A brief look at the career of 1930s character actor Robert McWade including images of him in some of his more famous movies. Son of a stage legend, he managed to upstage his father at the very end.
Popular Posts
Movie Star Biographies
Elissa Landi Star of Stage and Screen, Author, Royalty?
I worked from over two dozen sources in this biographical post about the interesting life and career of Classic Film Star Elissa Landi, star of The Sign of the Cross (1932). Also includes a look at her fascinating parents–her father tried to raise the Lusitania, her mother claimed to be the unrecognized daughter of Emperor Franz-Joseph of Austria!
Dwight Frye’s Last Laugh – Before and Beyond Dracula and Frankenstein
Dwight Frye is legendary for his roles in the Universal horror classics Dracula and Frankenstein. The 1997 biography Dwight Frye’s Last Laugh chronicles the actor’s fast rise to surprising heights and even quicker fall.
Joan Fontaine Biography, Book Review, TCM Summer Under the Stars Preview
A biography of Oscar winning actress Joan Fontaine including a review of her 1978 autobiography No Bed of Roses plus a preview of Fontaine-day on TCM’s Summer Under the Stars, August 6, 2013.
Spencer Tracy Hits the Jackpot at MGM
Spencer Tracy arrives at MGM and embarks on a run of films that grow in critical and popular success. Inspired by the biography by James Curtis with partial review.
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
Three on a Match (1932) starring Warren William and Ann Dvorak
A review of the Depression era pre-code classic Three on a Match starring Ann Dvorak and a host of familiar faces including young Bette Davis and Humphrey Bogart. Illustrated with movie collectibles.
MGM’s Hardy Family Series #2 – You’re Only Young Once (1937)
The second entry of the Hardy Family series, You’re Only Young Once (1937), sees the family vacation at Santa Catalina Island and features the first appearances of Lewis Stone, Fay Holden and Ann Rutherford in the parts they will reprise throughout the lifetime of the series.
Ten Cents a Dance (1931) Starring Barbara Stanwyck
A pre-Code set around a dance hall starring Barbara Stanwyck with Monroe Owsley and Ricardo Cortez, and I didn’t like it? Uh uh. Here’s what I didn’t like about Ten Cents a Dance (1931).
The Cat and the Canary (1927) – Old Dark House Classic Starring Laura La Plante
Settling in for silent old dark house classic The Cat and the Canary (1927) starring Laura La Plante. Same story as the 1939 movie with Bob Hope, though the earlier movie is more thriller than comedy.
Red-Headed Woman (1932) Reveals New Jean Harlow
Jean Harlow lobbies for Red-Headed Woman and emerges as one of MGM’s top stars. Background notes on the film accompany a look at this pre-Code classic adapted from a Katharine Brush novel. The movie also stars Chester Morris, Una Merkel, and Leila Hyams. Directed by Jack Conway.
Double Wedding (1937) Starring William Powell and Myrna Loy
Double Wedding proves that not all William Powell and Myrna Loy pairings are created equally, mark this one off as better than average which sets the bar quite high.