 The Alamo 1960   N/R, 161 min.
Genre: Western / Action / Drama / Adventure
Director: John Wayne
Cast: John Wayne, Richard Widmark, Frankie Avalon, Richard Boone, Laurence Harvey, Chill Wills, Patrick Wayne, Linda Cristal, Ken Curtis, Denver Pyle, Joan O'Brien, Joseph Calleia, Carlos Arruza, Veda Ann Borg, John Dierkes
John Wayne directed and starred (as Davy Crockett) in this major production about the famous battle of Texas' independence in 1836 against an attack by the Mexican army at a small fort near San Antonio. Great musical score by Dimitri Tiomkin, and the final attack is a real spectacle. Several Oscar nominations were received with one winner: Best Sound. Nominations included Best Picture and Supporting Actor (Chill Wills). 1 User Review
| User Review |
| | Mt. Everest of western epics | crocketteer 02/22/2008 | Mighty and glorious in the old style of vast Hollywood epics, directed by the Paul Bunyan of the genre himself, John "Duke" Wayne.
After being schooled by master directors Walsh, Wellman, Hathaway, De Mille, Von Sternberg, Hawks and Ford - the actor put his self on the line, by producing and directing, as well as heading the cast - to release the immortal story of the doomed patriots, awaiting reinforcements that never came, as they battled the Army of Mexico and meglomaniacal dictator Santa Anna.
Though padded out with unneccesary subplots and occasional historical inaccuracies - it rises to the levels of greatness with a heartfelt soundtrack, sumptous cinematography, and vivid battle action that ranks among the best, in historic recreations. Later versions of the story - lack the folkloric essence of Manifest Destiny, that Wayne infused in his version. Mocked upon its release, it has been justly rewarded with continuous sales in the VHS / DVD market worldwide, and is now getting the respect it deserves.
Recent remake of story is morose and lacking in spirit and vigor. Though Wayne's panoramic release was never made for tiny TV screens, it is getting it's due - when seen on a large plasma screen - and eventually will be given the DVD release it deserves. Ghost riders of the West salute you, John Wayne. |
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Arkansas Judge 1941  N/R, 71 min.
Genre: Western
Director: Frank McDonald
Cast: Weaver Family, Roy Rogers, Spring Byington, Pauline Moore, Frank M. Thomas, Minerva Urecal, Monte Blue, Frank Darien, Veda Ann Borg, Eily Malyon
Peaceful Valley isn't peaceful after someone steals from a widow. The Weaver family, sort of slow moving, star in the film, and one is the judge. To get people off his back, he accuses the cleaning lady, a poor choice. Roy Rogers plays a lawyer.
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The Bachelor and the Bobby-Soxer 1947 N/R, 95 min.
Genre: Comedy / Romance
Director: Irving Reis
Cast: Cary Grant, Myrna Loy, Shirley Temple, Rudy Vallee, Ray Collins, Harry Davenport, Irving Bacon, Don Beddoe, Johnny Sands, Veda Ann Borg, Lillian Randolph, Dan Tobin, Ransom M. Sherman, William Bakewell, Ian Bernard
Teenager Sharon (Shirley Temple) is so infatuated with 40-year-old playboy artist Dick Nugent (Cary Grant) that she sneaks into his apartment one night hoping to model for him. When this is discovered by Sharon's older sister, Judge Margaret Turner (Myrna Loy), she threatens Dick with jail if he does not agree to date Sharon for one week to help Sharon get over her infatuation with him. Dick agrees to take Sharon out, but as the week progresses, it is he and Margaret who discover mutual interests in each other.
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Big Jim McLain 1952  N/R, 90 min.
Genre: Drama
Director: Edward Ludwig
Cast: John Wayne, Nancy Olson, James Arness, Alan Napier, Hans Conried, Veda Ann Borg, Sarah Padden, Paul Hurst, Hal Baylor, John Hubbard
House Un-American Activities investigators, Big Jim McLain (John Wayne) and Mal Baxter (James Arness), travel to Hawaii to investigate a possible Communist espionage plot.
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The Big Noise 1944  N/R, 74 min.
Genre: Comedy
Director: Malcolm St. Clair
Cast: Stan Laurel, Oliver Hardy, Doris Merrick, Arthur Space, Philip Van Zandt, Francis Ford, Veda Ann Borg, Robert Blake, Frank Fenton, James Bush, Selmer Jackson, Harry Hayden
While delivering a new weapon to Washington, D.C., Laurel and Hardy fend off a gang of thieves in their own inimitable manner. Probably their worst film.
