Betrayal 1929  N/R, 75 min.
Genre: Drama
Director: Lewis Milestone
Cast: Emil Jannings, Esther Ralston, Gary Cooper, Jada Weller, Douglas Haig, Bodil Rosing, Ann Brody, Paul Guertzman, Leona Lane
This is one of the last silent films, boasting its musical score and sound effects to provide "partial" sound. It is the tragic story of an ex-lover (Gary Cooper) and the wife (Esther Ralston) of a wealthy Swiss businessman (Emil Jannings).
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 Black Beauty 1933 N/R, 65 min.
Genre: Drama / Romance
Director: Phil Rosen
Cast: Esther Ralston, Alexander Kirkland, Hale Hamilton, Gavin Gordon, Don Alvarado, George Walsh, Theodore Lorch, Eddie Fetherston, Al Bridge, John Larkin, Bruce Covington
Black Beauty has been raised by the loving Cameron family and is being trained to run in the steeplechase race. But, after a series of problems, the Camerons are forced to sell Black Beauty. The cruel Captain Jordan (Gavin Gordon) purchases the horse and then mistreats it. But, Henry Cameron (Alexander Kirkland) recovers the horse and brings love back into Black Beauty's life–and his own as he now will live happily ever after with Leila (Esther Ralston). Based on Anna Sewell's classic novel.
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Hollywood Boulevard 1936  N/R, 75 min.
Genre: Drama
Director: Robert Florey
Cast: John Halliday, Marsha Hunt, Robert Cummings, C. Henry Gordon, Frieda Inescort, Esther Ralston, Esther Dale, Betty Compson, Albert Conti, Gary Cooper
John Blakeford (John Halliday) is a former Hollywood star who tries to sell his memoirs to get out of debt. Problems ensue when the publisher (C. Henry Gordon) learns that his wife had an affair with Blakeford. Gary Cooper's appearance is brief.
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Law of Vengeance 1933  N/R, 70 min.
Genre: Western
aka: To the Last Man
Director: Henry Hathaway
Cast: Randolph Scott, Esther Ralston, Buster Crabbe, Jack La Rue, Barton MacLane, Noah Beery, Muriel Kirkland, Fuzzy Knight, Gail Patrick, Egon Brecher, John Carradine, Shirley Temple
The feuding Kentucky Hayden and Colby families suffered a casualty when a Hayden was murdered by Jed Colby (Noah Beery). The feuding resumes when Jed gets out of jail, this time in Nevada where the Haydens have relocated. But there is a complication: Lynn Hayden (Randolph Scott) plans to marry Ellen Colby (Esther Ralston). An early feature film appearance by Shirley Temple.
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Old Ironsides 1926  N/R, 111 min.
Genre: Adventure
Director: James Cruze
Cast: Charles Farrell, Wallace Beery, Esther Ralston, George Bancroft, Charles Hill Mailes, Eddie Fetherston, Johnnie Walker, George Godrey, Boris Karloff
Barbary pirates, in the early 1800s, often raided America's merchant marine ships before the U.S. Navy became a force to be reckoned with. This is the action-filled, silent-screen version of those days. Look for sailor Boris Karloff in a small part.
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Oliver Twist 1922 N/R, 77 min.
Genre: Drama
Director: Frank Lloyd
Cast: Jackie Coogan, Gladys Brockwell, Lon Chaney, Lionel Belmore, Esther Ralston, George Siegmann, James A. Marcus, Aggie Herring, Nelson McDowell, Lewis Sargent, Joan Standing, Carl Stockdale, Edouard Trebaol, Taylor Graves, Florence Hale
This is a good rendition of Charles Dickens' "Oliver Twist." Performed as a silent movie, it stars Jackie Coogan in the title role of the young pickpocket Oliver Twist and Lon Chaney as his tutor, the devious Fagin.
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Sadie McKee 1934 N/R, 90 min.
Genre: Drama / Romance
Director: Clarence Brown
Cast: Joan Crawford, Gene Raymond, Franchot Tone, Edward Arnold, Esther Ralston, Jean Dixon, Leo G. Carroll, Akim Tamiroff, Mary Forbes, Helen Ware, Matt McHugh, Zelda Sears, Wade Boteler, Selmer Jackson, Samuel S. Hinds
Housemaid Sadie McKee (Joan Crawford) is working for wealthy Michael Alderson (Franchot Tone) and his family when she elopes with her boyfriend Tommy (Gene Raymond) to New York City. But, before Sadie and Tommy get married, Tommy dumps her when he takes up with showgirl Dolly (Esther Ralston). Devastated, Sadie takes a nightclub job, accepts a drunken marriage proposal from millionaire Jack Brennan (Edward Arnold), and marries him. Now known as a gold digger, Sadie does help Brennan overcome his alcoholism. Has Sadie possibly found true love, or is it still waiting in the wings? The song "All I Do Is Dream of You" was introduced in this film.
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Shadows of the Orient 1935  N/R, 70 min.
Genre: Drama
Director: Burt P. Lynwood
Cast: Esther Ralston, Regis Toomey, J. Farrell MacDonald, Oscar Apfel, Sidney Blackmer, Eddie Fetherston, Kit Guard, James B. Leong, Matty Fain, John Elliott, Richard Loo, Slim Whitaker
After she is arrested in a Chinatown casino, Viola (Esther Ralston) finds herself caught in the middle–between the casino owner King Moss (Sidney Blackmer) who runs a smuggling ring, and immigration official Bob Baxter (Regis Toomey) who has provided Viola with her alibi.
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Tin Pan Alley 1940 N/R, 92 min.
Genre: Musical
Director: Walter Lang
Cast: Alice Faye, Betty Grable, Jack Oakie, John Payne, Allen Jenkins, Esther Ralston, Fred Keating, Billy Gilbert, Ben Carter, Elisha Cook Jr.
During 1915, songwriters Harry Calhoun (Jack Oakie) and Skeets Harrigan (John Payne) find success when they team up with singing sisters Katie (Alice Faye) and Lily Blane (Betty Grable). Then a rift develops when a new tune is given to a more famous singer, and the sisters leave for England. But Harry and Skeets soon enlist in the army, are shipped overseas, and find Katie and Lily in England. Excellent Academy Award-winning musical score.
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| 1. Betrayal (1929)
2. Black Beauty (1933)
3. Hollywood Boulevard (1936)
4. Law of Vengeance (1933)
aka: To the Last Man
5. The Marriage Circle (1924)
6. Old Ironsides (1926)
7. Oliver Twist (1922)
8. Sadie McKee (1934)
9. Shadows of the Orient (1935)
10. Tin Pan Alley (1940)
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