Bachelor Father 1931 N/R, 90 min. Genre: Comedy
Director: Robert Z. Leonard Cast: Marion Davies, Ralph Forbes, C. Aubrey Smith, Ray Milland, Doris Lloyd, Guinn "Big Boy" Williams, David Torrence, Edgar Norton, Halliwell Hobbes
In this film adaptation of Edward Childs Carpenter's Broadway play, C. Aubrey Smith repeats his role of Sir Basil Winterton who seeks to find his three illegitimate children who are now adults.
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The Barretts of Wimpole Street 1934 N/R, 110 min. Genre: Drama aka: Forbidden Alliance
Director: Sidney Franklin Cast: Norma Shearer, Fredric March, Charles Laughton, Maureen O'Sullivan, Katharine Alexander, Ian Wolfe, Ralph Forbes, Una O'Connor, Ferdinand Munier, Leo G. Carroll
This film was nominated for the Academy Award for Best Picture, and Norma Shearer was also nominated for Best Actress. The story relates the love affair and marriage of Elizabeth Barrett (Norma Shearer) and Robert Browning (Fredric March).
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Beau Geste 1926 N/R, 105 min. Genre: Adventure / Action / Drama
Director: Herbert Brenon Cast: Ronald Colman, Neil Hamilton, Ralph Forbes, Alice Joyce, Mary Brian, Noah Beery, Norman Trevor, William Powell, George Regas, Bernard Siegel, Victor McLaglen, Donald Stuart, Ram Singh, Redmond Finlay, Paul McAllister
After his aunt, Lady Brandon (Alice Joyce) steals valuable jewelry, Beau Geste (Ronald Colman) takes the blame and then flees the country with his brothers, Digby (Neil Hamilton) and John (Ralph Forbes). They join the French Foreign Legion, and Beau and John end up under the leadership of brutal Sergeant Lejaune (Noah Beery) who, unbeknownst to the brothers, is aware that Beau is wanted by the police. Lejaune plots to get the jewels that are rumored to be in Beau's possession, but Arab forces attack, and Beau is killed. More tragedies ensue before John is the sole surviving brother, and he heads home to his fiancee Isobel (Mary Brian). An exellent silent film.
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Beau Ideal 1931 N/R, 82 min. Genre: Adventure
Director: Herbert Brenon Cast: Frank McCormick, Ralph Forbes, Loretta Young, Irene Rich, Lester Vail, Otto Matieson, Don Alvarado, Bernard Siegel, Myrtle Stedman, John St. Polis, Hale Hamilton, George Regas, Bernard Siegel
Ralph Forbes, who starred in the 1926 silent film, "Beau Geste," returns to his role in this sequel that involves the desert reunion of childhood friends John Geste (Ralph Forbes) and Otis Madison (Lester Vail).
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Calling Philo Vance 1940 N/R, 62 min. Genre: Mystery
Director: William Clemens Cast: James Stephenson, Margot Stevenson, Henry O'Neill, Edward Brophy, Ralph Forbes, Donald Douglas, Martin Kosleck, Sheila Bromley, Jimmy Conlin, Edward Requello, Creighton Hale, Harry Strang
This updated remake of the successful "The Kennel Murder Case" brought this series of Philo Vance films to an end, with a new Vance (James Stephenson). Another, shorter series would follow in 1947. A designer of warplane equipment is murdered and Vance, who is now a government investigator, is on the trail of the killer.
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Daniel Boone 1936 N/R, 75 min. Genre: Adventure
Director: David Howard Cast: George O'Brien, Heather Angel, John Carradine, Ralph Forbes, Clarence Muse, George Regas, Dickie Jones, Huntley Gordon, Harry Cording, Crauford Kent
Pioneers head for Kentucky under the protective lead of frontiersman Daniel Boone.
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Enchanted April 1935 N/R, 66 min. Genre: Comedy / Drama / Romance
Director: Harry Beaumont Cast: Ann Harding, Frank Morgan, Katharine Alexander, Reginald Owen, Jane Baxter, Ralph Forbes, Jessie Ralph, Charles Judels, Rafaela Ottiano, Ethel Griffies, May Beatty, Inez Palange, Gwendolyn Logan, Hector Samo
This is a good rendition of Elizabeth von Arnim's novel about two English women–Lottie Wilkins (Ann Harding) and Rose Arbuthnot (Katherine Alexander)–who have had enough of their husbands and take off for a vacation and a better life. They rent a castle overlooking the Mediterranean in San Salvatore, Italy. Joining them in Italy are Mrs. Fisher (Jessie Ralph) and Lady Caroline (Jane Baxter). Now, the four ladies spend their month together supposedly free from their husbands–but not without complications. Remade in 1992.
