The Bat Whispers 1930 N/R, 82 min. Genre: Mystery
Director: Roland West Cast: Chester Morris, Chance Ward, Una Merkel, Richard Tucker, Wilson Benge, Maude Eburne, Gustav von Seyffertitz, Spencer Charters, William Bakewell, DeWitt Jennings, Sidney D'Albrook
Director Roland West's remake of his 1926 "The Bat" again uses interesting camera shots and a dark mood to set the tone. This time around, the masked super-criminal sets his sights on a country mansion filled with assorted characters–and the spoils from a robbery.
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The Bells 1926 N/R, 92 min. Genre: Drama / Thriller / Horror
Director: James Young Cast: Lionel Barrymore, Caroline Frances Cooke, Gustav von Seyffertitz, Lorimer Johnston, Eddie Phillips, Lola Todd, Laura La Varnie, Boris Karloff, E. Alyn Warren, John George, George Austin
After Alsatian innkeeper Mathias (Lionel Barrymore) murders a wealthy visitor at his inn and takes his gold, Mathias' conscience takes over, and he finds himself on the verge of insanity. The pressures become even worse for Mathias when the victim's brother Jerome (Gustav von Seyffertitz) arrives on the scene with a mesmerist (Boris Karloff) who says that he can identify the murderer.
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The Canary Murder Case 1929 N/R, 80 min. Genre: Mystery
Director: Malcolm St. Clair, Frank Tuttle Cast: William Powell, Louise Brooks, Jean Arthur, James Hall, Eugene Pallette, Gustav von Seyffertitz, Charles(1) Lane, Lawrence Grant, Ned Sparks, Louis John Bartels
This is the first of what would be a series of mysteries centered on the sophisticated Philo Vance. The films spanned nearly 20 years with several actors in the lead role, though William Powell is generally associated with the films. Beautiful nightclub singer Margaret (Louise Brooks), also called the "Canary," is not a nice person. She has affairs with, then blackmails, wealthy men. After meeting her true love, Jimmy (James Hall), she demands one lump-sum payment from each of her playboys. When she is murdered, Jimmy is suspected, and Philo enters the scene to solve the crime. Originally completed as a silent film, the cast was called back to dub the sound. Louise Brooks, an up-and-comer, refused, thus effectively ending her career (except for a few low-budget films).
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Cipher Bureau 1938 N/R, 64 min. Genre: Drama / Thriller
Director: Charles Lamont Cast: Leon Ames, Charlotte Wynters, Joan Woodbury, Don Dillaway, Tenen Holtz, Gustav von Seyffertitz, Walter Bonn, Si Wills, George Lynn, Jason Robards Sr., Hooper Atchley, Carl Stockdale
In this pre-World War II spy story, Leon Ames plays the role of Intelligence agent Philip Waring who, with his aide, Helen (Charlotte Wynters), works for the Cipher Bureau trying to break the code of German spies. Followed a year later by "Panama Patrol."
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Dishonored 1931 N/R, 91 min. Genre: Drama / Romance
Director: Josef von Sternberg Cast: Marlene Dietrich, Victor McLaglen, Gustav von Seyffertitz, Warner Oland, Lew Cody, Barry Norton, Davison Clark, Wilfred Lucas, Bill Powell, George Irving, Joseph W. Girard, William B. Davidson
Magda (Marlene Dietrich) takes on the role of spy X-27 working for the Austrian Secret Service during World War I. She succeeds in her first assignment of tracking down information on Austrian Col. von Hindau (Warner Oland), and he commits suicide. On her next assignment, she falls in love with Lt. Kranau and allows him to escape. When her actions are uncovered, X-27 is caught and sentenced to execution. Problems arise at the execution when the Court Martial officer (Barry Norton) says that he cannot shoot a woman. There is a short respite followed ultimately by her execution.
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The Gaucho 1927 N/R, 96 min. Genre: Adventure / Romance
Director: F. Richard Jones Cast: Douglas Fairbanks, Lupe Velez, Eve Southern, Joan Barclay, Gustav von Seyffertitz, Michael Vavitch, Charles Stevens, Nigel De Brulier, Albert MacQuarrie, Mary Pickford, Chris-Pin Martin, William B. Davidson
After a child is saved from death by a miracle in the Andes, a shrine is built and a city grows around it–a city with many riches. That means the bad guys must be on their way to take over the city, which they do. The "Gaucho" (Douglas Fairbanks) leads a band of outlaws into the city to save the day, but it will not be an easy task. One of Fairbanks' better, though less-known, films.