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Blonde Savage 1947 N/R, 62 min.
Genre: Adventure
Director: Steve Sekely
Cast: Leif Erickson, Gale Sherwood, Veda Ann Borg, Douglass Dumbrille, Frank Jenks, Matt Willis, Ernest Whitman, Cay Forrester, John Dehner, Arthur Foster, Alex Frazer, James Logan
After a diamond mine owner, Mark Harper (Douglass Dumbrille), hires Steve (Leif Erickson) and Hoppy (Frank Jenks) to scout an area in the jungle, they find a tribe led by blonde princess Meelah (Gale Sherwood). It turns out that Meelah's parents had been killed by Harper, and now Steve–who has fallen in love with Meelah–helps Meelah prove Harper's guilt.
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Dr. Christian Meets the Women 1940 N/R, 65 min.
Genre: Drama
Director: William C. McGann
Cast: Jean Hersholt, Dorothy Lovett, Edgar Kennedy, Rod La Rocque, Frank Albertson, Lynn Merrick, Maude Eburne, Veda Ann Borg, Lelah Tyler, William Gould, Heinie Conklin, Phyllis Kennedy
Scam-artist "Professor" Kenneth Parker (Rod La Rocque) arrives in town to sell a miracle weight-loss pill, and sales are great despite the warnings from kindly Dr. Christian (Jean Hersholt). When the women become ill, Christian deals with Parker AND offers up a sensible diet. This is the third film in the series.
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The Falcon in Hollywood 1944   N/R, 66 min.
Genre: Mystery
Director: Gordon Douglas
Cast: Tom Conway, Barbara Hale, Rita Corday, Jean Brooks, Veda Ann Borg, Konstantin Shayne, John Abbott, Emory Parnell, Frank Jenks, Sheldon Leonard
The Falcon (Tom Conway) investigates the murder of a Hollywood star.
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Fog Island 1945 N/R, 72 min.
Genre: Mystery
Director: Terry O. Morse
Cast: George Zucco, Lionel Atwill, Jerome Cowan, John Whitney, Veda Ann Borg, Sharon Douglas, Ian Keith, Jacqueline deWit, George Lloyd
Leo (George Zucco) was framed for his wife's murder and is now out of jail. It is revenge time, so he invites former associates to a mansion on a foggy island to uncover the guilty person. Good atmosphere in this cheaply made, but watchable, film that has a fine B-movie cast with good interactions between Zucco and Atwill's characters.
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 Guys and Dolls 1955 N/R, 150 min.
Genre: Musical / Comedy / Romance
Director: Joseph L. Mankiewicz
Cast: Marlon Brando, Jean Simmons, Frank Sinatra, Vivian Blaine, Stubby Kaye, Sheldon Leonard, Regis Toomey, Robert Keith, B.S. Pully, George E. Stone, Johnny Silver, Danny Dayton, Kathryn Givney, Veda Ann Borg, Mary Alan Hokanson
In this Damon Runyon story, gambler Sky Masterson (Marlon Brando) falls in love with Salvation Army worker Sarah Brown (Jean Simmons) after he accepts Nathan Detroit's (Frank Sinatra) bet that he will not be able to convince Sarah to go on a date to Havana with him. Meanwhile, Nathan tries to fend off Miss Adelaide (Vivian Blaine) who wants him to marry her. Songs include "Luck Be a Lady" and "Sit Down, You're rocking the Boat." The film received four Academy Award nominations, including Best Cinematography.
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I Take This Oath 1940 N/R, 64 min.
Genre: Drama
aka: Police Rookie
Director: Sam Newfield
Cast: Gordon Jones, Joyce Compton, Craig Reynolds, J. Farrell MacDonald, Mary Gordon, Robert Homans, Sam Flint, Veda Ann Borg, Guy Usher, Brooks Benedict, Edward Peil Sr., Budd Buster
After a veteran police officer (Robert Homans) is killed by racketeers, his son, rookie cop Steve Hanagan (Gordon Jones), investigates the crime syndicate and comes up with more than a few surprises, some of which are close to home.
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Irish Eyes Are Smiling 1944 N/R, 90 min.