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Frenchman's Creek 1944 N/R, 113 min. Genre: Adventure
Director: Mitchell Leisen Cast: Joan Fontaine, Arturo de Cordova, Basil Rathbone, Nigel Bruce, Billy Daniels, Cecil Kellaway, Ralph Forbes, Mary Field, George Kirby, David Clyde
Escaping from an unhappy relationship, Dona St. Columb (Joan Fontaine) falls into the arms of a French pirate (Arturo de Cordova).
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The Hound of the Baskervilles 1939 N/R, 78 min. Genre: Mystery / Drama / Horror / Thriller
Director: Sidney Lanfield Cast: Basil Rathbone, Nigel Bruce, Richard Greene, Wendy Barrie, Lionel Atwill, John Carradine, Ralph Forbes, Morton Lowry, E.E. Clive, Mary Gordon, Barlowe Borland, Beryl Mercer, Eily Malyon, Lionel Pape, Nigel De Brulier
For the first time on film, Basil Rathbone and Nigel Bruce take on their roles of Sherlock Holmes and Dr. Watson. A huge hound has been killing the Baskervilles, and, following the killing of Sir Charles Baskerville, Holmes and Watson are given the job of solving the murder when the deceased's nephew, Sir Henry Baskerville (Richard Greene), calls on them to for help. Holmes sends Dr. Watson to the Baskerville estate to investigate. Meanwhile, Holmes, under disguise, monitors events at the estate and encounters more than a few mysteries before solving the crime.
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The Last of Mrs. Cheyney 1937 N/R, 98 min. Genre: Comedy
Director: Richard Boleslawski Cast: Joan Crawford, William Powell, Robert Montgomery, Frank Morgan, Jessie Ralph, Nigel Bruce, Benita Hume, Melville Cooper, Ralph Forbes, Sara Haden
This remake of the 1929 film casts Joan Crawford in the title role of an American jewel thief who travels in upper-crust London society where her victims are easy prey. This film, too, was remade in 1951 as "The Law and the Lady."
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Make a Wish 1937 N/R, 76 min. Genre: Musical
Director: Kurt Neumann Cast: Basil Rathbone, Bobby Breen, Marion Claire, Ralph Forbes, Henry Armetta, Leon Errol, Donald Meek, Billy Lee, Leonid Kinskey, Herbert Rawlinson, Richard Tucker, Johnny Arthur, Barbara Barondess, Spencer Charters, Lillian Harmer
Young singing prodigy Chip (Bobby Breen) attends a summer camp where he is befriended by composer Selden (Basil Rathbone) who has lost his creative inspiration. When Chip reads letters from his widowed mother Irene (Marion Claire) to Selden, her words give him that needed inspiration to write a new opera. Irene stars in the opera and falls in love with Selden, and Chip gets a new father.
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Mary of Scotland 1936 N/R, 123 min. Genre: Drama / Romance
Director: John Ford Cast: Katharine Hepburn, Fredric March, Florence Eldridge, Douglas Walton, John Carradine, Robert Barrat, Gavin Muir, Ian Keith, Moroni Olsen, Ralph Forbes, William Stack, Alan Mowbray, Frieda Inescort, Donald Crisp, David Torrence
In the 16th century, Mary was the Roman-Catholic Queen of Scotland and had many battles with her Protestant cousin, Queen Elizabeth I of England. This is the story of Mary's (Katharine Hepburn) martyrdom when Elizabeth's (Florence Eldridge) allies ensure Mary's demise.
