Annie Oakley 1935 N/R, 88 min. Genre: Western
Director: George Stevens Cast: Barbara Stanwyck, Preston Foster, Melvyn Douglas, Moroni Olsen, Pert Kelton, Andy Clyde, Chief Thunderbird, Percy Kilbride, Willie Best, Delmar Watson, Iron Eyes Cody, Si Jenks
Buffalo Bill's (Moroni Olsen) Wild West Show stars Annie Oakley (Barbara Stanwyck), an ace rifle shot, as one of its main draws. This is her story as she competes with "The World's Greatest Marksman" Toby Foster (Preston Foster) who, in real life, she marries–but not in this film. For the romantic story, watch "Annie Get Your Gun" (1950) starring Betty Hutton and Howard Keel.
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Blondie 1938 N/R, 68 min. Genre: Comedy
Director: Frank R. Strayer Cast: Penny Singleton, Arthur Lake, Larry Simms, Jonathan Hale, Gene Lockhart, Ann Doran, Gordon Oliver, Kathleen Lockhart, Danny Mummert, Irving Bacon, Dorothy Moore, Fay Helm, Willie Best, Ian Wolfe, Edgar Dearing
Chic Young's comic strip about a suburban family comes to the screen. In this first of a series of 28 films, the Bumsteads (Arthur Lake and Penny Singleton) are worried about the prospect of Dagwood losing his job–the day before their fifth wedding anniversary.
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The Bride Wore Boots 1946 N/R, 85 min. Genre: Comedy
Director: Irving Pichel Cast: Barbara Stanwyck, Robert Cummings, Diana Lynn, Patric Knowles, Peggy Wood, Robert Benchley, Willie Best, Natalie Wood
Horsewoman Sally (Barbara Stanwyck) has major problems trying to convince her husband, Jeff (Robert Cummings), to enter her world of love and respect for horses.
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Cabin in the Sky 1943 N/R, 99 min. Genre: Musical
Director: Vincente Minnelli Cast: Ethel Waters, Eddie "Rochester" Anderson, Lena Horne, Louis Armstrong, Rex Ingram, Mantan Moreland, Butterfly McQueen, Willie Best, Kenneth Spencer, John William Sublett
In this, Vincente Minnelli's first feature film, the story comes out as somewhat racist. Gambler Little Joe (Eddie "Rochester" Anderson) succumbs to the charms of a beautiful woman (Lena Horne) while his wife, Petunia (Ethel Waters), waits for him to come to his senses.
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Feet First 1930 N/R, 93 min. Genre: Comedy
Director: Clyde Bruckman Cast: Harold Lloyd, Robert McWade, Lillian Leighton, Barbara Kent, Alec B. Francis, Noah Young, Henry Hall, Arthur Housman, Willie Best, Noah Beery, Buster Phelps, Leo Willis, James Finlayson
While on a cruise to Honolulu, shoe salesman Harold Horne (Harold Lloyd) falls in love with heiress Barbara Carson (Barbara Kent) who believes that Harold is a millionaire. While trying to hide the deceit, Harold becomes tied up in a mail sack and lands on a builder's hoist near a skyscraper. Now, he must find a way to climb down the building–and the acrobatic fun begins.
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The Ghost Breakers 1940 N/R, 83 min. Genre: Comedy
Director: George Marshall Cast: Bob Hope, Paulette Goddard, Paul Lukas, Willie Best, Anthony Quinn, Tom Dugan, Paul Fix, Richard Carlson, Pedro de Cordoba, Virginia Brissac
Determined to find a treasure, Mary Carter (Paulette Goddard) heads for a haunted house with Larry Lawrence (Bob Hope) in tow. Larry is trying to escape from a bum charge and the police are on his tail as he tries to rid the house of ghosts and help Mary find the missing treasure. This film was remade as "Scared Stiff" with Martin and Lewis.
