Charlie Chan at the Wax Museum 1940 N/R, 64 min. Genre: Mystery
Director: Lynn Shores Cast: Sidney Toler, C. Henry Gordon, Marc Lawrence, Marguerite Chapman, Victor Sen Yung, Joan Valerie, Michael Visaroff, Charles Trowbridge, Eddie Marr, Joe King, Ted Osborne, Hilda Vaughn, Charles Wagenheim, Archie Twitchell, Harold Goodwin
Steve McBirney (Marc Lawrence) has escaped from the New York City courthouse after being convicted of murder. McBirney wants revenge against Charlie Chan (Sidney Toler) who was the chief witness against him at the trial. The museum is run by plastic surgeon Dr. Cream (C. Henry Gordon) who performs facial surgeries on fugitives so that they look like the wax dummies, including Jack the Ripper and Bluebeard. Chan is lured to the museum with his son Jimmy (Victor Sen Yung), and McBirney awaits–ready to strike.
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The Dark Corner 1946 N/R, 99 min. Genre: Drama
Director: Henry Hathaway Cast: Mark Stevens, Lucille Ball, Clifton Webb, William Bendix, Kurt Kreuger, Cathy Downs, Reed Hadley, Constance Collier, Molly Lamont, Minerva Urecal, Matt McHugh, Forbes Murray, Charles Wagenheim, Ellen Corby, John Goldsworthy
Ex-con Bradford Galt (Mark Stevens) goes back to his private investigator business upon release from jail. He soon notices that someone–Stauffer, alias Fred Foss (William Bendix)–is tailing him, but what he does not know at this point is that he is being set up to take the blame for the murder of his ex-partner Anthony Jardine (Kurt Kreuger). Now, Bradford is on the lam, and his secretary, Kathleen Stewart (Lucille Ball), steps in to save the day.
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The Diary of Anne Frank 1959 N/R, 170 min. Genre: Drama
Director: George Stevens Cast: Millie Perkins, Joseph Schildkraut, Shelley Winters, Ed Wynn, Lou Jacobi, Richard Beymer, Gusti Huber, Diane Baker, Douglas Spencer, Charles Wagenheim, Dodie Heath, Edmund Purdom
Anne (Millie Perkins) and her parents, the Van Daans (Lou Jacobi and Shelley Winters), are Jews hiding from the Nazis in Amsterdam during World War II. This is Anne's story about coming of age in an attic surrounded by the threat of immediate death. Anne wrote, "In spite of everything, I still believe that people are really good at heart." Shelley Winters won an Oscar for Best Supporting Actress. Oscars were also presented for Art Direction/Set Decoration and Cinematography. The film was nominated for five other Academy Awards, including Best Picture.
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Foreign Correspondent 1940 N/R, 119 min. Genre: Adventure / Drama / Mystery / Thriller / Romance
Director: Alfred Hitchcock Cast: Joel McCrea, Laraine Day, Herbert Marshall, George Sanders, Albert Bassermann, Robert Benchley, Edmund Gwenn, Eduardo Ciannelli, Harry Davenport, Ian Wolfe, Martin Kosleck, Frances Carson, Charles Wagenheim, Charles Halton, Eddie Conrad
At the beginning of World War II, American reporter Johnny Jones (Joel McCrea) is sent to Europe where he witnesses the assassination of Dutch diplomat Van Meer (Albert Basserman). Looking into the matter, Johnny finds a huge conspiracy, and, with help from peace advocate Stephen Fisher's (Herbert Marshall) daughter Carol (Laraine Day), he uncovers Nazi plans to conquer Europe. But, discovering the plans will lead to a dangerous journey as Johnny puts together clues to discover who is the leader of the deadly plot. The film received six Academy Award nominations, including Best Picture and Supporting Actor (Basserman). This is one of Alfred Hitchcock's best films.
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The House on 92nd Street 1945 N/R, 88 min. Genre: Drama
Director: Henry Hathaway Cast: William Eythe, Lloyd Nolan, Signe Hasso, Leo G. Carroll, Gene Lockhart, Lydia St. Clair, Reed Hadley, William Post Jr., Harry Bellaver, Charles Wagenheim
FBI agent Bill Dietrich (William Eythe) is given the job of breaking up a Nazi spy ring that is attempting to steal atomic bomb secrets. This film is an excellent example of how actual documentary film footage can be interwoven with a Hollywood film.