Genre: Musical
Director: Gregory Ratoff
Cast: Monty Woolley, June Haver, Dick Haymes, Anthony Quinn, Max "Slapsie Maxie" Rosenbloom, Veda Ann Borg, Clarence Kolb, Chick Chandler, Marion Martin, George Chandler
Eleven of his songs are highlighted in this sentimental biography of American composer Ernest R. Ball (Dick Haymes).
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Isle of Forgotten Sins 1943 N/R, 82 min.
Genre: Drama
aka: Monsoon
Director: Edgar G. Ulmer
Cast: John Carradine, Gale Sondergaard, Sidney Toler, Frank Fenton, Rita Quigley, Veda Ann Borg, Rick Vallin, Betty Amann, Tala Birell, Patti McCarty
Two deep-sea divers (John Carradine and Frank Fenton) hold their own against the diabolical ship captain (Sidney Toler) who has his own plans for taking over the sunken treasure they seek.
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It's Love I'm After 1937 N/R, 90 min.
Genre: Comedy
Director: Archie Mayo
Cast: Bette Davis, Leslie Howard, Olivia de Havilland, Patric Knowles, Eric Blore, Bonita Granville, Spring Byington, Veda Ann Borg, George Barbier, E.E. Clive
An actress (Bette Davis) explodes with jealousy when her actor husband (Leslie Howard) pays more than a little attention to a fan (Olivia de Havilland).
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Kid Galahad 1937 N/R, 101 min.
Genre: Drama / Romance
aka: The Battling Bellhop
Director: Michael Curtiz
Cast: Edward G. Robinson, Bette Davis, Humphrey Bogart, Wayne Morris, Harry Carey, Jane Bryan, William Haade, Soledad Jimenez, Joseph Crehan, Ben Welden, Joe Cunningham, Veda Ann Borg, Frank Faylen, Harland Tucker, Bob Evans
Boxing manager Nick Donati (Edward G. Robinson) decides to promote a young bellhop (Wayne Morris) as the next champion. While still training for his prize fight, the bellhop knocks out heavyweight Chuck McGraw (William Haade) after he insults Donati's girlfriend Louise "Fluff" Phillips (Bette Davis), and he is given the name "Kid Galahad." Later, he falls in love with Donati's young sister Marie (Jane Bryan). Their interest in each other angers Donati, and he arranges a fight that he is sure "Kid Galahad" will lose. But, will "Kid Galahad" come through and live up to his reputation as a winner? Remade in 1941 as "The Wagons Roll at Night" and in 1962 as "Kid Galahad."
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Love Me or Leave Me 1955 N/R, 122 min.
Genre: Musical
Director: Charles Vidor
Cast: Doris Day, James Cagney, Cameron Mitchell, Robert Keith, Tom Tully, Richard Gaines, Harry Bellaver, Peter Leeds, Audrey Young, Veda Ann Borg
The 1930s singer, Ruth Etting (Doris Day), is coerced into a disastrous marriage to mobster Marly "The Gimp" Snyder (James Cagney). Finally, she divorces him to marry her true love, Johnny Alderman (Cameron Mitchell), who must endure Snyder's wrath (in the form of a bullet) before finding happiness with Ruth. Great songs by Doris, and the film won an Academy Award for Best Writing and was nominated for five others, including Best Actor.
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Marked Trails 1944 N/R, 59 min.
Genre: Western
Director: John P. McCarthy
Cast: Hoot Gibson, Bob Steele, Veda Ann Borg, Mauritz Hugo, Ralph Lewis, Steve Clark, Charles Stevens, Lynton Brent, Bud Osborne, George Morrell, Ben Corbett
Oil swindlers led by Blanche (Veda Ann Borg) better watch out when veteran heroes Parkford and Bob (Hoot Gibson and Bob Steele) set out to out-con them.
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Revenge of the Zombies 1943 N/R, 61 min.
Genre: Horror
Director: Steve Sekely
Cast: John Carradine, Gale Storm, Robert Lowery, Bob Steele, Mantan Moreland, Veda Ann Borg, Barry Macollum, Mauritz Hugo, James Baskett, Sybil Lewis, Franklyn Farnum, Madame Sul-Te-Wan
Dr. von Alterman (John Carradine) works in his Louisiana mansion creating zombies to become soldiers in the Nazi Army. When the doctor's wife, Lila (Veda Ann Borg), dies under mysterious circumstances, she is also turned into a zombie for the cause. But his plan is foiled when Lila's brother Scott (Mauritz Hugo), heroine Jen (Gale Storm), and undercover FBI Agent Larry (Robert Lowry) arrive on the scene and are aided by Zombie Lila who seems to have a will of her own.
