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.
Popular Posts
Movie Star Biographies
Barbara Stanwyck, Biographical Beginnings to Baby Face and Beyond
A Barbara Stanwyck biography that leaps over Hollywood highlights in favor of her early days as Ruby Stevens, including the popular theory about her name change. Following that a jump forward to look at Stanwyck’s later career. A brief case is made for Baby Face (1933) as her defining performance.
Celeste Holm, 1917-2012
Remembering Celeste Holm, Oscar winner and three time nominee who rose to prominence as the original Ado Annie in Oklahoma! on Broadway. Reviewing Holm’s career from Broadway to Hollywood and all stops in between.
Louise Beavers – Biography of Imitation of Life’s Aunt Delilah
A 4,000 word biography of the African American actress Louise Beavers whose greatest fame came as Aunt Delilah in 1934’s Imitation of Life. She enjoyed a long career in mostly maid roles including a starring role on early 1950s television series Beulah.
Charles Coburn – Long Time Stage Vet Becomes Movie Star at 60
A biography of character actor Charles Coburn traces his Georgia roots to Broadway and the Coburn Players before a late start put him in nearly 70 movies and nets him an Oscar as Best Supporting Actor. Plus Coburn on taxes, the 14th Amendment and his monocle.
Louis Wolheim – Biography of the All Quiet on the Western Front Star
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.
Movie Reviews & Articles
The Doorway to Hell (1930) Starring Lew Ayres and James Cagney
A deep look at the early gangster movie The Doorway to Hell (1930) with focus on stars Lew Ayres, James Cagney and Dorothy Mathews. Warner Brothers precursor to Little Caesar and The Public Enemy.
Crime Doctor (1943) Starring Warner Baxter with Dr. Ordway’s Origins
The origins of the Crime Doctor are revealed in this first of ten movies starring Warner Baxter as Dr. Robert Ordway. Origins of the series from radio and possibly a previous Columbia release are also explained in this look at Columbia’s Crime Doctor (1943)
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
H.M. Pulham, Esq. (1941) – King Vidor Brings John P. Marquand Bestseller to Life
Comparing King Vidor’s adaptation of H.M. Pulham, Esq. (1941) to the novel by John P. Marquand, and why both tellings are wonderful. Excellent performances from Robert Young and Hedy Lamarr trickle down throughout the entire cast, most of who are perfect representations of the characters Marquand created on the page. It’s a quiet story that tells a lot in the end.
Panama Flo (1932) With Brief Biography of Star Helen Twelvetrees
RKO Pathe’s 1932 Helen Twelvetrees vehicle Panama Flo with Charles Bickford. A Helen Twelvetrees biography tucked in the middle of this lengthy post.
The Tip-Off (1931) with Eddie Quillan, Ginger Rogers and Turkey Mike Donlin
A pre-Code release from RKO Pathe, The Tip-Off (1931) features Ginger Rogers in an early role but most of the fun comes from its fresh-faced star Eddie Quillan.