Black Gold 1936  N/R, 58 min.
Genre: Action / Thriller
Director: Russell Hopton
Cast: Frankie Darro, LeRoy Mason, Gloria Shea, Berton Churchill, Stanley Fields, Frank Shannon, George Cleveland, Fred "Snowflake" Toones, Dewey Robinson, Slim Whitaker, Carleton Young, Horace B. Carpenter
J.C. Anderson (Berton Churchill) sabotages Dan O'Reilly's (Frank Shannon) oil well and kills Dan in the process, leaving Dan's young son Clifford, "Fishtail," (Frankie Darro) as owner of the well. Geologist Hank Langford (LeRoy Mason) comes to Fishtail's aid but, because of his offer, is kidnapped by Anderson. All is not lost; Hank escapes and saves the day.
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Born to Fight 1938  N/R, 64 min.
Genre: Drama
Director: Charles Hutchinson
Cast: Frankie Darro, Kane Richmond, Jack La Rue, Frances Grant, Sheila Bromley, Monte Collins, Eddie Phillips, Fred "Snowflake" Toones, Philo McCullough, Hal Price, Donald Kerr, Gino Corrado
Boxing trainer Tom "Bomber" Brown (Kane Richmond) goes on the lam after accidentally injuring a crooked gambler, Smoothy (Jack La Rue). While traveling incognito, Brown finds up-and-coming fighter "Baby Face" Madison (Frankie Darro) who he trains for the Championship title.
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Boys' Reformatory 1939  N/R, 62 min.
Genre: Drama
Director: Howard Bretherton
Cast: Frankie Darro, Grant Withers, David Durand, Warren McCollum, Al Hill Jr., Robert McClung, George Offerman Jr., Frank Coghlan Jr., Ben Welden, Lillian Elliott
When orphaned Tommy (Frankie Darro) goes to reform school on a bum rap to cover for the deeds of his foster brother, Eddie (Ben Welden), he is befriended by Dr. Owens (Grant Withers) who helps him break out so that Tommy can track down those who influenced Eddie.
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 Charlie Chan at the Race Track 1936  N/R, 70 min.
Genre: Mystery / Drama / Comedy / Thriller
Director: H. Bruce Humberstone
Cast: Warner Oland, Keye Luke, Helen Wood, Thomas Beck, Alan Dinehart, Gavin Muir, Paul Fix, Jonathan Hale, George Irving, Frankie Darro, Gloria Roy, G.P. Huntley, Frank Coghlan Jr., Harry Strang, Holmes Herbett
Charlie Chan's (Warner Oland), racehorse owner friend, Major Kent (George Irving), is found dead in the stall of his championship horse while traveling via steamship from Australia to California. The ship stops at Hawaii, Charlie investigates, and determines that Kent's death was murder. With help from his son Lee (Keye Luke), Charlie uncovers an international gambling ring involved in the drugging of racehorses to fix races.
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Gang's All Here 1941 N/R, 63 min.
Genre: Drama
aka: In the Night
Director: Jean Yarbrough
Cast: Frankie Darro, Mantan Moreland, Marcia Mae Jones, Keye Luke, Jackie Moran, Irving Mitchell, Ed Cassidy, Pat Gleason, Jack Kenney, Laurence Criner, Paul Bryar, Jack Ingram, Robert Homans
Young truck drivers Frankie (Frankie Darro) and Jefferson (Mantan Moreland) work for a firm that is being put out of business by a rival that forces trucks off the road and then hijacks the contents. Frankie, Jefferson, and their friends Chick and Patsy (Jackie Moran and Marcia Mae Jones) decide to take action.
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Headline Crasher 1937 N/R, 58 min.
Genre: Drama
Director: Leslie Goodwins
Cast: Frankie Darro, Kane Richmond, Muriel Evans, John Merton, Richard Tucker, Edward Earle, Jack Ingram, Charles King, Dick Curtis, Eleanor Stewart, Harry Harvey, John Ward
Embittered Tony Scarlotti (John Merton) is released from prison on parole and plans to exact revenge on Senator James Tallant (Richard Tucker) who put him away. He plans and executes the kidnapping of Tallant's not-so-perfect son, Jimmy (Frankie Darro). At the same time, Tallant's rival, Atwood (Edward Earle), takes over "The Morning Herald" and publishes reports of what a poor father Senator Tallant has been. Now, Jimmy must find a way to escape from Scarlotti and defeat the plot to ruin his father's political career.
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Irish Luck 1939 N/R, 58 min.
Genre: Comedy / Mystery
Director: Howard Bretherton
Cast: Frankie Darro, Mantan Moreland, Dick Purcell, Lillian Elliott, Sheila Darcy, Dennis Moore, James Flavin, Howard M. Mitchell, Maxine Leslie, Ralph Peters
A hotel guest is murdered, and hotel bellhop Buzzy (Frankie Darro) hides the suspect, Kitty (Sheila Darcy), at his house while he and friend Jefferson (Mantan Moreland) find the real killer after a series of misadventures.
