Cimarron 1931 N/R, 131 min. Genre: Drama / Western
Director: Wesley Ruggles Cast: Richard Dix, Irene Dunne, Estelle Taylor, Nance O'Neil, William Collier Jr., Roscoe Ates, George E. Stone, Robert McWade, Edna May Oliver, Frank Darien, Stanley Fields, Judith Barrett, Eugene Jackson, Frank Beal, Helen Parrish
This early sound film won the Academy Award for Best Picture and is based on Edna Ferber's novel about the hardships faced by Yancey and Sabra Cravat (Richard Dix and Irene Dunne) staking a land claim during the Oklahoma land rush. Yancey starts a newspaper business and crusades for justice. His efforts lead to long separations from Sabra, which prove fatal for the marriage, and Yancey leaves Sabra and their children to continue his "quick draw" brand of justice. With help from her friend, Mrs. Wyatt (Edna May Oliver), Sabra takes over the newspaper business and turns it into a powerful empire.
|  | |
Everybody's Sweetheart 1920 N/R, 55 min. Genre: Drama
Director: Alan Crosland, Laurence Trimble Cast: Olive Thomas, William Collier Jr., Joseph J. Dowling, Aileen Manning, Martha Mattox, Hal Wilson, Bob Hick, Matt Moore
This is Olive Thomas' last film before her mysterious death by poisoning at the age of 26. It is the story of Mary (Thomas) and John (William Collier Jr.) who were raised on a farm after being rescued in a train wreck when they were young. Separated when the farm changed hands, they run away together and end up at the farm of General Bingham (Joseph J. Dowling) who turns out to be John's grandfather
|  | |
Little Caesar 1931 N/R, 77 min. Genre: Drama
Director: Mervyn LeRoy Cast: Edward G. Robinson, Douglas Fairbanks Jr., Glenda Farrell, William Collier Jr., Stanley Fields, Sidney Blackmer, Ralph Ince, George E. Stone, Thomas E. Jackson, Armand Kaliz, Nicholas Bela, Landers Stevens, Al Hill, Tom McGuire, Lucille La Verne
Edward G. Robinson stars as small-time gangster Cesare Enrico "Rico" Bandello who, with his good friend Joe Massara (Douglas Fairbanks Jr.), joins Sam Vettori's (Stanley Fields) gang. When Cesare rises to become the leader of the gang, he takes on the moniker of "Little Caesar," and faces many problems–both personal and professional. This film marks the first "talkie" in the gangster genre and provides the vehicle for Robinson's certain stardom. Its success gave rise to many more gangster movies in the 1930s.
|  | |
The Secret Witness 1931 N/R, 65 min. Genre: Mystery / Drama aka: Terror by Night
Director: Thornton Freeland Cast: Una Merkel, William Collier Jr., Zasu Pitts, Purnell Pratt, Clyde Cook, Ralf Harolde, June Clyde, Rita La Roy, Paul Hurst, Nat Pendleton, Clarence Muse, Hooper Atchley, Billy Bletcher, Mike Donlin, Henry Hall
Wealthy philanderer Herbert Folsom (Hooper Atchley) is found dead from a bullet wound, and there are several suspects who include his wife (Rita La Roy) and the brother of his latest mistress–who committed suicide when Herbert had refused to dump his wife. Ditzy neighbor Lois Martin (Una Merkel) helps in identifying the culprit.
|  | |
Street Scene 1931 N/R, 80 min. Genre: Drama
Director: King Vidor Cast: Sylvia Sidney, William Collier Jr., David Landau, Estelle Taylor, Beulah Bondi, Matt McHugh, Russell Hopton, John Qualen, Dick Powell, George Humbert
This insightful film studies immigrant inhabitants of a New York City tenement who endure tragedies and strive to escape from their bleak environment.
|  | |
| 1. Broadminded (1931)
2. Cimarron (1931)
3. Everybody's Sweetheart (1920)
4. Little Caesar (1931)
5. The Secret Witness (1931) aka: Terror by Night
6. Street Scene (1931)
In The News
|