Immortal Ephemera

Classic Movies & Movie Collectibles

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Classic Movie Reviews by Cliff Aliperti

Spoiler-free reviews of movies from Hollywood's Golden Age, especially the 1930s. Most reviews also include research into background of the film and, when relevant, the history surrounding the subject of the movie.

First Impressions: King Vidor’s The Big Parade (1925)

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Thoughts upon watching King Vidor’s 1925 epic of love and war, The Big Parade, for the first time. The MGM classic stars John Gilbert and Renee Adoree with Karl Dane and Tom O’Brien.

Death on the Diamond (1934) – Baseball, Murder and Robert Young

By 4 Comments

MGM’s baseball murder mystery Death on the Diamond (1934) stars Robert Young and Madge Evans. A decent mystery and a strong baseball movie at the same time. Directed by Edward Sedgwick and also featuring David Landau, Paul Kelly, Nat Pendleton and Ted Healy.

Eric Linden Comes of Age in MGM’s Ah, Wilderness! (1935)

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Eric Linden loves Cecilia Parker in Ah, Wilderness! (1935), but his passion threatens to take him down the same road that has doomed Wallace Beery with Aline MacMahon. MGM adapts Eugene O’Neill’s “comedy of recollection.” Directed by Clarence Brown.

Big City Blues (1932), Pre-Code Party in Depression-Era New York

By 4 Comments

Eric Linden finds fun, trouble and Joan Blondell in Depression-era New York in Warner Bros.’ Big City Blues (1932). Directed by Mervyn LeRoy with an unbilled supporting appearance by Humphrey Bogart along with several others.

Man Wanted (1932) – Charles Kenyon Updates The Office Wife (1930)

By 6 Comments

A look at the similarities between Man Wanted (1932) and The Office Wife (1930) with a brief focus on Charles Kenyon who wrote each screenplay. Man Wanted stars Kay Francis and David Manners.

The Lost Squadron (1932) Starring Richard Dix, With Erich von Stroheim

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RKO’s The Lost Squadron (1932) is a war movie that isn’t a war movie. Veterans return home to find work as Hollywood stunt fliers under Erich von Stoheim’s command. Starring Richard Dix, Robert Armstrong, Joel McCrea, Hugh Herbert, Mary Astor and Dorothy Jordan. Directed by George Archainbaud.

The Office Wife (1930) Starring Dorothy Mackaill and Lewis Stone

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Publisher Lewis Stone needs a new secretary and Dorothy Mackaill gets the job in The Office Wife (1930). Great dialogue in this pre-Code hit, with many of the best lines coming from Joan Blondell.

Her Man (1930) Starring Helen Twelvetrees and Phillips Holmes

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Tay Garnett’s Her Man from Pathe is an overlooked pre-Code classic starring Helen Twelvetrees in the first screen adaptation of the Frankie and Johnny ballad. With Phillips Holmes, Ricardo Cortez and Marjorie Rambeau.

The Penalty (1941) Starring Gene Reynolds and Edward Arnold

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Roosty worships gangster dad “Stuff” Nelson in MGM’s The Penalty (1941). When the G-men send Roosty to the farm he has to adjust to life amongst the hicks. Starring Edward Arnold as Stuff, Lionel Barrymore and Gene Reynolds as Roosty.