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The Kansan 1943 N/R, 79 min. Genre: Western
Director: George Archainbaud Cast: Richard Dix, Jane Wyatt, Albert Dekker, Eugene Pallette, Victor Jory, Robert Armstrong, Beryl Wallace, Clem Bevans, Hobart Cavanaugh, Francis McDonald, Willie Best, Douglas Fowley
John Bonniwell (Richard Dix) is appointed marshal by the town's banker, Steve Barat (Albert Dekker), after John foils a robbery by the James gang. But Steve has his sights on controlling the town and sees John as an aide in his quest. Meanwhile, John vies with Steve's brother, Jeff (Victor Jory), for Eleanor's (Jane Wyatt) affection.
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Little Miss Marker 1934 N/R, 78 min. Genre: Family
Director: Alexander Hall Cast: Adolphe Menjou, Dorothy Dell, Shirley Temple, Charles Bickford, Lynne Overman, Frank McGlynn Sr., Warren Hymer, Garry Owen, Willie Best, Frank Conroy
This good Damon Runyan story was a perfect vehicle for Shirley Temple. After her father goes into debt to his bookie, Sorrowful Jones (Adolphe Menjou), Miss Marker (Shirley Temple) becomes a ward of the bookie as an I.O.U. Remade in 1949 as "Sorrowful Jones" with Bob Hope, in 1963 as "Forty Pounds of Trouble" with Tony Curtis, and in 1980 with Walter Matthau.
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The Littlest Rebel 1935 N/R, 73 min. Genre: Musical
Director: David Butler Cast: Shirley Temple, John Boles, Jack Holt, Karen Morley, Bill Robinson, Stepin Fetchit, Guinn "Big Boy" Williams, Willie Best, James Flavin, Frank McGlynn Sr.
Set during the Civil War, a young Southern girl, Virgie Cary (Shirley Temple), is the daughter of a captured Confederate soldier. Virgie dances (with Bill Robinson) and charms President Lincoln into sparing her father's life.
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The Mark of the Whistler 1944 N/R, 60 min. Genre: Drama aka: The Marked Man
Director: William Castle Cast: Richard Dix, Janis Carter, Porter Hall, Paul Guilfoyle, John Calvert, Matt Willis, Matt McHugh, Howard Freeman, Willie Best, Arthur Space
Lee Selfridge Nugent (Richard Dix) is a drifter who poses as the owner of an old bank account and withdraws the money. Now he is the target of those out for revenge because their father was sent to jail after a conflict with that account, and they now mistakenly believe that Lee was the one responsible.
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The Monster Walks 1932 N/R, 63 min. Genre: Horror / Thriller aka: The Monster Walked
Director: Frank R. Strayer Cast: Rex Lease, Vera Reynolds, Sheldon Lewis, Mischa Auer, Martha Mattox, Sidney Bracey, Willie Best
Ruth (Vera Reynolds) inherits an estate from her scientist father who also left her an ape used in his experiments. Ruth and Ted (Rex Lease) arrive at the estate to claim the inheritance. But, nasty Uncle Robert (Sheldon Lewis) wants the estate for himself. So, he plots to have the mentally challenged son (Mischa Auer) of his housekeeper (Martha Mattox) and the ape take care of Ruth. But things go wrong in this "Old Dark House" tale.
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Nancy Drew, Troubleshooter 1939 N/R, 70 min. Genre: Mystery / Comedy
Director: William Clemens Cast: Bonita Granville, Frankie Thomas, John Litel, Aldrich Bowker, Charlotte Wynters, Edgar Edwards, Renie Riano, Roger Imhof, John Harron, Willie Best
Nancy Drew's (Bonita Granville) dad's (John Litel) friend is accused of murder. Despite her dad's warnings not to get involved, Nancy, along with friend Ted (Frankie Thomas), set out to solve the murder. More of a comedy than a mystery this time around for our teenage sleuth.
