The Big Chance 1933  N/R, 63 min.
Genre: Drama / Action / Adventure / Romance
Director: Albert Herman
Cast: John Darrow, Merna Kennedy, Natalie Moorhead, Mickey Rooney, Matthew Betz, Hank Mann, Robert McKenzie, Virginia True Boardman, Frank LaRue, George Chesebro, Jack Mower, George Morrell, Billy Engle, Rose Plumer, Kit Guard
Rocky (John Darrow) wins a boxing match, but it is part of gambler Flash McQuaid's (Mathew Betz) plan. The match was fixed, and McQuaid plans to stage more fixed fights and then have Rocky throw a championship fight. Plans go awry when Rocky meets and falls in love with church-going Mary (Merna Kennedy). Rocky decides to change his ways, but McQuaid has his own plans for Rocky and does not hold back in his efforts to rid Rocky of Mary's influence–he even kidnaps Mary's young brother, Arthur (Mickey Rooney). But, by story's end, all ends happily.
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The Circus 1928  G, 72 min.
Genre: Comedy
Director: Charles Chaplin
Cast: Al Ernest Garcia, Merna Kennedy, Harry Crocker, George Davis, Henry Bergman, Tiny Sanford, John Rand, Steve Murphy, Betty Morrisey, Charles Chaplin
The Tramp (Charles Chaplin) is working odd jobs at a circus when police think he is a pickpocket and chase him around the Big Top. The crowd, thinking it is part of the act, finds him hilarious. This leads to his being hired as a clown. Soon he falls in love, is spurned, shrugs his shoulders, and sets off in a new direction leaving the circus behind.
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King of Jazz 1930 N/R, 98 min.
Genre: Animation / Musical
Director: John Murray Anderson, Pal Fejos
Cast: John Boles, Laura La Plante, Glenn Tryon, Paul Whiteman's Orchestra, Slim Summerville, Bing Crosby, Harry Barris, Walter Brennan, Jeanette Loff, Merna Kennedy, Stanley Smith, Otis Harlan, William Kent, Al Rinker, Eleanor Gutchrlein
This film's use of an early stage in the development of Technicolor employing a two-color process is interesting from an historical perspective. The film begins with a Walter Lantz cartoon and is then followed by comedy sketches that show the beginnings of American jazz. It is an entertaining talkie featuring Paul Whiteman's rendition of Gershwin's "Rhapsody in Blue" among other great musical numbers.
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The Red-Haired Alibi 1932  N/R, 72 min.
Genre: Drama
Director: Christy Cabanne
Cast: Merna Kennedy, Grant Withers, Theodore von Eltz, Huntley Gordon, Paul Porcasi, Purnell Pratt, Arthur Hoyt, John Vosburgh, Fred Kelsey, Shirley Temple, Spec O'Donnell, Harrison Greene, Harry Bowen, Lynton Brent, Marion Lessing
Red-haired Lynn (Merna Kennedy) is the constant escort for gangster Trent Travers (Theodore von Eltz). This gives him an alibi when his men do the dirty work, and Lynn is so naive that she doesn't even know he's a crook. When she finally realizes that Trent is a crook, Lynn leaves him and takes a job as nursemaid for young Gloria Shelton (Shirley Temple). While taking care of Gloria, love blooms between Lynn and Gloria's millionaire father, Rob Shelton (Grant Withers), and they marry. But, now Trent tracks her down for blackmail, and more problems ensue for Lynn. All does end well in this feature film debut for four-year-old Shirley Temple.
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| 1. The Big Chance (1933)
2. The Circus (1928)
3. King of Jazz (1930)
4. The Red-Haired Alibi (1932)
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