Cimarron 1931 N/R, 131 min. Genre: Drama / Western
Director: Wesley Ruggles Cast: Richard Dix, Irene Dunne, Estelle Taylor, Nance O'Neil, William Collier Jr., Roscoe Ates, George E. Stone, Robert McWade, Edna May Oliver, Frank Darien, Stanley Fields, Judith Barrett, Eugene Jackson, Frank Beal, Helen Parrish
This early sound film won the Academy Award for Best Picture and is based on Edna Ferber's novel about the hardships faced by Yancey and Sabra Cravat (Richard Dix and Irene Dunne) staking a land claim during the Oklahoma land rush. Yancey starts a newspaper business and crusades for justice. His efforts lead to long separations from Sabra, which prove fatal for the marriage, and Yancey leaves Sabra and their children to continue his "quick draw" brand of justice. With help from her friend, Mrs. Wyatt (Edna May Oliver), Sabra takes over the newspaper business and turns it into a powerful empire.
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David Copperfield 1935 N/R, 133 min. Genre: Drama
Director: George Cukor Cast: W.C. Fields, Freddie Bartholomew, Frank Lawton, Elizabeth Allan, Basil Rathbone, Roland Young, Lionel Barrymore, Maureen O'Sullivan, Madge Evans, Edna May Oliver
Mr. Mudstone (Basil Rathbone), Wikins Micawber (W.C. Fields), and Uriah Heap (Roland Young) are all there as David Copperfield starts out as a poor boy and grows up to be a wealthy man in London. The young David is played by Freddie Bartholomew, while Frank Lawton plays the older David.
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Drums Along the Mohawk 1939 N/R, 130 min. Genre: Adventure / Drama / Western
Director: John Ford Cast: Henry Fonda, Claudette Colbert, Edna May Oliver, John Carradine, Eddie Collins, Jessie Ralph, Arthur Shields, Robert Lowery, Roger Imhof, Ward Bond, Dorris Bowdon, Francis Ford, Kay Linaker, Spencer Charters
As settlers encroached more and more on Indian lands, those on the frontier outskirts were often victims of Indian attacks. This is the sympathetic story of one young couple (Henry Fonda and Claudette Colbert) who tried to start life anew on the fringes of American civilization during the Revolutionary War.
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Hold 'Em Jail 1932 N/R, 74 min. Genre: Comedy
Director: Norman Taurog Cast: Bert Wheeler, Robert Woolsey, Betty Grable, Edgar Kennedy, Edna May Oliver, Roscoe Ates, Paul Hurst, Warren Hymer, Robert Armstrong, Spencer Charters
Prison inmates Curly (Bert Wheeler) and Spider (Robert Woolsey) get involved in prison football–the warden's (Edgar Kennedy) favorite sport.
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Little Women 1933 N/R, 115 min. Genre: Family / Drama / Romance
Director: George Cukor Cast: Katharine Hepburn, Joan Bennett, Paul Lukas, Frances Dee, Edna May Oliver, Jean Parker, Henry Stephenson, Spring Byington, Samuel S. Hinds, John Lodge, Douglass Montgomery, Nydia Westman, Harry Beresford, Mabel Colcord, Marion Ballou
Four New England sisters–Meg (Frances Dee), Jo (Katharine Hepburn), Beth (Jean Parker), and Amy (Joan Bennett)–learn to grow and survive under the loving care of their mother, Marmee (Spring Byington) while their beloved father (Samuel S. Hinds) is serving as a chaplain for the Union forces during the Civil War. This is the first film version of Louisa May Alcott's famous book, and it was nominated for Academy Awards for Best Picture and Director.
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No More Ladies 1935 N/R, 81 min. Genre: Comedy
Director: Edward H. Griffith Cast: Joan Crawford, Robert Montgomery, Charles Ruggles, Franchot Tone, Edna May Oliver, Gail Patrick, Joan Fontaine, Vivienne Osborne, Arthur Treacher, Reginald Denny
To teach her philandering husband, Sherry (Robert Montgomery), a lesson, Marcia (Joan Crawford) pretends to be interested in Jim (Franchot Tone).