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Nothing But the Truth 1941 N/R, 89 min. Genre: Comedy
Director: Elliott Nugent Cast: Bob Hope, Paulette Goddard, Edward Arnold, Leif Erickson, Helen Vinson, Grant Mitchell, Willie Best, Catherine Doucet, Rose Hobart, Clarence Kolb, Glenn Anders, Mary Forbes, Leon Belasco, Helene Millard, Lee Shumway
Gwen Saunders (Paulette Goddard) gives stockbroker Steve Bennett (Bob Hope) $10,000 and tells him to double its value. Problems really begin when Steve uses the money for a bet that involves his telling the truth–and nothing but–for 24 hours.
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Road Show 1941 N/R, 87 min. Genre: Comedy
Director: Hal Roach Cast: Adolphe Menjou, Carole Landis, John Hubbard, Charles Butterworth, Patsy Kelly, George E. Stone, Margaret Roach, Polly Ann Young, Edward Norris, Marjorie Woodworth, Florence Bates, Willie Best
Col. Carleton Carroway (Adolphe Menjou) and Drogo Gaines (John Hubbard) escape from a mental asylum and join Penguin Moore's (Carole Landis) carnival. Zaniness abounds.
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South of Caliente 1951 N/R, 67 min. Genre: Western
Director: William Witney Cast: Roy Rogers, Dale Evans, Pinky Lee, Douglas Fowley, Willie Best, Charlita, Pat Brady, Ric Roman, Leonard Penn, Lillian Molieri
Dale needs money to save the ranch, so she must sell her horse. Roy Rogers is hired to take it to Mexico and get a good price. But–along comes the bad horse trainer of Dale's who wants the horse AND the ranch. Can Roy save the day?
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Suddenly, It's Spring 1947 N/R, 87 min. Genre: Comedy
Director: Mitchell Leisen Cast: Paulette Goddard, Fred MacMurray, Macdonald Carey, Arleen Whelan, John Kellogg, Frank Faylen, Willie Best, Victoria Horne, Crane Whitley, Isabel Randolph
In the midst of their impending divorce, Peter (Fred MacMurray) and Mary (Paulette Goddard) have second thoughts–leaving selected future mates out in the cold.
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Super Sleuth 1937 N/R, 70 min. Genre: Comedy
Director: Benjamin Stoloff Cast: Jack Oakie, Ann Sothern, Eduardo Ciannelli, Alan Bruce, Edgar Kennedy, Joan Woodbury, Paul Guilfoyle, Bradley Page, Willie Best, Alec Craig
This is the story of a movie star (Jack Oakie) who tries to reenact an actual crime and catch the true killer. This story was later remade as "Genius at Work."
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West of the Pecos 1935 N/R, 68 min. Genre: Western
Director: Phil Rosen Cast: Richard Dix, Martha Sleeper, Samuel S. Hinds, Fred Kohler, Louise Beavers, Willie Best, Maria Alba, Pedro Regas, G. Pat Collins, Russell Simpson, Maurice Black, George Cooper
Comanche attacks and villains, as well as being accused of cattle rustling, are just part of the problems of Pecos Smith (Richard Dix). After rescuing Ril (Martha Sleeper)–who has disguised herself as a boy during her trek west–he must add her to his list of problems. Based on a Zane Grey novel and remade in 1945. Robert Mitchum made his film debut in this film.
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| 1. Annie Oakley (1935)
2. Blondie (1938)
3. The Bride Wore Boots (1946)
4. Cabin in the Sky (1943)
5. Dangerous Money (1946)
6. The Face of Marble (1946)
7. Feet First (1930)
8. The Ghost Breakers (1940)
9. The Kansan (1943)
10. Little Miss Marker (1934)
11. The Littlest Rebel (1935)
12. The Mark of the Whistler (1944) aka: The Marked Man
13. The Monster Walks (1932) aka: The Monster Walked
14. Nancy Drew, Troubleshooter (1939)
15. Nothing But the Truth (1941)
16. The Red Dragon (1945)
17. Road Show (1941)
18. South of Caliente (1951)
19. Suddenly, It's Spring (1947)
20. Super Sleuth (1937)
21. West of the Pecos (1935)
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