Over 40 years after his death the memoirs of character actor Alan Mowbray have been published by his son, Alan, Jr. A look at Mowbray’s life and the memories he left us.
Popular Posts
Movie Star Biographies
Humphrey Bogart Seeks Hollywood Party, Rises to Stardom
TCM examines Humphrey Bogart as major film star during their August 1 Summer Under the Stars presentation. Here we trace his stardom backwards from High Sierra down to a 1930 newspaper interview which finds Bogie on the hunt for a Hollywood party.
Edward Arnold: Before Hollywood
A brief look at the life and career of Edward Arnold before he arrived in Hollywood and became the beloved character actor we remember him as today. Illustrated by period stills.
Viola Dana – A Biography in Clippings
A collection of 26 clippings spanning 1905-1987 that cover the life and career of silent screen actress Viola Dana. Illustrated with vintage movie collectibles. Also includes screen captures of her 1963 appearance on My Three Sons.
Lennox Pawle – The Career of Copperfield’s Mr. Dick
A brief biography of Lennox Pawle, best remembered as Mr. Dick in MGM’s 1935 adaptation of Charles Dickens’ David Copperfield. A stage actor of some prominence in London and New York, Pawle only appeared in 12 movies, including Copperfield.
David Landau, the Pre-Code Era’s Own Bitter Man
A biography of gruff character actor David Landau including his background, stage career and brief movie career as Hollywood’s bitter man of the pre-code era.
Movie Reviews & Articles
J. Edgar Hoover’s Persons in Hiding (1939) With Patricia Morison
A Bonnie and Clyde tale predating Gun Crazy (1950) by eleven years. Persons in Hiding is the first of four movies adapted from J. Edgar Hoover’s book of the same name. Electrifying debut by Patricia Morison with J. Carrol Naish strong opposite her.
The Widow from Chicago (1930) Starring Alice White
Edward G. Robinson in an early gangster role that’s supposed to take a backseat to early talkie attraction Alice White. Film works for fans of both.
What Price Hollywood? (1932) Starring Constance Bennett, Lowell Sherman
What Price Hollywood? (1932), the best of the pre-Code era “inside-Hollywood” films, stars Constance Bennett and Lowell Sherman in director George Cukor’s first film for David O. Selznick.
Early Frank Capra on TCM today, we go earlier with The Matinee Idol (1928)
Frank Capra silent feature The Matinee Idol is a great way to introduce yourself to Bessie Love who gives a fantastic performance as a local hick actor brought to Broadway for laughs … and tears.
The Farmer’s Daughter (1947) Starring Loretta Young and Joseph Cotten
A look at romance set in the world of politics in RKO’s The Farmer’s Daughter (1947) featuring Loretta Young in her Oscar winning performance. Also starring Joseph Cotten, Ethel Barrymore and Charles Bickford, directed by H.C. Potter.
Young Bride (1932) Starring Helen Twelvetrees and Eric Linden
RKO-Pathe pre-Code Young Bride (1932), aka Love Starved, features great period slang throughout a lower middle-class slice of life in the city. Stars Helen Twelvetrees with excellent work from leading man Eric Linden, and Arline Judge in support.