One of James Cagney’s classic gangster movies, The Roaring Twenties (1939) also boasts an especially nasty Humphrey Bogart in its cast, plus strong work from Gladys George. Post includes background about writer Mark Hellinger, real-life roaring twenties personalities Larry Fay and Texas Guinan, plus a look at a pre-Code predecessor Broadway Thru a Keyhole (1933).
Lightning Review: Full Confession (1939) Starring Victor McLaglen
Brief look at RKO “B” movie Full Confession (1939) starring Victor McLaglen, Joseph Calleia, Sally Eilers, and Barry Fitzgerald, directed by John Farrow.
J. Edgar Hoover’s Persons in Hiding (1939) With Patricia Morison
A Bonnie and Clyde tale predating Gun Crazy (1950) by eleven years. Persons in Hiding is the first of four movies adapted from J. Edgar Hoover’s book of the same name. Electrifying debut by Patricia Morison with J. Carrol Naish strong opposite her.
Tyrone Power and Alice Faye – In Old Chicago (1937), Alexander’s Ragtime Band (1938) and Rose of Washington Square (1939)
Tyrone Power and Alice Faye shared a May 5 birthday and shared early fame in hit movies In Old Chicago (1937), Alexander’s Ragtime Band (1938) and Rose of Washington Square (1939). This post looks at the hit Twentieth Century-Fox team and each of their three movies together.
Sweepings (1933) and Mamie’s Christmas Counter Freak-Out
Lester Cohen adapted his own novel Sweepings for RKO in 1933. It was remade as Three Sons in 1939. The story is about a retail king and his family, but the focus of this article turns to Helen Mack’s explosive Christmas Eve scene with additional details about her character filled in from Cohen’s novel.
MGM’s Hardy Family Series #8 – Judge Hardy and Son (1939)
The eighth entry in the Hardy family series, Judge Hardy and Son, sees one family member struck down with illness, three Universal horror actors in supporting roles and Andy’s hunt for a girl whose middle name begins with the letter “V.”
MGM’s Hardy Family Series #7 – Andy Hardy Gets Spring Fever (1939)
Andy Hardy Gets Spring Fever (1939) presents a less carefree Andy when he falls in love with his dramatics teacher played by former cellist Helen Gilbert. Starring Mickey Rooney and directed by W.S. “Woody” Van Dyke rather than series regular George B. Seitz.
MGM’s Hardy Family Series #6 – The Hardys Ride High (1939)
In The Hardys Ride High (1939), the sixth movie of MGM’s Hardy Family series, Judge Hardy and family fly to Detroit to claim a two million dollar inheritance. Andy Hardy sets his sights on a showgirl and Aunt Milly may have found love at last.
John Ford’s Stagecoach (1939) Starring John Wayne and Claire Trevor
The classic John Ford western Stagecoach (1939) is a movie for everybody. Forget genre prejudices and thrill to John Wayne, Claire Trevor and all of the rest of one of the richest supporting casts you’ll ever encounter.
