What Price Hollywood? (1932), the best of the pre-Code era “inside-Hollywood” films, stars Constance Bennett and Lowell Sherman in director George Cukor’s first film for David O. Selznick.
The Lost Squadron (1932) Starring Richard Dix, With Erich von Stroheim
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.
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.
First Impressions: Little Women (1933) Starring Katharine Hepburn
RKO’s classic Little Women (1933) starring Katharine Hepburn as Jo Marsh with Joan Bennett, Frances Dee and Jean Parker as her sisters. Some notes based on the first time I watched the movie.
Freddie Bartholomew Complete Biography of the 1930’s MGM Child Star
The most complete Freddie Bartholomew biography in existence. Now a single entry, over 10,000 words with bibliography about MGM’s popular child star of the 1930’s. What happened to the star of David Copperfield, Little Lord Fauntleroy and Captains Courageous after he grew up? It’s all here.
Night Flight (1933) with John and Lionel Barrymore, Gable and More
An all-star cast may be advertised but Night Flight (1933) is mostly Barrymore, John with a dash of Lionel. Not much for Clark Gable and the rest with the exception of Robert Montgomery.
Freddie Bartholomew is Little Lord Fauntleroy (1936)
A look at Selznick International’s faithful 1936 screen adaptation of Little Lord Fauntleroy starring Freddie Bartholomew and C. Aubrey Smith.
Adam Had Four Sons (1941) Starring Warner Baxter and Ingrid Bergman
A quiet little period piece until Susan Hayward arrives to fill it with sex, sin and hate, Adam Had Four Sons stars Warner Baxter with Ingrid Bergman in her second Hollywood role.
Symphony of Six Million (1932) starring Ricardo Cortez
RKO’s Symphony of Six Million (1932) is an interesting David O. Selznick produced film with a then unusual focus on a Jewish family. Ricardo Cortez stars as a young doctor with Anna Appel and Gregory Ratoff as his parents and Irene Dunne as the handicapped girl who’s loved him since childhood.
The Personal History, Adventures, Experience, & Observation of David Copperfield the Younger (1935)
A look at MGM’s 1935 production of the Charles Dickens classic David Copperfield starring Freddie Bartholomew and WC Fields. Includes notes and quotes from David O. Selznick and George Cukor about production and casting, a brief outline of the film and its many characters, the latter highlighted by a biography of of the obscure Lennox Pawle, who played Mr. Dick.