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Moonstone 1934 N/R, 62 min. Genre: Mystery
Director: Reginald Barker Cast: David Manners, Phyllis Barry, Jameson Thomas, Gustav von Seyffertitz, Herbert Bunston, Evelyn Bostock, John Davidson, Elspeth Dudgeon, Claude King, Olaf Hytten, Charles Irwin, Fred Walton
Based on Wilkie Collins' mystery, this is the story of a valuable moonstone that was stolen from India in 1799. It is now in the possession of Anne (Phyllis Barry), but it is stolen right out from under her pillow while she sleeps. And the whodunit begins as a Scotland Yard investigator sorts through likely and unlikely suspects.
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The Mysterious Lady 1928 N/R, 96 min. Genre: Drama
Director: Fred Niblo Cast: Greta Garbo, Conrad Nagel, Gustav von Seyffertitz, Albert Pollet, Edward Connelly, Richard Alexander, Russ Powell
While performing her duties of stealing papers from Austrian Captain Karl von Raden (Conrad Nagel), Russian spy Tania Fedorava (Greta Garbo) falls in love with him. When the chief spy, General Boris Alexandroff (Gustav von Seyffertitz), figures out what is happening, the captain's death sentence is ordered.
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Mystery Liner 1934 N/R, 62 min. Genre: Mystery aka: Ghost of John Holling
Director: William Nigh Cast: Noah Beery, Astrid Allwyn, Cornelius Keefe, Gustav von Seyffertitz, Edwin Maxwell, Ralph Lewis, Boothe Howard, Zeffie Tilbury, John M. Sullivan, George "Gabby" Hayes, Gordon De Main, George Cleveland
Murder stalks a luxury liner that is secretly testing a device, which will remotely control a ship, and there are plenty of suspects for the investigating detective to sort through. Cheaply made but fun to watch.
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Old Wives for New 1918 N/R, 72 min. Genre: Drama
Director: Cecil B. DeMille Cast: Elliott Dexter, Sylvia Ashton, Florence Vidor, Helen Jerome Eddy, Wanda Hawley, Theodore Roberts, Marcia Manon, Julia Faye, J. Parks Jones, Gustav von Seyffertitz, Tully Marshall, Edna Mae Cooper
Charles (Elliott Dexter) grows tired of his overweight, lazy wife Sophy (Sylvia Ashton) and looks for a new woman. He falls for Juliet (Florence Vidor), but when Juliet becomes involved in a murder case, Charles dumps her and eventually marries Viola (Marcia Manon), who leaves him for his personal secretary. Eventually, Charles returns to Sophy who takes him in.
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Queen Christina 1933 N/R, 97 min. Genre: Drama
Director: Rouben Mamoulian Cast: Greta Garbo, John Gilbert, Ian Keith, Lewis Stone, Elizabeth Young, C. Aubrey Smith, Reginald Owen, Georges Renavent, David Torrence, Gustav von Seyffertitz, Ferdinand Munier, Akim Tamiroff
Based on the life of 17th-century Queen of Sweden Christina (Greta Garbo), this story involves her love affair with a Spanish ambassador, Antonio (John Gilbert), that has the whole country questioning the wisdom of having a Catholic as a member of the royal family.
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Shanghai Express 1932 N/R, 82 min. Genre: Drama / Adventure / Romance
Director: Josef von Sternberg Cast: Marlene Dietrich, Clive Brook, Anna May Wong, Warner Oland, Eugene Pallette, Lawrence Grant, Louise Closser Hale, Gustav von Seyffertitz, Emile Chautard, Claude King, James B. Leong, Leonard Carey, Willie Fung, Miki Morita, Herbert Evans
In the midst of civil war, the notorious Shanghai Lily (Marlene Dietrich) meets and falls in love with Captain Donald Harvey (Clive Brook) during a trip on the Shanghai Express. One of the train's passengers is the warlord rebel leader, Henry Chang (Warner Oland), waiting for his rebels to ambush the train and take hostages. Among the hostages will be Shanghai Lily and her Captain Harvey.
