Bells of San Fernando 1947 N/R, 74 min. Genre: Western / Drama
Director: Terry O. Morse Cast: Donald Woods, Gloria Warren, Shirley(2) O'Hara, Byron Foulger, Anthony Warde, Monte Blue, Paul Newland, Claire Du Brey, David Leonard, Gordon B. Clarke, Frank Cody, Felipe Turich, Lusita Triana, Gil Frye, Ray Dolciame
Spanish land baron Juan Mendoza (Anthony Warde) controls a valley in San Fernando and has announced plans to marry an unwilling Maria (Gloria Warren) who is Michael O'Brien's (Donald Woods) girlfriend. In an effort to save Maria, Michael sets out to convince the Governor to send in the troops and end the reign of the cruel Mendoza.
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Big City 1948 N/R, 103 min. Genre: Musical
Director: Norman Taurog Cast: Margaret O'Brien, Robert Preston, Danny Thomas, George Murphy, Edward Arnold, Betty Garrett, Karin Booth, Lotte Lehmann, Connie Gilchrist, Jackie "Butch" Jenkins, Page Cavanaugh, David Leonard, Frank Mayo, Colin Kenny, Doris Kemper
Three young men–Cantor David Irwin Feldman (Danny Thomas), Rev. Philip Y. Andrews (Robert Preston), Officer Patrick O'Donnell (George Murphy)–representing Jewish, Protestant, and Catholic faiths, adopt young Midge (Margaret O'Brien) and become her mentors. But, when Feldman and O'Donnell find women and want to marry and settle down, each wants to adopt Midge, and now she must find a way to make them all one happy family.
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Gangster Story 1960 N/R, 65 min. Genre: Drama
Director: Walter Matthau Cast: Walter Matthau, Carol Grace, Bruce McFarlane, Garry Walberg, Raikin Ben-Ari, David Leonard, John Albright, Clegg Hoyt, Vic Tayback, Leonard Bremen
This film marks Walter Matthau's directorial debut, and he takes the leading role as gangster Jack Martin who is hiding out from the police in a town in Southern California. When he needs funds, Martin robs small-town banks. Martin's reform-minded girlfriend Carol Logan (Carol Grace) tries to get him to change his ways, but he pays no heed. After he manages to rob the United States National Bank, he has both the local police and the FBI on his trail–along with local crime boss Earl Dawson (Bruce McFarlane) who is upset that Martin would carry off the heist in his territory without first making a deal with him.
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Philo Vance's Secret Mission 1947 N/R, 58 min. Genre: Mystery
Director: Reginald LeBorg Cast: Alan Curtis, Sheila Ryan, Tala Birell, Frank Jenks, James Bell, Frank Fenton, Paul Maxey, Kenneth Farrell, Toni Todd, David Leonard, Frank Wilcox
The renowned master sleuth Philo Vance (Alan Curtis) is hired to provide input for a mystery magazine by publisher Martin Jamison (Paul Maxey) while also helping Martin solve the murder of his partner several years previously. When Martin is murdered Vance must figure out who killed the partner, which will surely lead to Martin's killer. This is the final Philo Vance film–at least for more than a half century and counting.
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The Prodigal 1955 N/R, 114 min. Genre: Drama
Director: Richard Thorpe Cast: Lana Turner, Edmund Purdom, Louis Calhern, Audrey Dalton, James Mitchell, Neville Brand, Walter Hampden, Taina Elg, Francis L. Sullivan, Joseph Wiseman, John Dehner, Sandy Descher, Cecil Kellaway, Philip Tonge, David Leonard
Based on the Bible story, in this rendition Edmund Purdom takes the role of the prodigal son Micah who gives in to greed. Micah spends his portion of his father's (Walter Hampden) fortune on new clothes, property, and the pursuit of the pagan Princess Samarra (Lana Turner) who wants him to renounce his faith. But, Micah refuses to forsake Jehova. After running out of funds, Micah is sold into slavery from which he escapes while freeing the other slaves. Micah returns home, his father welcomes him, and the fatted calf is killed in his honor.
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| 1. Bells of San Fernando (1947)
2. Big City (1948)
3. Gangster Story (1960)
4. Philo Vance's Secret Mission (1947)
5. The Prodigal (1955)
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