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Pride and Prejudice 1940 N/R, 117 min. Genre: Comedy / Drama / Romance
Director: Robert Z. Leonard Cast: Greer Garson, Laurence Olivier, Mary Boland, Edmund Gwenn, Melville Cooper, Edna May Oliver, Ann Rutherford, Maureen O'Sullivan, Frieda Inescort, Karen Morley, Heather Angel, Marsha Hunt, Bruce Lester, Marten Lamont, Edward Ashley
Set in 19th-century England, Jane Austen's comedy of manners tells the dilemma of five unmarried sisters. One of them, Elizabeth (Greer Garson), is enamored with Darcy (Laurence Olivier), and this spurs on the other sisters–Jane (Maureen O'Sullivan), Lydia (Ann Rutherford), Kitty (Heather Angel), and Mary (Marsha Hunt)–to find their own romances.
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Romeo and Juliet 1936 N/R, 126 min. Genre: Drama
Director: George Cukor Cast: Norma Shearer, Leslie Howard, John Barrymore, Edna May Oliver, Basil Rathbone, C. Aubrey Smith, Andy Devine, Reginald Denny, Ralph Forbes, Henry Kolker
This is a good version of Shakespeare's tragedy about star-crossed lovers, Romeo and Juliet (Leslie Howard and Norma Shearer). Academy Award nominations were received for Best Picture, Actress (Shearer), and Supporting Actor (Basil Rathbone).
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Second Fiddle 1939 N/R, 86 min. Genre: Comedy / Musical
Director: Sidney Lanfield Cast: Sonja Henie, Tyrone Power, Rudy Vallee, Edna May Oliver, Mary Healy, Lyle Talbot, Alan Dinehart, Minna Gombell, Stewart Reburn, Spencer Charters, Charles(2) Lane, George Chandler, Irving Bacon, Minerva Urecal
Jimmy Sutton (Tyrone Power) is looking for an unknown actress to star in a big film and finds Minnesota teacher Trudi (skating star Sonja Henie). He brings Trudi to Hollywood, and Jimmy manufactures a romance between Trudi and her leading man Roger Maxwell (Rudy Vallee). Amusing twists and turns ensue, ending when it turns out that Jimmy is the one who really does love Trudi who, by now, has become a big star.
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The Story of Vernon and Irene Castle 1939 N/R, 93 min. Genre: Musical
Director: H.C. Potter Cast: Fred Astaire, Ginger Rogers, Edna May Oliver, Walter Brennan, Etienne Girardot, Janet Beecher, Rolfe Sedan, Donald MacBride, Marge Champion, Leonid Kinskey
Fred Astaire and Ginger Rogers portray the popular dance team of Vernon and Irene Castle who made ballroom dancing popular in the early 20th century.
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A Tale of Two Cities 1935 N/R, 121 min. Genre: Drama
Director: Jack Conway Cast: Ronald Colman, Elizabeth Allan, Edna May Oliver, Reginald Owen, Basil Rathbone, Blanche Yurka, Henry B. Walthall, Donald Woods, Walter Catlett, Fritz Leiber, H.B. Warner, Mitchell Lewis, Claude Gillingwater, Billy Bevan, Lucille La Verne
This is the best film version of Charles Dickens' story of love and death during the Reign of Terror following the French Revolution. Ronald Colman takes on the role of weary London lawyer Sydney Carton who selflessly saves Charles Darnay (Donald Woods) from the guillotine by taking his place and allowing him to return to Lucie (Elizabeth Allan)–the woman who both men love. An Academy Award nomination was received for Best Picture.
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| 1. Cimarron (1931)
2. The Conquerors (1932) aka: Pioneer Builders
3. David Copperfield (1935)
4. Drums Along the Mohawk (1939)
5. Hold 'Em Jail (1932)
6. Little Miss Broadway (1938)
7. Little Women (1933)
8. No More Ladies (1935)
9. Parnell (1937)
10. Pride and Prejudice (1940)
11. Romeo and Juliet (1936)
12. Second Fiddle (1939)
13. The Story of Vernon and Irene Castle (1939)
14. A Tale of Two Cities (1935)
In The News
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