A look at the life and career of Louis Wolheim, star of the All Quiet on the Western Front on screen, and the originator of key roles in The Hairy Ape and What Price Glory? on stage.
Popular Posts
Movie Star Biographies
Carole Lombard, Part 1: From Jane Peters to Mrs. William Powell
Part 1 of a Carole Lombard biography covers her turbulent early screen career of the 1920s through her rise to stardom and marriage to William Powell in 1931.
Chester Morris – Biography of the Boston Blackie Star
A biography of Chester Morris, Academy Award nominated actor for Alibi (1929), who starred in several pre-Code classics before going on to greatest fame in the Boston Blackie series of movies.
William Frawley Before I Love Lucy
A look at William Frawley in the years before he achieved his greatest fame as Fred Mertz on I Love Lucy. Special attention is paid to his baseball movies and his early days on the vaudeville circuit and Broadway. The article is illustrated with seven promotional photos from the 1939 film St. Louis Blues.
Barbara Kent, 103, of Flesh and the Devil (1926); Welcome Danger (1929)
One of our last stars of the silent screen, Barbara Kent, has died at age 103. A brief biography and remembrance including a Barbara Kent gallery of collectibles.
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.
Movie Reviews & Articles
Brief Impressions: King for a Night (1933) – Big Hearted Herbert (1934) and Father Is a Prince (1941) – Confessions of Boston Blackie (1941)
Enjoying a key scene between Chester Morris and Grant Mitchell in King for a Night (1933) leads to more Morris in a Boston Blackie entry plus Mitchell’s own starring vehicle, Father Is a Prince (1941), itself a remake of Big Hearted Herbert (1934), which is also discussed.
The Devil’s Holiday (1930) Starring Nancy Carroll
A look at early Paramount talkie The Devil’s Holiday (1930). Written and directed by Edmund Goulding, but saved from being stale by Nancy Carroll’s Academy Award nominated performance.
James Cagney is Jimmy the Gent (1934)
James Cagney stars in Warner Bros. fast-paced Jimmy the Gent (1934), made all the faster by Cagney’s own frenzied performance. Bette Davis co-stars in an underwhelming role while Alan Dinehart excels in his part as rival “Heir Chaser.” Directed by Michael Curtiz and also featuring Allen Jenkins and Alice White.
Man Made Monster (1941) Introduces Lon Chaney Jr to Universal Horror
Universal casts Lon Chaney Jr in his first horror role, the exciting 59-minute thriller Man Made Monster starring Lionel Atwill as the man, and Chaney Jr as the monster. Includes a look at Chaney Jr’s career to date, and Atwill’s career thereafter.
The Human Comedy (1943) Starring Mickey Rooney
An old movie I found a bit too old-fashioned, though Mickey Rooney does give one of his best performances in MGM’s The Human Comedy (1943). Story by William Saroyan. Produced and directed by Clarence Brown. Also includes strong acting from Frank Morgan and James Cra
Murders in the Rue Morgue (1932) starring Bela Lugosi and Sidney Fox
A brief look at 1932 Universal horror film Murders in the Rue Morgue based upon the Edgar Allan Poe work and starring Bela Lugosi, Sidney Fox and Erik the Ape.