, Norman Budd, Ben Alexander
Prison trustee Johnny Martin (Robert Wilcox) is blamed for the murder of a guard and is denied parole. He learns that he is in prison for political reasons and finds only one ally: nurse Joan Wright (Beverly Roberts).
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Criminals Within 1941  N/R, 67 min.
Genre: Drama
Director: Joseph H. Lewis
Cast: Eric Linden, Ann Doran, Constance Worth, Donald Curtis, Weldon Heyburn, Ben Alexander, Dudley Dickerson, Bernice Pilot, I. Stanford Jolley, Emmett Vogan, Boyd Irwin, William Ruhl
Corporal Greg Carroll (Eric Linden) is accused of stealing secret plans for a weapon. He decides to find the real culprits and breaks out of prison to do so. A cheap ho-hummer.
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Dragnet 1954  N/R, 90 min.
Genre: Drama
Director: Jack Webb
Cast: Jack Webb, Ben Alexander, Richard Boone, Ann Robinson, Stacy Harris, Virginia Gregg, Dennis Weaver, Cliff Arquette, Vic Perrin, James Griffith
This is the film version of the classic TV show, and does a good job of capturing the feel of the era. Sergeant Friday and Officer Frank Smith investigate a particularly brutal murder.
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Hearts in Bondage 1936  N/R, 72 min.
Genre: Drama
Director: Lew Ayres
Cast: James Dunn, Mae Clarke, David Manners, Charlotte Henry, Henry B. Walthall, Fritz Leiber, George Irving, Irving Pichel, J.M. Kerrigan, Frank McGlynn Sr., Ben Alexander, Oscar Apfel, Clay Clement, Edward Gargan
During the Civil War, a Union naval officer, Lieutenant Kenneth Reynolds (James Dunn), is stripped of his commission after he sinks, instead of obeying orders by Confederate forces to set fire to his ship, the Merrimac. Later, the Confederates raise the Merrimac and restore it. Meanwhile, Reynolds is reinstated and serves on the Monitor during which time he is involved in the historic battle of the Monitor and the Merrimac.
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The Life of Vergie Winters 1934  N/R, 82 min.
Genre: Drama
Director: Alfred Santell
Cast: Ann Harding, John Boles, Helen Vinson, Betty Furness, Frank Albertson, Lon Chaney Jr., Ben Alexander, Donald Crisp, Walter Brennan, Sara Haden
Based on Louis Bromfield's novel, this is the story of a woman (Ann Harding) who rises above petty gossip and makes a go of her life. A handkerchief may be needed for some.
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The Little American 1917 N/R, 80 min.
Genre: Action / Drama / Romance
Director: Cecil B. MeMille
Cast: Mary Pickford, Jack Holt, Raymond Hatton, Wallace Beery, Hobart Bosworth, DeWitt Jennings, Ben Alexander, Carl Gerard, Walter Long, James Neill, Colleen Moore, Ramon Novarro
The year is 1914, and American Angela Moore (Mary Pickford) has two suitors–Karl is from Germany, and Jules is French. Then war breaks out, and Karl and Jules return to their countries to fight. Angela sails for France to visit her aunt, but her ship is sunk by a U-boat. Angela survives and goes to her aunt's chateau where she learns that her aunt has died. Angela has inherited her aunt's chateau. The Germans attack, and Angela begins to send messages to the Allies but is caught and sentenced to be executed. Karl comes to her aid, denounces the Kaiser, and is also sentenced. Now, the French, along with Jules, arrive in time to free Mary and Karl who then sail back to the United States.
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Man in the Shadow 1957 N/R, 80 min.
Genre: Western
Director: Jack Arnold
Cast: Jeff Chandler, Orson Welles, Colleen Miller, Ben Alexander, James Gleason, Royal Dano, Paul Fix, Barbara Lawrence, John Larch, Leo Gordon
Powerful rancher Virgil Renchler (Orson Welles) has a Mexican laborer killed because he was involved with Renchler's daughter. A new sheriff, Ben Sadler (Jeff Chandler), proves to be an obstacle to Renchler's free run over people.
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The Outer Gate 1937 N/R, 62 min.
Genre: Drama
aka: Behind Prison Bars
Director: Raymond Cannon
Cast: Ralph Morgan, Kay Linaker, Ben Alexander, Eddie Acuff, Charles Brokaw
Bookkeeper Bob Terry (Ben Alexander) is in love with his boss John Borden's (Ralph Morgan) daughter Lois (Kay Linaker), and John disapproves of the relationship. Later, bonds are missing from the office, and John accuses Bob who is sent to prison. After the real thief is caught, Bob is released from jail, and vows to get revenge against his former employer.
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Red Lights Ahead 1936 N/R, 70 min.
Genre: Comedy
Director: Roland D. Reed
Cast: Andy Clyde, Lucile Gleason, Paula Stone, Roger Imhof, Frank Coghlan Jr., Ben Alexander, Ann Doran, Matty Kemp, Sam Flint, Addison Randall, Eleanor Stewart
Pa Wallace (Roger Imhof) invests in a gold mine on the advice of the president of his lodge, F.Q. Whitney (Sam Flint). They hit it big, and Pa moves his family into a mansion, hires a maid and butler, and enjoys the good life–until Whitney is arrested for swindling. The money disappears, and the Wallace family must move out of the mansion. But, Grandpa (Andy Clyde) bails them out and teaches his family a lesson about the value of working for their money.
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 Shall We Dance? 1937 N/R, 116 min.
Genre: Musical
Director: Mark Sandrich
Cast: Fred Astaire, Ginger Rogers, Edward Everett Horton, Eric Blore, Jerome Cowan, Ketti Gallian, Ben Alexander, Mantan Moreland, Ann Shoemaker, J.M. Kerrigan
While crossing the Atlantic by steamer, a Russian ballet dancer (Fred Astaire) and an American ballroom dancer (Ginger Rogers) meet and pretend to be husband and wife. George and Ira Gershwin songs in this film are great and include "Let's Call the Whole Thing Off," "They All Laughed," and "They Can't Take That Away from Me."
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This Day and Age 1933 N/R, 82 min.
Genre: Drama
Director: Cecil B. DeMille
Cast: Charles Bickford, Judith Allen, Richard Cromwell, Edward J. Nugent, Ben Alexander, Harry Green, Fuzzy Knight, Samuel S. Hinds, Wade Boteler, Billy Gilbert
Following a gangster killing, local teens take the law into their own hands and mete out justice. Interesting Cecil B. DeMille effort.
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| 1. All Quiet on the Western Front (1930)
2. Buried Alive (1939)
3. Criminals Within (1941)
4. Dragnet (1954)
5. Hearts in Bondage (1936)
6. The Legion of Missing Men (1937)
7. The Life of Vergie Winters (1934)
8. The Little American (1917)
9. Man in the Shadow (1957)
10. The Outer Gate (1937)
aka: Behind Prison Bars
11. Red Lights Ahead (1936)
12. Shall We Dance? (1937)
13. This Day and Age (1933)
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