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The Phantom Broadcast 1933 N/R, 65 min. Genre: Mystery aka: Phantom of the Air
Director: Phil Rosen Cast: Ralph Forbes, Vivienne Osborne, Paul Page, Gail Patrick, Guinn "Big Boy" Williams, Rockliffe Fellowes, Arnold Gray, Carl Miller, George "Gabby" Hayes, Louise Beavers, Pauline Garon, Mary MacLaren
Grant Murdock (Arnold Gray) is known as a popular radio crooner, but, in fact, he can't sing. The real singer behind the mike is his hunchback pianist, Norman Wilder (Ralph Forbes). The music stops when Murdock is murdered, and Wilder becomes the chief suspect.
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Riptide 1934 N/R, 90 min. Genre: Drama
Director: Edmund Goulding Cast: Norma Shearer, Robert Montgomery, Herbert Marshall, Mrs. Patrick Campbell, Richard "Skeets" Gallagher, Ralph Forbes, Lilyan Tashman, Halliwell Hobbes, Helen Jerome Eddy, Walter Brennan
An American, Mary (Norma Shearer), marries a British noble, Lord Rexford (Herbert Marshall), and then is lured by Tommie (Robert Montgomery) to leave Rexford. This is an overall entertaining film. Watch for Walter Brennan as the chauffeur.
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Romeo and Juliet 1936 N/R, 126 min. Genre: Drama
Director: George Cukor Cast: Norma Shearer, Leslie Howard, John Barrymore, Edna May Oliver, Basil Rathbone, C. Aubrey Smith, Andy Devine, Reginald Denny, Ralph Forbes, Henry Kolker
This is a good version of Shakespeare's tragedy about star-crossed lovers, Romeo and Juliet (Leslie Howard and Norma Shearer). Academy Award nominations were received for Best Picture, Actress (Shearer), and Supporting Actor (Basil Rathbone).
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Smilin' Through 1932 N/R, 98 min. Genre: Drama
Director: Sidney Franklin Cast: Norma Shearer, Fredric March, Leslie Howard, O.P. Heggie, Ralph Forbes, Beryl Mercer, Margaret Seddon, Forrester Harvey, David Torrence, Cora Sue Collins
John Carteret's (Leslie Howard) bride was killed on their wedding day; since then he led a lonely life until he agreed to raise his orphaned niece, Kathleen (Norma Shearer). As she grows to adulthood, Kathleen is the image of John's long-deceased bride, and John falls in love with his niece. But complications arise when Kenneth (Fredric March) enters the picture.
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The Three Musketeers 1935 N/R, 90 min. Genre: Adventure / Action
Director: Rowland V. Lee Cast: Walter Abel, Paul Lukas, Moroni Olsen, Onslow Stevens, Heather Angel, Margot Grahame, Ian Keith, Ralph Forbes, Rosamond Pinchot, John Qualen, Miles Mander, Lumsden Hare, Murray Kinnell, Nigel De Brulier
This is not a bad rendition of Alexandre Dumas' D'Artagnan (Walter Abel) and his musketeers who roam 17th-century France during the reign of Louis XIII (Miles Mander). It doesn't, however, have as much action as later versions.
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Twentieth Century 1934 N/R, 91 min. Genre: Comedy
Director: Howard Hawks Cast: John Barrymore, Carole Lombard, Walter Connolly, Roscoe Karns, Ralph Forbes, Etienne Girardot, Dale Fuller, Herman Bing, James P. Burtis, Edgar Kennedy
The title of this film refers to the name of a New York to California passenger train that forms the centerpiece for this funny story about a movie producer (John Barrymore) and a fledgling star (Carole Lombard) who is trying to fly out of the nest.
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| 1. Bachelor Father (1931)
2. The Barretts of Wimpole Street (1934) aka: Forbidden Alliance
3. Beau Geste (1926)
4. Beau Ideal (1931)
5. Calling Philo Vance (1940)
6. Christopher Strong (1933)
7. Daniel Boone (1936)
8. Enchanted April (1935)
9. Frenchman's Creek (1944)
10. The Green Goddess (1930)
11. The Hound of the Baskervilles (1939)
12. The Last of Mrs. Cheyney (1937)
13. The Legion of Missing Men (1937)
14. Make a Wish (1937)
15. Mary of Scotland (1936)
16. The Phantom Broadcast (1933) aka: Phantom of the Air
17. Riptide (1934)
18. Romeo and Juliet (1936)
19. Smilin' Through (1932)
20. The Three Musketeers (1935)
21. Twentieth Century (1934)
In The News
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