The Devil's Playground 1946  N/R, 62 min.
Genre: Action / Western
Director: George Archainbaud
Cast: William Boyd, Andy Clyde, Rand Brooks, Elaine Riley, Robert Elliott, Joseph J. Greene, Francis McDonald, Nedrick Young, Earle Hodgins, George Eldredge, Dewey Robinson, Merrill McCormick, Hank Bell, Bob Burns, John George
Hopalong Cassidy (William Boyd) and his pals California Carson (Andy Clyde) and Lucky Jenkins (Rand Brooks) come to the rescue of the widowed Mrs. Evans (Elaine Riley). She is looking for a hidden cache of gold, and the evil Judge Morton (Robert Elliott) wants the map leading to the gold. Morton is hoping to throw Mrs. Evans off her property, get the map, and take the gold for himself. Once again, Hoppy saves the day.
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The Divorcee 1930 N/R, 80 min.
Genre: Drama / Romance
Director: Robert Z. Leonard
Cast: Norma Shearer, Chester Morris, Conrad Nagel, Robert Montgomery, Florence Eldridge, Helene Millard, Robert Elliott, Mary Doran, Tyler Brooke, George Irving, Zelda Sears, Judith Wood, Theodor Von Eltz
Shortly after their whirlwind courtship and marriage, Jerry (Norma Shearer) discovers that her husband Ted (Chester Morris) is having an affair with Janice (Mary Doran). Jerry's solution is to kick Ted out of her bed and sleep with Ted's best friend Don (Robert Montgomery). Now, other lovers become part of Jerry's life until she finally returns to Ted and all is forgiven. While this film was nominated for Best Picture, Best Director, and Best Writing, it was Norma Shearer who walked away with the Oscar for Best Actress for 1929/30.
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Half a Sinner 1940  N/R, 59 min.
Genre: Adventure / Comedy / Mystery
Director: Al Christie
Cast: Heather Angel, John "Dusty" King, Constance Collier, Walter Catlett, Tom Dugan, Robert Elliott, Clem Bevans, Emma Dunn, Henry Brandon, William B. Davidson, Fern Emmett, Sonny Bupp, Wilbur Mack, Fred Kohler
Schoolteacher Anne Gladden (Heather Angel) escapes the attentions of a gangster by driving off in his car. What Anne does not know is that there is a corpse in the trunk. While the gangster tries to recover his car, Anne meets a stranger and picks him up. Now they discover the body and try to return the car, but both the gangster and the police are on their trail.
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Lady Killer 1933  N/R, 74 min.
Genre: Comedy
Director: Roy Del Ruth
Cast: James Cagney, Mae Clarke, Leslie Fenton, Margaret Lindsay, Raymond Hatton, Henry O'Neill, Willard Robertson, Russell Hopton, William B. Davidson, Douglass Dumbrille, Robert Elliott, Marjorie Gateson, Douglas Cosgrove
This film brings back the stars (James Cagney and Mae Clark) of the smash hit "Public Enemy." In this go-around, an underworld crook (Cagney) goes from usher to hotshot hood to movie star.
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 The Maltese Falcon 1931 N/R, 80 min.
Genre: Mystery
aka: Dangerous Female
Director: Roy Del Ruth
Cast: Ricardo Cortez, Bebe Daniels, Dudley Digges, Una Merkel, Robert Elliott, J. Farrell MacDonald, Oscar Apfel, Thelma Todd, Walter Long, Dwight Frye
Although not as popular as the Humphrey Bogart version 10 years later, this first (of three) filming of Dashiell Hammett's story, is good. Private Eye Sam Spade (Ricardo Cortez) takes a case for Ruth (Bebe Daniels), whose sister is missing. Ultimately, it becomes a case of looking for a valuable statuette (with others also in pursuit) and pursuing the murderer of his partner. The 1936 version is titled "Satan Met a Lady."
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Murder at Midnight 1931 N/R, 69 min.
Genre: Mystery
Director: Frank R. Strayer
Cast: Aileen Pringle, Alice White, Hale Hamilton, Robert Elliott, Clara Blandick, Brandon Hurst, Leslie Fenton, William Humphrey, Tyrell Davis, Aileen Carlyle, Kenneth Thomson, Robert Ellis
During a parlor game, Jim (Kenneth Thomson) pretends to shoot his secretary, but his gun was loaded with real bullets. The police call in Phillip Montrose (Hale Hamilton) to help in the investigation. When Jim is soon killed, the police believe that it was a murder/suicide. But we (and Phillip) know there is a ruthless killer on the loose. Oh, by the way, did you know that Phillip was Jim's wife's (Aileen Pringle) lover?
