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You are here: Home / Archives for MGM

Real-Life Society ‘Honor Slaying’ Inspires Two 1932 Films

January 14, 2015 By Cliff Aliperti 6 Comments

Edward Allen shoots Francis Donaldson III

A look at two pre-Code courtroom melodramas, Unashamed and Two Against the World, compared to the sensational real-life society murder that inspired the movies. Unashamed stars Helen Twelvetrees, Robert Young, and Monroe Owsley, while Two Against the World stars Constance Bennett and Neil Hamilton.

Filed Under: News - Notes Tagged With: 1932, Allen Vincent, Constance Bennett, Courtroom Drama, Gavin Gordon, Helen Twelvetrees, Helen Vinson, John Miljan, Lewis Stone, MGM, Murder, Neil Hamilton, pre-Code, ripped from the headlines, Robert Warwick, Robert Young, Warner Bros.

Arsène Lupin (1932) Starring John and Lionel Barrymore

December 28, 2014 By Cliff Aliperti 2 Comments

Arsene Lupin 1932 newspaper ad

John Barrymore and Lionel Barrymore share the screen together for the first time in MGM’s Arsène Lupin (1932). Excellent mystery also includes strong work from Karen Morley.

Filed Under: Movie Reviews Tagged With: Adaptations, John Barrymore, John Miljan, Karen Morley, Lionel Barrymore, Maurice Leblanc, MGM, Mysteries, pre-Code, Tully Marshall, Warner Archive

H.M. Pulham, Esq. (1941) – King Vidor Brings John P. Marquand Bestseller to Life

November 14, 2014 By Cliff Aliperti 5 Comments

Robert Young and Hedy Lamarr

Comparing King Vidor’s adaptation of H.M. Pulham, Esq. (1941) to the novel by John P. Marquand, and why both tellings are wonderful. Excellent performances from Robert Young and Hedy Lamarr trickle down throughout the entire cast, most of who are perfect representations of the characters Marquand created on the page. It’s a quiet story that tells a lot in the end.

Filed Under: Movie Reviews Tagged With: 1941, Adaptations, Bonita Granville, Charles Coburn, Douglas Wood, Fay Holden, Hedy Lamarr, John P Marquand, King Vidor, Leif Erickson, MGM, Phil Brown, Robert Young, Ruth Hussey, Sara Haden, Van Heflin, Warner Archive

Five and Ten (1931) Starring Marion Davies and Leslie Howard

October 6, 2014 By Cliff Aliperti Leave a Comment

Marion Davies Richard Bennett Irene Rich

From a novel by Fannie Hurst, MGM’s Five and Ten stars Marion Davies and Leslie Howard, but this tale of the nouveau riche is at its weakest during their scenes. Strong support from Richard Bennett, Irene Rich, and Kent Douglass should have been even stronger. A recent MOD DVD-R release from Warner Archive.

Filed Under: Movie Reviews Tagged With: 1931, Douglass Montgomery, Fannie Hurst, Irene Rich, Kent Douglass, Leslie Howard, Marion Davies, mary duncan, MGM, nouveau riche, pre-Code, Richard Bennett, Robert Z. Leonard, Warner Archive

Downstairs (1932) Starring John Gilbert, From a Story by John Gilbert

September 26, 2014 By Cliff Aliperti 4 Comments

Bodil Rosing and John Gilbert

Despite its poor reception in 1932, today Downstairs is often pointed to as John Gilbert’s best talkie and further evidence that his voice was not poor. A look at some key scenes with Virginia Bruce and Paul Lukas, plus just how bad of a guy was Gilbert’s Karl?

Filed Under: Movie Reviews Tagged With: 1932, Bodil Rosing, John Gilbert, MGM, Monta Bell, Olga Baclanova, Paul Lukas, pre-Code, Reginald Owen, Virginia Bruce, Warner Archive

Gladys George Is Madame X (1937), Plus Brief Biography

August 25, 2014 By Cliff Aliperti 7 Comments

Madame X 1937 trade ad

A history of Madame X concentrates on the 1937 film version starring Gladys George. Includes a biography of Gladys George with comparison to Ruth Chatterton’s 1929 performance.