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Let's Go Collegiate 1941 N/R, 62 min.
Genre: Comedy / Musical
aka: Farewell to Fame
Director: Jean Yarbrough
Cast: Frankie Darro, Marcia Mae Jones, Jackie Moran, Keye Luke, Mantan Moreland, Gale Storm, Frank Sully, Barton Yarborough, Frank Faylen, Marguerite Whitten, Paul Maxey, Tristram Coffin
After members of a collegiate crew team–Frankie (Frankie Darro) and Jeff (Mantan Moreland)–tell their girlfriends that they will win the big race, their star rower is drafted. But that doesn't stop Frankie and Jeff who get a truck driver, Herk Bevans (Frank Sully), to fill in. They win, but Herk turns out to be a criminal on the run, and more than a few problems await the boys.
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Little Men 1934 N/R, 72 min.
Genre: Drama
Director: Phil Rosen
Cast: Ralph Morgan, Erin O'Brien-Moore, Junior Durkin, Cora Sue Collins, Phyllis Cerf, Frankie Darro, Dickie Moore, Richard Quine, Tommy Bupp, Tad Alexander, David Durand, Buster Phelps, Ronnie Cosby, Dickie Jones, Bobby Cox
Louisa May Alcott's story is adapted to the screen as a follow-on to "Little Women," and it's pretty "soapy." Jo March (Erin O'Brien-Moore) and Professor Bhaer (Ralph Morgan)–from "Little Women"–are now married. They start a school for homeless boys in hopes of providing a path for the boys' success.
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The Mad Genius 1931  N/R, 81 min.
Genre: Drama
Director: Michael Curtiz
Cast: John Barrymore, Marian Marsh, Donald Cook, Carmel Myers, Charles Butterworth, Mae Madison, Frankie Darro, Luis Alberni, Boris Karloff, Andre Luguet
A bizarre puppeteer (John Barrymore) turns a young man (Donald Cook) into a talented dancer and then lives vicariously through his achievements.
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The Mayor of Hell 1933 N/R, 90 min.
Genre: Drama
Director: Archie Mayo
Cast: James Cagney, Madge Evans, Allen Jenkins, Dudley Digges, Frankie Darro, Dorothy Peterson, Charles C. Wilson, Hobart Cavanaugh, Robert Barrat, Harold Huber, Sheila Terry, William V. Mong, G. Pat Collins, Edwin Maxwell, John Marston
This unusual story involves ex-gangster Richard 'Patsy' Gargan (James Cagney) who is appointed Deputy Commissioner of a reform school. He takes the position after the nurse (Madge Evans) at the school confides in him about the inhumane treatment being inflicted on the boys. He works to improve conditions at the reform school and the way the kids are being treated. But, Gargan leaves the reform school to kill a rival gangster, and then he goes into hiding. Meanwhile the poor conditions return at the reform school, and when the boys learn that Gargan is really a ruthless mobster they lose faith in him. But, Gargan returns, gets the warden Mr. Thompson (Dudley Digges) kicked out, and regains the boys' respect.
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Men with Steel Faces 1940 N/R, 70 min.
Genre: Western
aka: Radio Ranch
Director: Otto Brower, B. Reeves Eason
Cast: Gene Autry, Smiley Burnette, Jack Carlyle, Frankie Darro, Betsy King Ross, William Moore, Dorothy Christy, J. Frank Glendon, Wheeler Oakman, Edward Peil Sr.
This is an edited version of the serial "The Phantom Empire" and is a Western science fiction story concerning an advanced civilization under the earth, which Gene Autry "unearths" while singing.
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Phantom Empire 1935 N/R, 245 min.
Genre: Western / Sci-Fi / Musical
Director: Otto Brower, B. Reeves Eason
Cast: Gene Autry, Frankie Darro, Betsy King Ross, Warner Richmond, Dorothy Christy, Smiley Burnette, Wheeler Oakman, Charles K. French, J. Frank Glendon, Peter Potter, Edward Peil Sr., Jack Carlyle, Hal Taliaferro, Lane Chandler
In this early science fiction serial of 12 episodes, Gene Autry discovers a subterranean empire that has existed since an ancient continent, Mu, sank beneath the sea. It is under his ranch, and Gene tries to keep peace between this peaceful civilization and the greed from above.
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 Pinocchio 1940  N/R, 88 min.