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San Quentin 1937 N/R, 70 min.
Genre: Drama
Director: Lloyd Bacon
Cast: Pat O'Brien, Humphrey Bogart, Ann Sheridan, Barton MacLane, Marc Lawrence, Joe Sawyer, Veda Ann Borg, Joe King, Garry Owen, Raymond Hatton, James Robbins, Gordon Oliver, Emmett Vogan, Ernie Adams, William Pawley
Former Army Captain Stephen Jameson (Pat O'Brien) is hired by San Quentin prison to bring military order to the rowdy yard. Meanwhile, he falls for May (Ann Sheridan) but keeps his occupation a secret from her when she tells him that her brother Joe "Red" Kennedy (Humphrey Bogart) is a prisoner at San Quentin. When "Red" learns about the romance from stoolie "Sailor Boy" Hansen (Joe Sawyer), he plots his escape. It works, and he appears at May's apartment and shoots at and wounds Jameson–only to be gunned down on his way to surrender.
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Scared Stiff 1945 N/R, 65 min.
Genre: Comedy
aka: Treasure of Fear
Director: Frank McDonald
Cast: Jack Haley, Ann Savage, Barton MacLane, Veda Ann Borg, Arthur Aylesworth, Lucien Littlefield, George E. Stone, Paul Hurst, Robert Emmett Keane, Eily Malyon, Buddy Swan, Roger Pryor
Inept newspaper reporter Larry Elliot (Jack Haley) is assigned to report on a wine festival while the good reporters are covering the story of a convict's escape from jail. But Larry boards the wrong bus. After a murder is committed on his bus, Larry is a suspect, inadvertently gets involved with the escaped convict, and saves the day. Weak.
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Submarine D-1 1937 N/R, 100 min.
Genre: Drama
Director: Lloyd Bacon
Cast: Pat O'Brien, George Brent, Wayne Morris, Frank McHugh, Doris Weston, Henry O'Neill, Regis Toomey, Broderick Crawford, Dennie Moore, Veda Ann Borg
Navy submariners on leave find romance and adventure during a stopover in a liberty town. Ronald Reagan was in the original cast but his parts didn't make the final cut.
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Thunder in the Sun 1959 N/R, 81 min.
Genre: Western
Director: Russell Rouse
Cast: Susan Hayward, Jeff Chandler, Jacques Bergerac, Blanche Yurka, Carl Esmond, Fortunio Bonanova, Veda Ann Borg, Felix Locher, Bertrand Castelli, June Wilkinson
A group of Basques journey by wagon train to California; along the way three of the men vie for the love of Gabrielle Dauphin (Susan Hayward).
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You're Never Too Young 1955 N/R, 102 min.
Genre: Comedy
Director: Norman Taurog
Cast: Dean Martin, Jerry Lewis, Diana Lynn, Nina Foch, Raymond Burr, Veda Ann Borg, Nancy Kulp, Hans Conried, Romo Vincent, Milton Frome
In this remake of "The Major and the Minor," Wilbur Hoolick (Jerry Lewis) hides out from a jewel thief (Raymond Burr) by pretending to be a boy. His place of refuge is a girls' school, which makes for some great laughs.
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| 1. The Alamo (1960)
2. Arkansas Judge (1941)
3. Avalanche (1946)
4. The Bachelor and the Bobby-Soxer (1947)
5. Big Jim McLain (1952)
6. The Big Noise (1944)
7. Blonde Savage (1947)
8. Dr. Christian Meets the Women (1940)
9. The Falcon in Hollywood (1944)
10. Fog Island (1945)
11. Guys and Dolls (1955)
12. I Take This Oath (1940)
aka: Police Rookie
13. Irish Eyes Are Smiling (1944)
14. Isle of Forgotten Sins (1943)
aka: Monsoon
15. It's Love I'm After (1937)
16. Kid Galahad (1937)
aka: The Battling Bellhop
17. Love Me or Leave Me (1955)
18. Marked Trails (1944)
19. One Last Fling (1949)
20. Revenge of the Zombies (1943)
21. San Quentin (1937)
22. Scared Stiff (1945)
aka: Treasure of Fear
23. Submarine D-1 (1937)
24. Thunder in the Sun (1959)
25. You're Never Too Young (1955)
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