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The House on Telegraph Hill 1951 N/R, 93 min. Genre: Drama / Thriller
Director: Robert Wise Cast: Richard Basehart, Valentina Cortese, William Lundigan, Fay Baker, Gordon Gebert, Kei Thin Chung, Steven Geray, Herbert Butterfield, John Burton, Katherine Meskill, Mario Siletti, Charles Wagenheim, David Clarke, Natasha Lytess
After surviving a Nazi concentration camp imprisonment during World War II, Victoria (Valentina Cortese) takes the identity of her friend, Karin (Natasha Lytess), who died in the camp. Victoria visits Karin's young son, Chris (Gordon Gebert), who lives in a mansion on Telegraph Hill in San Francisco, and she pretends to be his mother. Events take a turn when Chris' aunt/guardian is murdered to obtain the family fortune, and Victoria is scheduled to be the next victim. Once again, money does not buy happiness, and dangers lie ahead.
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Lonely Are the Brave 1962 N/R, 107 min. Genre: Western
Director: David Miller Cast: Kirk Douglas, Gena Rowlands, Walter Matthau, Michael Kane, Carroll O'Connor, George Kennedy, William Schallert, Karl Swenson, Bill Bixby, Martin Garralaga, William Mims, Lalo Rios, Harry Lauter, Charles Wagenheim, Dan White
Jack Burns (Kirk Douglas) is an aging cowboy having trouble relating to the contemporary world. He gets imprisoned in an effort to rescue his jailed friend, Paul Bondi (Michael Kane). When Burns discovers that Bondi is reluctant to escape, he breaks out of jail alone. Now Burns escapes on his horse, and he is chased by Sheriff Morey Johnson (Walter Matthau)–along with jeeps and helicopters–as he heads for the border.
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Meet Boston Blackie 1941 N/R, 61 min. Genre: Mystery / Drama / Comedy
Director: Robert Florey Cast: Chester Morris, Rochelle Hudson, Richard Lane, Charles Wagenheim, Constance Worth, Jack O'Malley, George Magrill, Michael Rand, Walter Sande, Eddie Laughton, John Tyrrell, Byron Foulger, Lee Shumway
In this "Boston Blackie" episode, Chester Morris debuts in the role of ex-con Boston Blackie. This time around, Blackie again teams up with his sidekick The Runt (Charles Wagenheim) to prove his innocence after being accused of murder while returning from an ocean cruise. Blackie and The Runt track down a gang of spies working out of Coney Island, and, with help from Cecelia Bradley (Rochelle Hudson), who insists on joining them, they crack the case.
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The Smiling Lieutenant 1931 N/R, 88 min. Genre: Comedy / Musical / Romance
Director: Ernst Lubitsch Cast: Maurice Chevalier, Claudette Colbert, Miriam Hopkins, George Barbier, Charles Ruggles, Hugh O'Connell, Janet Reade, Lon MacSunday, Elizabeth Patterson, Granville Bates, Maude Allen, Charles Wagenheim, Robert Strange
This story takes place in Vienna where Lt. "Niki" von Preyn (Maurice Chevalier) shares an apartment with his lover Franzi (Claudette Colbert). When King Adolf XV (George Barbier) visits the city, his dowdy daughter Princess Anna (Miriam Hopkins) falls in love with "Niki," and he is forced to marry her. But, "Niki" refuses to consummate the marriage–until good-hearted Franzi performs a makeover on Anna, and "Niki" falls for Anna. The film received an Academy Award nomination for Best Picture.
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The Spiral Staircase 1946 N/R, 83 min. Genre: Drama / Horror / Mystery / Thriller
Director: Robert Siodmak Cast: Dorothy McGuire, George Brent, Ethel Barrymore, Kent Smith, Rhonda Fleming, Gordon Oliver, Elsa Lanchester, James Bell, Charles Wagenheim, Ellen Corby, Richard Tyler, Erville Alderson, Sara Allgood, Rhys Williams, Myrna Dell
A crazed killer is on the loose, peeking through a hole in the wall looking for his next victim. He has his eye on Helen Capel (Dorothy McGuire), a mute servant girl, who works in the very eerie house of the bedridden Mrs. Warren (Ethel Barrymore). Barrymore received an Academy Award nomination for Best Supporting Actress.