Genre: Animation / Family / Fantasy / Musical
Director: Hamilton Luske, Ben Sharpsteen
Cast: Dickie Jones, Christian Rub, Cliff Edwards, Evelyn Venable, Walter Catlett, Frankie Darro, Charles Judels, Don Brodie, Mel Blanc, Jack Mercer, Marion Darlington, Patricia Page
This is an early Disney masterpiece of animation. It tells the story of Pinocchio (voice of Dickie Jones), a wooden puppet crafted by Gepetto (voice of Christian Rub). Gipetto wishes that Pinocchio could be his real son, and the Blue Fairy (voice of Evelyn Venable) grants his wish. Jimminy Cricket (voice of Cliff Edwards) is appointed to be Pinocchio's "conscience." This proves a difficult task when Pinocchio lies, skips school, and heads to Pleasure Island. But, when Pinocchio learns that Gepetto has been swallowed by a whale, he risks his life and saves Gepetto–proving that he deserves to be Gepetto's son. "When You Wish Upon a Star" won an Academy Award for Best Song.
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 The Public Enemy 1931  N/R, 83 min.
Genre: Action / Drama
Director: William A. Wellman
Cast: James Cagney, Jean Harlow, Edward Woods, Joan Blondell, Donald Cook, Mae Clarke, Beryl Mercer, Leslie Fenton, Robert Emmett O'Connor, Murray Kinnell, Clark "Buddy" Burroughs, Frankie Darro, Frank Coghlan Jr., Tyrell Davis
This gangster film was the vehicle that catapulted James Cagney to the top as a portrayer of tough guys. Tom Powers (Cagney) rises from the slums of Chicago to become a vicious racketeer only to find that the fall from power is inevitable.
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Sons of New Mexico 1949 N/R, 71 min.
Genre: Western
Director: John English
Cast: Gene Autry, Gail Davis, Robert Armstrong, Dickie Jones, Irving Bacon, Russell Arms, Clayton Moore, Frankie Darro, Marie Blake, Sandy Sanders, Kenne Duncan
Gene Autry is the executor of his friend's estate and has custody of the friend's teenage son. The son is attracted to a gambler who has his eye on the boy's money. Gene, along with a group of Military Academy cadets, rides to the rescue.
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Tugboat Annie 1933 N/R, 87 min.
Genre: Comedy
Director: Mervyn LeRoy
Cast: Marie Dressler, Wallace Beery, Robert Young, Maureen O'Sullivan, Willard Robertson, Frankie Darro, Tammany Young, Jack Pennick, Paul Hurst, Oscar Apfel
Marie Dressler and Wallace Beery provide enjoyable fare as Tugboat Annie and her boozing husband in this lighthearted comedy.
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Up in the Air 1940 N/R, 62 min.
Genre: Comedy
Director: Howard Bretherton
Cast: Frankie Darro, Marjorie Reynolds, Mantan Moreland, Lorna Gray, Gordon Jones, Tristram Coffin, Clyde Dilson, Dick Elliott, John Holland, Carleton Young
Ambitious radio station pageboy Frankie (Frankie Darro) pushes management to air a comedy program starring him and his porter pal (Mantan Moreland). Just when it appears he will be successful in his quest, the station's stars start getting killed while on the air. C'mon Frankie, solve this case.
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Westward the Women 1951  N/R, 116 min.
Genre: Western
Director: William A. Wellman
Cast: Robert Taylor, Denise Darcel, Hope Emerson, John McIntire, Marilyn Erskine, Julie Bishop, Frankie Darro, Renata Vanni, George Chandler, Henry Nakamura
Buck (Robert Taylor) is hired to lead a wagon train of mail-order brides from Chicago to California in this surprisingly good Western.
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Wild Boys of the Road 1933 N/R, 68 min.
Genre: Drama / Adventure
Director: William A. Wellman
Cast: Frankie Darro, Dorothy Coonan Wellman, Edwin Phillips, Rochelle Hudson, Ann Hovey, Grant Mitchell, Sterling Holloway, Charley Grapewin, Ward Bond, Arthur Hohl, Minna Gombell, Claire McDowell, Robert Barrat, Willard Robertson, Wade Boteler
California teenagers Eddie Smith (Frankie Darro) and Tommy Gordon (Edwin Phillips) find their families suffering during the early Depression era and run away to find work. They hop a train and meet others on their trip east, including Sally (Dorothy Coonan Wellman) and Grace (Rochelle Hudson). The mobile group of teens turns into outlaws, and they become involved with other teens, just like themselves, in a quest for survival during desperate times.
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| 1. Black Gold (1936)
2. Born to Fight (1938)
3. Boys' Reformatory (1939)
4. Charlie Chan at the Race Track (1936)
5. Gang's All Here (1941)
aka: In the Night
6. Headline Crasher (1937)
7. Irish Luck (1939)
8. Let's Go Collegiate (1941)
aka: Farewell to Fame
9. Little Men (1934)
10. The Mad Genius (1931)
11. The Mayor of Hell (1933)
12. Men with Steel Faces (1940)
aka: Radio Ranch
13. Phantom Empire (1935)
14. Pinocchio (1940)
15. The Public Enemy (1931)
16. Sons of New Mexico (1949)
17. Tugboat Annie (1933)
18. Up in the Air (1940)
19. Westward the Women (1951)
20. Wild Boys of the Road (1933)
In The News
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