Filed Under: Movie Reviews, Movie Star Biographies Tagged With: 1937, Courtroom Drama, Dramas, Emma Dunn, Gladys George, Henry Daniell, John Beal, melodrama, MGM, Reginald Owen, remakes, Ruth Chatterton, Sam Wood, Warner Archive, Warren William

Test Pilot (1938) Starring Clark Gable, Myrna Loy and Spencer Tracy

May 30, 2014 By Cliff Aliperti 1 Comment

Cinefilo Magazine November 11 1938 Clark Gable Myrna Loy Spencer Tracy

Clark Gable, Myrna Loy and Spencer Tracy live up to expectations in MGM’s Test Pilot (1938). One of the most popular films of 1938, the Academy Award-nominated Best Picture directed by Victor Fleming allows all three stars to shine in strong parts that they enliven with strong performances. Time well spent, no matter the length.

Filed Under: Movie Reviews Tagged With: 1938, action, air travel, Clark Gable, Gloria Holden, Lionel Barrymore, Louis Jean Heydt, Marjorie Main, MGM, Myrna Loy, Priscilla Lawson, Romance, Spencer Tracy, Ted Pearson, Victor Fleming, Virginia Grey, Warner Archive

Our Blushing Brides (1930) Caps Joan Crawford Trilogy

April 7, 2014 By Cliff Aliperti 6 Comments

Joan Crawford and Robert Montgomery

No longer the wild Jazz Baby, Joan Crawford is cautious to the point of being a drag in Our Blushing Brides (1930), third movie of a loose MGM trilogy starring Crawford. Also starring Robert Montgomery, Anita Page and Dorothy Sebastian.

Filed Under: Movie Reviews Tagged With: 1930, Anita Page, Cedric Gibbons, Dorothy Sebastian, Edward Brophy, Harry Beaumont, Hedda Hopper, Joan Crawford, John Miljan, MGM, pre-Code, Raymond Hackett, Robert Montgomery, Warner Archive

Gentleman’s Fate (1931) Starring John Gilbert and Louis Wolheim as Unlikely Brothers

March 28, 2014 By Cliff Aliperti 12 Comments

John Gilbert and Louis Wolheim

Gentleman’s Fate (1931) is an MGM gangster effort overshadowed by the relationship between the John Gilbert and Louis Wolheim characters. Directed by Mervyn LeRoy with good work from Anita Page as well.

Filed Under: Movie Reviews Tagged With: 1931, Anita Page, Frank Reicher, Gangsters, George Cooper, John Gilbert, John Miljan, Leila Hyams, Louis Wolheim, Marie Prevost, Mervyn LeRoy, MGM, Paul Porcasi, Ralph Ince

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

July 7, 2013 By Cliff Aliperti 4 Comments

Death on the Diamond

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.

Filed Under: Movie Reviews Tagged With: 1934, Baseball, C. Henry Gordon, cortland fitzsimmons, David Landau, death on the diamond, DeWitt Jennings, Edward Brophy, edward sedgwick, Joe Sawyer, Madge Evans, MGM, Mickey Rooney, Murder, Mysteries, Nat Pendleton, Paul Kelly, robert livingston, Robert Young, st louis cardinals, Ted Healy, Willard Robertson

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I write about old movies and movie stars from the 1920s to the 1950s. I also sell movie cards, still photos and other ephemera. Immortal Ephemera connects the stories with the collectibles. Read More…

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Helen Twelvetrees Perfect Ingenue by Cliff Aliperti

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Praise for Helen Twelvetrees, Perfect Ingenue

Recommended BooksJames L. Neibaur of Examiner.com calls it: "One of the most interesting and important film books of the young year," adding, "the documentation is original and significant." Full review.

Recommended BooksJacqueline T. Lynch, author of Ann Blyth: Actress. Singer.Star., says: "A prime example of a classic film fan taking the reins to produce a scholarly study of a neglected figure from the Golden Age of classic films in a way that I feel is refreshing, infinitely helpful to fans and students of old movies." Full review.

Recommended BooksSilver Screenings says: "A fascinating account of an ambitious and hard-working woman ... Aliperti’s book is well written and incredibly well researched." Full review.

Recommended BooksSpeakeasy says: "Despite her decline, this is not a sad or bleak book but an enjoyable history ... Any fan of the collectible Citadel “Films of” book series will appreciate the modern twist on that format, a full biography followed by an expanded filmography." Full review.

Recommended BooksA Classic Movie Blog says: "I think this is a good format for performers with short lives and brief careers ... I went into it with only mild curiosity about Twelvetrees and now I find my self pining for copies of unavailable, but intriguing films." Full review.

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