Blonde Crazy 1931  N/R, 78 min.
Genre: Comedy
Director: Roy Del Ruth
Cast: James Cagney, Joan Blondell, Louis Calhern, Noel Francis, Guy Kibbee, Ray Milland, Charles(1) Lane, Maude Eburne, Nat Pendleton, Russell Hopton
Bert and Ann (James Cagney and Joan Blondell) are a couple of con artists who go from town to town cheating people out of their money. After being tricked out of their own money, they plot to get it back. This is sort of an early version of "The Sting."
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The Canary Murder Case 1929  N/R, 80 min.
Genre: Mystery
Director: Malcolm St. Clair, Frank Tuttle
Cast: William Powell, Louise Brooks, Jean Arthur, James Hall, Eugene Pallette, Gustav von Seyffertitz, Charles(1) Lane, Lawrence Grant, Ned Sparks, Louis John Bartels
This is the first of what would be a series of mysteries centered on the sophisticated Philo Vance. The films spanned nearly 20 years with several actors in the lead role, though William Powell is generally associated with the films. Beautiful nightclub singer Margaret (Louise Brooks), also called the "Canary," is not a nice person. She has affairs with, then blackmails, wealthy men. After meeting her true love, Jimmy (James Hall), she demands one lump-sum payment from each of her playboys. When she is murdered, Jimmy is suspected, and Philo enters the scene to solve the crime. Originally completed as a silent film, the cast was called back to dub the sound. Louise Brooks, an up-and-comer, refused, thus effectively ending her career (except for a few low-budget films).
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 Dr. Jekyll and Mr. Hyde 1920  N/R, 63 min.
Genre: Horror / Drama / Thriller
Director: John S. Robertson
Cast: John Barrymore, Martha Mansfield, Brandon Hurst, Charles(1) Lane, Nita Naldi, Louis Wolheim, Cecil Clovelly, J. Malcolm Dunn, George Stevens
A London physician, Dr. Jekyll (John Barrymore), discovers a potion that changes him into the evil Mr. Hyde. Eventually, Mr. Hyde takes over and commits a murder. Dr. Jekyll manages to kill Mr. Hyde–and in the process himself–and brings an end to the horrid deeds of Mr. Hyde. A good rendition of the story that has been made many times.
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Fit for a King 1937 N/R, 73 min.
Genre: Comedy
Director: Edward Sedgwick
Cast: Joe E. Brown, Helen Mack, Paul Kelly, Harry Davenport, Halliwell Hobbes, John Qualen, Donald Briggs, Frank Reicher, Russell Hicks, Charles Trowbridge, Robert Warwick, Charles(1) Lane
Cub reporter Virgil Jones (Joe E. Brown) is assigned to write a story about Archduke Julio (Harry Davenport) and, in the process, falls in love with a princess (Helen Mack). In a comedy of errors, Virgil uncovers a plot to kill the archduke and princess, foils the plot, and wins the heart of the princess who is now a queen.
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 Gold Diggers of 1933 1933 N/R, 96 min.
Genre: Musical
Director: Mervyn LeRoy
Cast: Joan Blondell, Ruby Keeler, Aline MacMahon, Dick Powell, Guy Kibbee, Warren William, Ned Sparks, Ginger Rogers, Sterling Holloway, Ferdinand Gottschalk, Billy Barty, Hobart Cavanaugh, Busby Berkeley, Charles(1) Lane, Tammany Young
This musical proved so popular that two sequels were made: one in 1935 and another in 1937. Unemployed showgirls Carol (Joan Blondell), Polly (Ruby Keeler), and Trixie (Aline MacMahon) want to perform in a musical, and IF Polly will play the lead, singer-composer Brad Roberts (Dick Powell) will foot the bill. Brad and Polly are in love, but Brad's wealthy family disapproves and will stop at nothing to break them up–but they fail, and the show goes on. Ginger Rogers sings "We're in the Money" while wearing only silver dollars in one of the great Busby Berkeley production numbers.
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The Milky Way 1936 N/R, 83 min.
Genre: Comedy
Director: Leo McCarey
Cast: Harold Lloyd, Adolphe Menjou, Verree Teasdale, Helen Mack, George Barbier, Lionel Stander, William Gargan, Charles(1) Lane, Marjorie Gateson, Milburn Stone, Anthony Quinn
Harold Lloyd is very amusing in his role of the milkman who rises in the ranks to become a champion boxer–mostly due to his manager's wheeling and dealing. A young Anthony Quinn is seen fleetingly.
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Sadie Thompson 1928 N/R, 97 min.
Genre: Drama / Romance
Director: Raoul Walsh
Cast: Gloria Swanson, Lionel Barrymore, Raoul Walsh, Blanche Friderici, Charles(1) Lane, James A. Marcus, Florence Midgley, Sophia Artega, Will Stanton, Charles Sullivan
Gloria Swanson plays the prostitute Sadie Thompson who arrives on Pago Pago in the South Pacific and finds true love with Marine Sgt. Tim O'Hara (Raoul Walsh). Now, Sadie runs head-on into hypocritical preacher Alfred Hamilton (Lionel Barrymore) who is not pleased with her relationship with Tim and tells her that he will expose Sadie's prostitution background to the authorities if she will not leave the island. But, one night Hamilton seduces Sadie, and then his guilt causes him to commit suicide. This allows Sadie to reunite with Tim, and they prepare to begin a new life together. Swanson received an Oscar nomination for Best Actress.
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Smart Money 1931 N/R, 90 min.
Genre: Drama
Director: Alfred E. Green
Cast: Edward G. Robinson, James Cagney, Evalyn Knapp, Ralf Harolde, Noel Francis, Maurice Black, Boris Karloff, Paul Porcasi, Ben Taggart, Morgan Wallace, Margaret Livingston, Billy House, Charles(1) Lane, Donald Cook
Nick (Edward G. Robinson) is a barber who is lucky in cards. His friends give him financial backing, and he heads for the city with his younger brother Jack (James Cagney) who is there to protect Nick from those who would steal from him. Nick hits it big in gambling, but he does have a weakness for blondes, and Sleepy Sam's (Ralf Harolde) girl (Noel Francis) gets Nick into a rigged game, and Nick loses everything. Jack tries to help, but tragedy awaits when Nick accidentally kills Jack and is sent to jail on manslaughter charges.
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| 1. Blonde Crazy (1931)
2. The Canary Murder Case (1929)
3. The Dark Angel (1925)
4. Dr. Jekyll and Mr. Hyde (1920)
5. Fit for a King (1937)
6. Gold Diggers of 1933 (1933)
7. The Milky Way (1936)
8. Sadie Thompson (1928)
9. Smart Money (1931)
10. The Winning of Barbara Worth (1926)
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