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.
Night Court (1932) Starring Phillips Holmes and Walter Huston
Phillips Holmes takes on Walter Huston’s corrupt judge in MGM’s Night Court (1932), a pre-code drama directed by W.S. Van Dyke and also featuring Anita Page, Lewis Stone and Noel Francis.
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 Phantom of Crestwood (1932) with Ricardo Cortez and Karen Morley
America wondered “Who Killed Jenny Wren?” and RKO’s The Phantom of Crestwood revealed the answer in the first movie-radio tie-in. Starring Ricardo Cortez and Karen Morley with a large cast of familiar character actors and former silent stars in support.
RKO’s Hell’s Highway (1932) Beats Other Chain Gang Movie to Theaters
It’s tempting to call RKO’s Hell’s Highway (1932) a knockoff on I Am a Fugitive from a Chain Gang. However the Richard Dix movie came first. A long essay looking at Hell’s Highway, Dix, the Etude Ethiopian Chorus and that other Chain Gang movie.
Washington Merry-Go-Round (1932) with Lee Tracy and Constance Cummings
Lee Tracy stars in Washington Merry-Go-Round (1932), Columbia’s pre-Code precursor to Mr. Smith Goes to Washington (1939) with Constance Cummings, Alan Dinehart and Walter Connolly.
Paramount’s The Night of June 13th (1932), Street Scene of the Suburbs
The Night of June 13th (1932) was Paramount’s answer to Street Scene in which they set an ensemble cast loose on each other in the suburbs. With Clive Brook, the first pairing of Charles Ruggles and Mary Boland, plus Lila Lee, Gene Raymond, Frances Dee, Charley Grapewin and many others.
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
Flesh (1932) Starring Wallace Beery and Karen Morley
John Ford directed Flesh (1932) for MGM with Wallace Beery starring as a German wrestler and Karen Morley giving an outstanding performance as the shady girl he loves. With Ricardo Cortez.
Night World (1932) Starring Mae Clarke, Lew Ayres and Boris Karloff
A look at Universal’s rollicking 58-minute movie set inside a speakeasy run by Boris Karloff with a Busby Berkeley choreographed dance to boot. Mae Clarke and Lew Ayres star as the love interests while Clarence Muse and general ambiance steal the show.