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The Return of Casey Jones 1933 N/R, 67 min.
Genre: Action / Drama
aka: Train 2419
Director: John P. McCarthy
Cast: Charles Starrett, Ruth Hall, Robert Elliott, George "Gabby" Hayes, Jackie Searl, George Walsh, Margaret Seddon, Gordon De Main, George Nash, Anne Howard
Jim Martin (Charles Starrett) is a young railroad engineer who does not enlist in the military during World War I. Branded a coward by friends and neighbors, Jim gets advice from the legendary Casey Jones (Robert Elliott), and Jim proves his bravery on the home front when he prevents a train wreck.
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 The Roaring Twenties 1939  N/R, 104 min.
Genre: Drama / Thriller
Director: Raoul Walsh
Cast: James Cagney, Priscilla Lane, Humphrey Bogart, Jeffrey Lynn, Gladys George, Frank McHugh, Paul Kelly, Elisabeth Risdon, Edward Keane, Joe Sawyer, Eddie Acuff, Joseph Crehan, George Meeker, John Hamilton, Robert Elliott
When Eddie Bartlett (James Cagney) returns to America as a veteran of World War I, he fails to find conventional employment. Instead, he forms a successful bootlegging business and is joined by wartime friend George Hally (Humphrey Bogart). Coming to their aid is another buddy, lawyer Lloyd Hart (Jeffrey Lynn). This is one of the better gangster films made in Hollywood.
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The Saint Strikes Back 1939 N/R, 67 min.
Genre: Mystery
Director: John Farrow
Cast: George Sanders, Wendy Barrie, Jonathan Hale, Jerome Cowan, Barry Fitzgerald, Neil Hamilton, Robert Elliott, Russell Hopton, Edward Gargan, Robert Strange
George Sanders takes on the role of the smooth, Robin Hood-like detective in this second entry in the series. We find our hero on the way to San Francisco to clear a fair maiden's name by bringing the bad guys who framed her father to justice. Another good entry, which was a box office hit and helped make a name for George Sanders in Hollywood.
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Trade Winds 1938 N/R, 93 min.
Genre: Comedy
Director: Tay Garnett
Cast: Fredric March, Joan Bennett, Ralph Bellamy, Ann Sothern, Sidney Blackmer, Thomas Mitchell, Robert Elliott, Joyce Compton, Phyllis Barry, Dorothy Tree
Smooth ladies' man, detective Sam Wye (Fredric March), and his sidekick, Ben (Ralph Bellamy), chase murder suspect Kay (Joan Bennett) throughout Asia, and Sam falls in love with her in the process. When he catches up with her, he helps establish her innocence. Good performances throughout, especially Joan Bennett and Ann Sothern.
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Twin Husbands 1934 N/R, 68 min.
Genre: Drama
Director: Frank R. Strayer
Cast: John Miljan, Shirley Grey, Monroe Owsley, Hale Hamilton, Robert Elliott, Wilson Benge, William Franklin, Maurice Black, Al Bridge, Joseph W. Girard
Jerry Van Trevor (John Miljan) awakens and learns that he has been kidnapped by Chloe (Shirley Grey) and her accomplice, Colton Drain (Monroe Owsley). They plan to use Jerry's striking resemblance to Chloe's wealthy husband (also played by John Miljan), as the means to steal valuable bonds. But, Jerry is not who he seems to be and waits patiently to outwit his kidnappers.
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| 1. The Devil's Playground (1946)
2. The Divorcee (1930)
3. Doorway to Hell (1930)
4. The Finger Points (1931)
5. Half a Sinner (1940)
6. Lady Killer (1933)
7. The Maltese Falcon (1931)
aka: Dangerous Female
8. Murder at Midnight (1931)
9. The Return of Casey Jones (1933)
aka: Train 2419
10. The Roaring Twenties (1939)
11. The Saint Strikes Back (1939)
12. Trade Winds (1938)
13. Twin Husbands (1934)
In The News
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