 42nd Street 1933  N/R, 89 min.
Genre: Musical / Drama / Romance
Director: Lloyd Bacon
Cast: Warner Baxter, Bebe Daniels, George Brent, Una Merkel, Ruby Keeler, Guy Kibbee, Dick Powell, Ginger Rogers, George E. Stone, Allen Jenkins, Ned Sparks, Edward J. Nugent, Robert McWade, Louise Beavers, George Irving
Busby Berkeley's musical numbers highlight this entertaining film about what goes on behind the scenes of the Broadway musical show, "Pretty Lady." The show's director Julian Marsh (Warner Baxter) is in poor health but wants to enjoy one more hit before he retires. When the show's temperamental star, Dorothy Brock (Bebe Daniels) breaks her ankle on the night of the show's opening, chorus girl Peggy Sawyer (Ruby Keeler) fills in and takes over the lead. Featured numbers include" "You're getting to Be a Habit with Me," "Shuffle off to Buffalo," and "42nd Street." The film received an Academy Award nomination for Best Picture.
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 Alice in Wonderland 1933  N/R, 70 min.
Genre: Family / Fantasy
Director: Norman Z. McLeod
Cast: Charlotte Henry, Richard Arlen, Roscoe Ates, Charles Ruggles, Roscoe Karns, Gary Cooper, W.C. Fields, Cary Grant, Sterling Holloway, Edward Everett Horton, Leon Errol, Ned Sparks
This is the Lewis Carroll story brought to the screen with Alice (Charlotte Henry) dealing with the offbeat characters in Wonderland. This is the first full-length film of the story.
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Blessed Event 1932 N/R, 84 min.
Genre: Comedy
Director: Roy Del Ruth
Cast: Lee Tracy, Mary Brian, Allen Jenkins, Ruth Donnelly, Isabel Jewell, George Meeker, Frank McHugh, Tom Dugan, Ned Sparks, Dick Powell
Newspaper columnist Alvin Roberts (Lee Tracy) specializes in reporting on "blessed events" which are started before marriage. When he announces the pregnancy of Dorothy (Isabel Jewell), it changes the lives of both Alvin and Dorothy. Behind the humor is a powerful story.
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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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Going Hollywood 1933  N/R, 75 min.
Genre: Musical
Director: Raoul Walsh
Cast: Marion Davies, Bing Crosby, Fifi D'Orsay, Stuart Erwin, Ned Sparks, Patsy Kelly, Robert Watson, Lennie Hayton, Clara Blandick, Sterling Holloway
Sylvia Bruce (Marion Davies) joins a movie company and heads for Hollywood where singer Bill Williams (Bing Crosby) performs. Sylvia fell in love with Bill when she heard his voice on the radio.
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 Gold Diggers of 1933 1933 N/R, 96 min.
Genre: Musical
Director: Mervyn LeRoy
Cast: Joan Blondell, Ruby Keeler, Aline MacMahon, Dick Powell, Guy Kibbee, Warren William, Ned Sparks, Ginger Rogers, Sterling Holloway, Ferdinand Gottschalk, Billy Barty, Hobart Cavanaugh, Busby Berkeley, Charles(1) Lane, Tammany Young
This musical proved so popular that two sequels were made: one in 1935 and another in 1937. Unemployed showgirls Carol (Joan Blondell), Polly (Ruby Keeler), and Trixie (Aline MacMahon) want to perform in a musical, and IF Polly will play the lead, singer-composer Brad Roberts (Dick Powell) will foot the bill. Brad and Polly are in love, but Brad's wealthy family disapproves and will stop at nothing to break them up–but they fail, and the show goes on. Ginger Rogers sings "We're in the Money" while wearing only silver dollars in one of the great Busby Berkeley production numbers.
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Imitation of Life 1934  N/R, 106 min.
Genre: Drama
Director: John M. Stahl
Cast: Claudette Colbert, Warren William, Ned Sparks, Louise Beavers, Rochelle Hudson, Fredi Washington, Alan Hale, Clarence Wilson, Henry Armetta, Henry Kolker, Paul Porcasi, Wyndham Standing, Franklin Pangborn, Dennis O'Keefe, Fred "Snowflake" Toones
This is the film adaptation of the Fannie Hurst novel about mothers Bea Pullman and Delilah Johnson (Claudette Colbert and Louise Beavers) and daughters Jessie (Rochelle Hudson as 18-year-old Jessie) and Peola (Fredi Washington as 16-year-old Peola) whose relationships become difficult. Bea and Delilah open a pancake restaurant that proves to be very successful. But, despite success in their professional lives, problems rise to the fore with their daughters. Jessie falls in love with her mother's boyfriend (Warren William). Meanwhile, light-skinned Peola decides to pass herself off as White and breaks Delilah's heart. An Academy Award nomination was received for Best Picture.
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Iron Man 1931  N/R, 72 min.