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A Streetcar Named Desire 1951 N/R, 125 min. Genre: Drama
Director: Elia Kazan Cast: Marlon Brando, Vivien Leigh, Kim Hunter, Karl Malden, Rudy Bond, Nick Dennis, Peg Hillias, Richard Garrick, Mickey Kuhn, Marietta Canty, Wright King, Charles Wagenheim, Ann Dere, Edna Thomas, Mickey Kuhn
Southern belle Blanche Dubois (Vivien Leigh) visits her sister, Stella (Kim Hunter), in New Orleans and is confronted by her sister's brute of a husband, Stanley (Marlon Brando). The results are tragic in this Tennessee Williams story of the Old South losing out to the contemporary world. Stanley's plea: "Stella! Hey, Stella!" Vivien Leigh carried away a Best Actress Oscar for her performance, as did Kim Hunter and Karl Malden for their supporting roles. Other nominations included Best Picture, Actor (Marlon Brando), and Director.
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Suddenly 1954 N/R, 75 min. Genre: Drama / Mystery / Thriller
Director: Lewis Allen Cast: Frank Sinatra, Sterling Hayden, Nancy Gates, James Gleason, Kim Charney, Christopher Dark, Paul Frees, Willis Bouchey, Paul Wexler, James O'Hara, Dan White, Kem Dibbs, Clark Howat, Charles Wagenheim, Richard Collier
John Baron (Frank Sinatra) and his two thugs arrive in the sleepy town of Suddenly to kill the President of the U.S. who is scheduled for a short train stop in the town. John takes the Benson family (James Gleason, Nancy Gates, and Kim Charney) and the town's sheriff, Tod Shaw (Sterling Hayden), hostage in a house that overlooks the train station–a strategic place for the assassination. As the time for the arrival nears, John gets loonier and loonier. Good film noir.
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Tunnel of Love 1958 N/R, 98 min. Genre: Comedy
Director: Gene Kelly Cast: Doris Day, Richard Widmark, Gig Young, Gia Scala, Elisabeth Fraser, Doodles Weaver, Elizabeth Wilson, Charles Wagenheim, Robert Williams, Vikki Dougan, Esquire Trio, Sid Melton, Cosmo Sardo, Donald Kerr, Howard Negley
There are really funny things that happen during the adoption process, and a married couple, Isolde and Augie Poole (Doris Day and Richard Widmark), encounter more than their share when they register with the Rock-a-Bye adoption agency. When the agency sends out Estelle Novick (Gia Scala) to interview Isolde and Augie, their neighbor Dick (Gig Young) hits on her, and Estelle decides that Augie is not a good candidate for fatherhood. Augie decides to change Estelle's mind by taking her out to dinner. Matters get out of hand, and Augie wakes up in a motel room with a hangover. Nine months later, the agency tells Augie and Isolde that they have a baby for them. The baby bears a striking resemblance to Augie. Is there more to this than meets the eye?
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Whistle Stop 1946 N/R, 85 min. Genre: Drama
Director: Leonide Moguy Cast: George Raft, Ava Gardner, Victor McLaglen, Tom Conway, Jorja Curtright, Jane Nigh, Florence Bates, Charles Drake, Charles Judels, Carmel Myers, Jimmy Conlin, Jimmy Ames, Mack Gray, Charles Wagenheim, Robert Homans
Small-town girl Mary (Ava Gardner) returns home from Chicago and re-ignites her past romance with ne'er-do-well Kenny (George Raft)–until she becomes involved with a corrupt saloon owner, Lew (Tom Conway). Will Kenny clean-up his act and win Mary back?
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| 1. Charlie Chan at the Wax Museum (1940)
2. The Dark Corner (1946)
3. The Diary of Anne Frank (1959)
4. Foreign Correspondent (1940)
5. The House on 92nd Street (1945)
6. The House on Telegraph Hill (1951)
7. Lonely Are the Brave (1962)
8. Meet Boston Blackie (1941)
9. The Smiling Lieutenant (1931)
10. The Spiral Staircase (1946)
11. A Streetcar Named Desire (1951)
12. Suddenly (1954)
13. Tunnel of Love (1958)
14. Whistle Stop (1946)
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