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She 1935 N/R, 96 min. Genre: Adventure / Sci-Fi
Director: Irving Pichel Cast: Helen Gahagan, Randolph Scott, Helen Mack, Nigel Bruce, Gustav von Seyffertitz, Samuel S. Hinds, Noble Johnson, Lumsden Hare, Jim Thorpe, Ray Corrigan
She (Helen Gahagan) has ruled over the lost land of Kor for 500 years, her immortality being maintained by the Flame of Life. Along comes a trio of people (Randolph Scott, Helen Mack, and Nigel Bruce) seeking this land and bringing problems as She falls for Scott. Based on the 1887 novel by H. Rider Haggard (who also wrote "King Solomon's Mines") and was remade in 1965.
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The Silver Cord 1933 N/R, 74 min. Genre: Drama
Director: John Cromwell Cast: Irene Dunne, Joel McCrea, Laura Hope Crews, Eric Linden, Frances Dee, Helen Cromwell, Perry Ivins, Reginald Pasch, Gustav von Seyffertitz, Paul Irving
Mrs. Phelps (Laura Hope Crews) is a domineering mother who tries all the tricks possible to keep her engaged son at home. Meanwhile, her married son (Joel McCrea) and his wife (Irene Dunne) return, and the tricks continue in a attempt to have the couple move in. Fine performance by Laura Hope Crews.
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Son of Frankenstein 1939 N/R, 94 min. Genre: Horror / Sci-Fi / Drama / Thriller
Director: Rowland V. Lee Cast: Basil Rathbone, Boris Karloff, Bela Lugosi, Lionel Atwill, Josephine Hutchinson, Emma Dunn, Edgar Norton, Lionel Belmore, Lawrence Grant, Ward Bond, Donnie Dunagan, Perry Ivins, Michael Mark, Gustav von Seyffertitz, Caroline Frances Cooke
Doctor Victor Frankenstein's son, Baron Wolf von Frankenstein (Basil Rathbone), returns to the gothic mansion with his wife Elsa (Josephine Hutchins) and son Peter (Donnie Dunagan). Wolf assures his doubting neighbors that he is not like his father. But, when the evil blacksmith Ygor (Bela Lugosi) asks him to bring the Monster back to life, Wolf agrees, revives the Monster (Boris Karloff), and the madness continues. After the Monster kidnaps Peter, Wolf tracks him down and knocks the Monster into a sulfur pit. Will this finally be the end of the Monster?
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Sparrows 1926 N/R, 84 min. Genre: Drama
Director: William Beaudine Cast: Mary Pickford, Roy Stewart, Mary Louise Miller, Gustav von Seyffertitz, Charlotte Mineau, Spec O'Donnell, Lloyd Whitlock, Monty O'Grady, Billy Butts, Jack Lavine
Molly (Mary Pickford) is the oldest of a group of orphans enslaved by the evil Mr. Grimes (Gustav von Seyffertitz) at his "baby farm" in the middle of a swamp. Despite the threat of alligators surrounding the farm, Molly leads her group on a desperate trek to safety.
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Stella Maris 1918 N/R, 70 min. Genre: Drama
Director: Marshall Neilan Cast: Mary Pickford, Conway Tearle, Camille Ankewich, Herbert Standing, Marcia Manon, Ida Waterman, Josephine Crowell, Lou Conley, Gustav von Seyffertitz
Mary Pickford takes on dual roles in one of her best performances. Both of her characters are in love with the same man (Conway Tearle), and only one will win his love.
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| 1. Ambassador Bill (1931)
2. The Bat Whispers (1930)
3. The Bells (1926)
4. The Canary Murder Case (1929)
5. Cipher Bureau (1938)
6. Dishonored (1931)
7. The Gaucho (1927)
8. Moonstone (1934)
9. The Mysterious Lady (1928)
10. Mystery Liner (1934) aka: Ghost of John Holling
11. Old Wives for New (1918)
12. Queen Christina (1933)
13. Shanghai Express (1932)
14. She (1935)
15. The Silver Cord (1933)
16. Son of Frankenstein (1939)
17. Sparrows (1926)
18. Stella Maris (1918)
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