The Glass Key 1935 N/R, 80 min. Genre: Mystery
Director: Frank Tuttle Cast: George Raft, Claire Dodd, Edward Arnold, Rosalind Keith, Ray Milland, Guinn "Big Boy" Williams, Robert Gleckler, Tammany Young, Charles C. Wilson, Emma Dunn
Based on Dashiell Hammett's novel about a politician (Edward Arnold) accused of murder, this becomes a riveting story of intrigue when his aide (George Raft) determines to clear the name of his boss and must fight the influential Mob. This story was remade in 1942.
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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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Hallelujah, I'm a Bum 1933 N/R, 83 min. Genre: Comedy aka: Happy Go Lucky The Heart of New York Lazy Bones
Director: Lewis Milestone Cast: Al Jolson, Madge Evans, Frank Morgan, Harry Langdon, Chester Conklin, Edgar Connor, Tyler Brooke, Tammany Young, Louise Carver, Dorothea Wolbert
Bumper (Al Jolson) is a happy-go-lucky tramp in NYC's Central Park. When he rescues June (Madge Evans) from a suicide attempt, he finds she has amnesia, and she falls in love with him. His life is changed for the better, but when June comes out of her amnesia and realizes she is the mistress of the mayor (Frank Morgan), she has second thoughts. The film highlights the life and times of people during the Depression and is unusual in that nearly all dialogue is written in rhyme. The music of Rodgers and Hart is excellent. Some versions are edited.
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It's a Gift 1934 N/R, 73 min. Genre: Comedy
Director: Norman Z. McLeod Cast: W.C. Fields, Kathleen Howard, Jean Rouverol, Julian Madison, Tammany Young, Tommy Bupp, Spencer Charters, Guy Usher, Baby LeRoy, Morgan Wallace, Charles Sellon, Josephine Whittell, Diana Lewis, Dell Henderson
In this classic W.C. Fields comedy, Harold Bissonette (Fields), despite objections from his nagging wife (Kathleen Howard), uses a mail-order service to buy a California orange grove that, of course, turns out to be worthless. Comedy reigns as Bissonette finds a way out of his financial mess.
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Man on the Flying Trapeze 1935 N/R, 65 min. Genre: Comedy
Director: Clyde Bruckman Cast: W.C. Fields, Mary Brian, Kathleen Howard, Grady Sutton, Vera Lewis, Lucien Littlefield, Oscar Apfel, Walter Brennan, Minerva Urecal, James Flavin, Lew Kelly, Tammany Young, Edward Gargan, James Burke, Carlotta Monti
This story is about one day in the life of a harried man, Ambrose Wolfinger (W. C. Fields), who is henpecked by his wife Leona (Kathleen Howard) at home and suffers stresses at work. Ambrose wants to take the afternoon off from work to attend a wrestling match, and the excuse he uses for time off is to tell a lie that his mother-in-law Cordelia (Vera Lewis) has died. On his way to the wrestling match Ambrose experiences many misadventures –including getting four traffic tickets in a row. The delays prevent him from getting to the match on time. When he arrives home, Ambrose realizes by their cold stares that his family has learned about the lie. Now, Ambrose's loving daughter Hope (Mary Brian) offers support, and Ambrose's lie turns into a win-win situation at home and at work.
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The Old-Fashioned Way 1934 N/R, 66 min. Genre: Comedy
Director: William Beaudine Cast: W.C. Fields, Joe Morrison, Judith Allen, Jan Duggan, Nora Cecil, Baby LeRoy, Jack Mulhall, Tammany Young, Samuel Ethridge, Ruth Marion, Richard Carle, Jeffrey Williams, Larry Grenier, William Blatchford, Donald Brown
A widow, Cleopatra Pepperday (Jan Duggan), has provided board for the cast and funding for the production of The Great McGonigle's (W.C. Fields) production of "The Drunkard" in exchange for a role in the play. Cleopatra's son Albert (Baby LeRoy) becomes McGonigle's nemesis, and Albert enjoys tormenting him by throwing food in his face. McGonigle must also deal with his daughter Betty (Judith Allen) and her romance with Wally Livingston (Joe Morrison). The show goes on, but McGonigle deletes Cleopatra's role in the play and skips out without paying the bills after the performance–but he does ensure Betty's happiness in a future with Wally.
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She Done Him Wrong 1933 N/R, 66 min. Genre: Comedy / Romance
Director: Lowell Sherman Cast: Mae West, Cary Grant, Noah Beery, Rafaela Ottiano, Gilbert Roland, Fuzzy Knight, Owen Moore, David Landau, Dewey Robinson, Rochelle Hudson, Tammany Young, Grace La Rue, Robert Homans, Louise Beavers
Lady Lou (Mae West) is a New York City saloonkeeper in this "Gay Nineties" story. Lou tries to seduce Captain Cummings (Cary Grant) who is really an undercover police detective investigating her activities. An Academy Award nomination was received for Best Picture.
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Tugboat Annie 1933 N/R, 87 min. Genre: Comedy
Director: Mervyn LeRoy Cast: Marie Dressler, Wallace Beery, Robert Young, Maureen O'Sullivan, Willard Robertson, Frankie Darro, Tammany Young, Jack Pennick, Paul Hurst, Oscar Apfel
Marie Dressler and Wallace Beery provide enjoyable fare as Tugboat Annie and her boozing husband in this lighthearted comedy.
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Wanderer of the Wasteland 1935 N/R, 62 min. Genre: Western
Director: Otho Lovering Cast: Dean Jagger, Gail Patrick, Edward Ellis, Monte Blue, Buster Crabbe, Trixie Friganza, Raymond Hatton, Fuzzy Knight, Charles Waldron, Anna Q. Nilsson, Leif Erickson, Tammany Young, Kenneth Harlan, Benny Baker, Stanley Andrews
Based on a Zane Grey story, this is the tale of Adam (Dean Jagger) who is on the lam when he is wrongfully accused of murder. Now lost in Death Valley, he is saved by wanderer Dismukes (Edward Ellis). He reunites with his girl friend Ruth (Gail Patrick), is cleared of the murder charge, and deals with villainous Big Ben (Buster Crabbe). This is the second rendition of Grey's tale and was again remade in 1945. The first film was made in 1924 and was the first Technicolor Western.
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You're Telling Me 1934 N/R, 66 min. Genre: Comedy
Director: Erle C. Kenton Cast: W.C. Fields, Joan Marsh, Buster Crabbe, Adrienne Ames, Louise Carter, Kathleen Howard, Dell Henderson, Robert McKenzie, George Irving, Nora Cecil, Tammany Young, James B. "Pop" Kenton, Don Brodie, Eric Mayne, George MacQuarrie
W.C. Fields develops the complicated character of Sam Bisbee, an eccentric inventor, in this vintage film made great by Fields' acting and comedy skills. Sam has become nothing more than a joke in his town because of his inability to sell his inventions. But, when he meets Princess Lescaboura (Adrienne Ames) and tells her how he wants to market his inventions as the means to aid his family, Princess Lescaboura steps in. She tells the townsfolk how much she admires Sam, and Sam rises to new heights among the town's citizens and finally earns their respect.
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| 1. The Glass Key (1935)
2. Gold Diggers of 1933 (1933)
3. Hallelujah, I'm a Bum (1933) aka: Happy Go Lucky aka: The Heart of New York aka: Lazy Bones
4. It's a Gift (1934)
5. Man on the Flying Trapeze (1935)
6. The Old-Fashioned Way (1934)
7. She Done Him Wrong (1933)
8. Tugboat Annie (1933)
9. Wanderer of the Wasteland (1935)
10. You're Telling Me (1934)
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