Genre: Drama
Director: Tod Browning
Cast: Lew Ayres, Robert Armstrong, Jean Harlow, John Miljan, Edward Dillon, Mike Donlin, Morrie Cohan, Mary Doran, Ned Sparks
Boxing champion Mason (Lew Ayres) wins his fights and keeps boxing for financial gain despite problems with his wife, Rose (Jean Harlow).
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Kept Husbands 1931 N/R, 76 min.
Genre: Drama
Director: Lloyd Bacon
Cast: Dorothy Mackaill, Joel McCrea, Robert McWade, Ned Sparks, Florence Roberts, Clara Kimball Young, Mary Carr, Bryant Washburn, Freeman Wood, Lita Chevret
Steel mill engineer Dick Brunton (Joel McCrea) marries the mill owner's daughter, Dot (Dorothy Mackaill), and quickly becomes the spoiled girl's pawn. But, by story's end, Dick learns to deal with the problem, and Dot learns her lesson.
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Lady for a Day 1933 N/R, 95 min.
Genre: Comedy
Director: Frank Capra
Cast: Warren William, May Robson, Guy Kibbee, Glenda Farrell, Ned Sparks, Walter Connolly, Jean Parker, Nat Pendleton, Barry Norton, Halliwell Hobbes
Apple Annie (May Robson) is a 75-year-old seller of apples in Times Square in this Damon Runyon tale, and she knows how to extract money from the other peddlers. She sends money to her daughter (Jean Parker) in Spain, implying she is wealthy in her letters to the daughter. Now the daughter is visiting, and Apple Annie needs help, so she goes to gambler Dave the Dude (Warren William) to set her up for the visit. Now the fun begins. Good flick. Sequel: "Lady By Choice." Capra remade the story in 1961 as "Pocketful of Miracles."
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Magic Town 1947 N/R, 103 min.
Genre: Comedy
Director: William A. Wellman
Cast: James Stewart, Jane Wyman, Kent Smith, Ned Sparks, Wallace Ford, Regis Toomey, Donald Meek, Ann Doran, Ann Shoemaker, Mickey Kuhn, Larry Wheat
After a pollster, Rip Smith (James Stewart), finds the quintessential American town, troubles brew when the resulting publicity exposes the quiet town to the rest of the world.
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Marie Galante 1934 N/R, 88 min.
Genre: Drama
Director: Henry King
Cast: Spencer Tracy, Ketti Gallian, Ned Sparks, Helen Morgan, Sig Ruman, Leslie Fenton, Arthur Byron, Jay C. Flippen, Frank Darien, Stepin Fetchit
Down-on-her-luck Marie (Ketti Gallian) is kidnapped, tossed from a ship, and ends up in the Panama Canal Zone. While working in a dance hall, she meets undercover agent Crawbett (Spencer Tracy) who is investigating a plot to blow up the canal, and she is drawn into the fray. Helen Morgan sings a couple of songs.
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Secrets 1933 N/R, 90 min.
Genre: Western / Romance
Director: Frank Borzage
Cast: Mary Pickford, Leslie Howard, C. Aubrey Smith, Blanche Friderici, Doris Lloyd, Herbert Evans, Ned Sparks, Allan Sears, Mona Maris, Huntley Gordon, Ethel Clayton, Bessie Barriscale, Lyman Williams, Virginia Grey, Ellen Johnson
Mary and John (Mary Pickford and Leslie Howard) leave New England and join a group of pioneers heading West across America in their covered wagons. They settle in California and become cattle ranchers. When tragedies occur–including Indian attacks, the death of Mary's child, and John's philandering–Mary still remains a loyal wife and mother.
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The Star Maker 1939 N/R, 94 min.
Genre: Musical
Director: Roy Del Ruth
Cast: Bing Crosby, Louise Campbell, Linda Ware, Ned Sparks, Laura Hope Crews, Paul Stanton, Thurston Hall, Billy Gilbert, Clara Blandick, Oscar O'Shea
This is the film biography of Gus Edwards (Bing Crosby) who was in the business of training and then getting talented kids into show business.
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Too Much Harmony 1933 N/R, 70 min.
Genre: Musical
Director: A. Edward Sutherland
Cast: Bing Crosby, Jack Oakie, Richard "Skeets" Gallagher, Judith Allen, Lilyan Tashman, Ned Sparks, Grace Bradley, Harry Green, Kitty Kelly, Anna Demetrio
This enjoyable musical contains the song "Thanks." It is the story of Broadway star Eddie Bronson's (Bing Crosby) visit to a small town where he discovers talent and romance.
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| 1. 42nd Street (1933)
2. Alice in Wonderland (1933)
3. Blessed Event (1932)
4. The Bride Walks Out (1936)
5. The Canary Murder Case (1929)
6. Going Hollywood (1933)
7. Gold Diggers of 1933 (1933)
8. Imitation of Life (1934)
9. Iron Man (1931)
10. Kept Husbands (1931)
11. Lady for a Day (1933)
12. Magic Town (1947)
13. Marie Galante (1934)
14. Secrets (1933)
15. The Star Maker (1939)
16. Too Much Harmony (1933)
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