A look at Paramount’s Summer 1932 nationwide contest to cast Lota, the Panther Woman in Island of Lost Souls. Focus on the eventual Panther Woman winner, Kathleen Burke. Lots of old news clippings.
Popular Posts
Movie Star Biographies
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.
Cecilia Parker Biography: From B-Westerns to A-Support to Marian Hardy
The most complete Cecilia Parker biography you’re going to find. Corrects her marriage record and follows her career from B-westerns to Marian Hardy.
Marguerite Courtot – Biography of a Beauty of the Silent Screen
A long biography of silent film beauty Marguerite Courtot. She rose to fame as as teenager in the mid-1910’s and later married Down to the Sea in Ships co-star Raymond McKee. Mckee’s biographical details are covered as well.
Alan Dinehart Biography, Hollywood Talkies Claim Another from Broadway
A look at the life of Hollywood character actor Alan Dinehart headlines the Immortal Archives for October 3. Also includes TCM Picks for the day and more.
Dolores Costello – Her Career plus Can You Help Identify This Painting?
A biography in brief of child star and later screen beauty Dolores Costello, who would later marry John Barrymore. Also a reader contributes an image of a painting of Costello and asks for some help in identifying it.
Movie Reviews & Articles
Big Cast in MGM’s 1951 anthology It’s a Big Country
8 uneven vignettes makes up the disappointing 1951 American Anthology, It’s a Big Country. Big stars-Gary Cooper, Fredric March, William Powell-little ideas.
Jewel Robbery (1932) – Kay Francis and William Powell for a Sixth Time
A look at Jewel Robbery (1932), a unique heist-romance from Warner Brothers starring William Powell and Kay Francis. It’s a sophisticated yet often silly and almost always sinful pre-code classic.
The Woman Accused (1933) Starring Nancy Carroll and Cary Grant
Ten authors spoil the broth in Paramount pre-Code The Woman Accused (1933) starring Nancy Carroll and Cary Grant. Featuring one shocking scene with Grant, Jack La Rue, and a rawhide whip.
Paramount’s 24 Hours (1931) with Clive Brook, Kay Francis, Miriam Hopkins
Paramount’s Marion Gering gives us Louis Bromfield’s 24 Hours (1931) in just 66 minutes. Featuring an alcoholic Clive Brook, fashionable Kay Francis and Miriam Hopkins belting out a pair of songs in a pre-Code drama ripe for rediscovery.
The Half Naked Truth (1932) Starring Lee Tracy and Lupe Velez
Lee Tracy takes Lupe Velez from carny hooch dancer to Broadway star in Gregory La Cava’s The Half Naked Truth (1932) for RKO. Also starring Frank Morgan and Eugene Pallette
Brief Impressions: No Other Woman – Side Streets – Evelyn Prentice – Millionaires in Prison
A quick peek at four movies I’ve watched recently: No Other Woman (1933); Side Streets and Evelyn Prentice (both 1934); and Millionaires in Prison (1940).