Ripped from the headlines: New York’s Vice Squad scandal in Paramount pre-Code The Vice Squad (1931), starring Paul Lukas in a part inspired by Chile Acuna, with Kay Francis and Judith Wood. Directed by John Cromwell.
Downstairs (1932) Starring John Gilbert, From a Story by 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?
City Streets (1931) Starring Gary Cooper and Sylvia Sidney
A look at the most stylized of the 1931 gangster movies, Rouben Mamoulian’s City Streets (1931) from Paramount, starring Gary Cooper and Sylvia Sidney.
Secret of the Blue Room (1933) With Lionel Atwill and Gloria Stuart
Secret of the Blue Room (1933) may not be Universal horror, but it’s a strong murder mystery that acquired the tinge as part of the late ’50s Shock Theater package on television. Here’s a bit about what it was and what it wasn’t.
The Devil’s Holiday (1930) Starring Nancy Carroll
A look at early Paramount talkie The Devil’s Holiday (1930). Written and directed by Edmund Goulding, but saved from being stale by Nancy Carroll’s Academy Award nominated performance.
Paul Lukas – Brief Biography of the Oscar Winning Actor
A brief biography of Oscar winning actor Paul Lukas includes a couple of early Lukas quotes and the return of Picto-Sked highlighting original newspaper ads of several of his films.
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.
Walter Huston is Dodsworth (1936) with Ruth Chatterton and Mary Astor
Water Huston plays perhaps his finest role when he brings his Sam Dodsworth from the stage to the screen for Sam Goldwyn under William Wyler’s direction. Winner of 1 Oscar, nominated for 6 more, Dodsworth gives us a peek at the complicated married life of a middle-aged couple.
Kay Francis and Ian Hunter in I Found Stella Parish (1935)
Kay Francis and Ian Hunter both do good work in Warner Brothers’ I Found Stella Parish (1935). I’m just wondering if I’m supposed to walk away liking either of their characters?
Philo Vance on TCM All Day – Here Are the Books
Turner Classic Movies is airing Philo Vance movies all day Wednesday the 27th. We reply with a Vance Meld: bibliography + filmography.