A biography of two-time Academy Award winning actor Melvyn Douglas enhanced by several Douglas quotes from the 1960s and ’70s. Also, Douglas in Golden Age Hollywood.
Popular Posts
Movie Star Biographies
Madge Evans – Typical American Girl is No Typical Classic Movie Star
A brief biography of silent child star and adult star of 1930’s talkies Madge Evans, who appeared in Dinner at Eight and David Copperfield. Heavily illustrated with vintage movie cards and collectibles.
Thomas Mitchell – His Varied Career
A brief biography of the popular supporting actor Thomas Mitchell including original quotes taken from a 1939 autobiographical piece in Screen & Radio Weekly.
Rochelle Hudson’s Uneven Career Featuring Will Rogers and Way Down East
A biography of 1930’s screen ingenue Rochelle Hudson focusing on a career which saw her work with Will Rogers, W.C. Fields, and Shirley Temple, plus star in a remake of Way Down East and eventually come back to the big screen to play a small role in East of Eden.
Alan Mowbray by Alan Mowbray, Jr.
A biographical look at the stage, film and television career of popular character actor Alan Mowbray written by the actor’s son, Alan Mowbray, Jr.
Milton Sills, The Mighty Two-Fisted He-Man of the Silent Screen
A biography of Milton Sills, stage and silent film actor with a philosophy background. Poised to make a hit in talkies when he died in 1930. Article also includes a synopsis of Sills’ most famous film, The Sea Hawk.
Movie Reviews & Articles
Gentleman’s Fate (1931) Starring John Gilbert and Louis Wolheim as Unlikely Brothers
Gentleman’s Fate (1931) is an MGM gangster effort overshadowed by the relationship between the John Gilbert and Louis Wolheim characters. Directed by Mervyn LeRoy with good work from Anita Page as well.
Washington Merry-Go-Round (1932) with Lee Tracy and Constance Cummings
Lee Tracy stars in Washington Merry-Go-Round (1932), Columbia’s pre-Code precursor to Mr. Smith Goes to Washington (1939) with Constance Cummings, Alan Dinehart and Walter Connolly.
Sweepings (1933) and Mamie’s Christmas Counter Freak-Out
Lester Cohen adapted his own novel Sweepings for RKO in 1933. It was remade as Three Sons in 1939. The story is about a retail king and his family, but the focus of this article turns to Helen Mack’s explosive Christmas Eve scene with additional details about her character filled in from Cohen’s novel.
Walter Huston is Dodsworth (1936) with Ruth Chatterton and Mary Astor
Water Huston plays perhaps his finest role when he brings his Sam Dodsworth from the stage to the screen for Sam Goldwyn under William Wyler’s direction. Winner of 1 Oscar, nominated for 6 more, Dodsworth gives us a peek at the complicated married life of a middle-aged couple.
RKO’s Jalna (1935) Inspires Craving for More Mazo de la Roche
Jessie Ralph plays 99 year old Gran in RKO’s 1935 movie adaptation of Jalna, the first of the Mazo de la Roche Whiteoaks novels. Also starring Kay Johnson, Ian Hunter and David Manners. Directed by John Cromwell.
Helen Twelvetrees is Millie (1931) – With Joan Blondell and Lilyan Tashman
Helen Twelvetrees stars in pre-Code sizzler Millie (1931). Millie leaves her husband after she catches him cheating and she puts monogamy behind her once her boyfriend is caught with another woman too. Can Millie be an independent woman in 1931 and protect her daughter from an even more perilous relationship?