|
Douglass Montgomery
Robert Douglass Montgomery (also credited as Kent Douglass; October 29, 1909 – July 23, 1966) was an American film actor. Early years The son of Chester Montgomery, a jeweler, and Leona Smith, Montgomery graduated from Los Angeles High School. Career Montgomery used the stage name Douglass Montgomery when he began acting in New York. He gained early acting experience at the Pasadena Community Playhouse. The film phase of his career began at M-G-M in 1930, playing the second male lead in films such as '' Paid'' and ''Five and Ten''. When he signed his contract at the studio his name was changed to Kent Douglass, to avoid confusion with that studio's star Robert Montgomery. Upon leaving MGM in 1932, he changed it back to Douglass Montgomery. Among his most celebrated roles was Laurie in ''Little Women'' (1933), opposite Katharine Hepburn's Jo March. He also played Johnny Hollis ("Johnny-in-the-Clouds") in ''The Way to the Stars'' (1945). After serving in the Royal ... [...More Info...] [...Related Items...] OR: [Wikipedia] [Google] [Baidu] |
Harmony Lane
''Harmony Lane'' is a 1935 low-budget American film directed by Joseph Santley, based upon the life of Stephen Foster, released by Mascot Pictures. This was the first sound film based on the life of the famous composer. Two others would follow, both in color: '' Swanee River'' (1939) (the most elaborate and largest budgeted of the three), and ''I Dream of Jeannie'' (1952). Plot summary The life and loves of composer Stephen Foster, from his early success through his decline, degradation, and death from (assumed) alcoholism. Cast *Douglass Montgomery as Stephen Foster *Evelyn Venable as Susan Pentland *Adrienne Ames as Jane McDowell *Joseph Cawthorn as Professor Henry Kleber *William Frawley as Edwin P. 'Ed' Christy * David Torrence as Mr. Pentland *Gilbert Emery as Mr. Foster * Lloyd Hughes as Andrew Robinson * Al Herman as Tambo *Cora Sue Collins as Marian Foster * James Bush as Morrison Foster *Edith Craig as Henrietta Foster *Florence Roberts as Mrs. Foster *Ferdinand Munier ... [...More Info...] [...Related Items...] OR: [Wikipedia] [Google] [Baidu] |
Mae Clarke
Mae Clarke (born Violet Mary Klotz; August 16, 1910 – April 29, 1992) was an American actress. She is widely remembered for playing Henry Frankenstein's bride Elizabeth, who is chased by Boris Karloff in ''Frankenstein'', and for being on the receiving end of James Cagney's halved grapefruit in '' The Public Enemy''. Both films were released in 1931. Early life Mae Clarke was born in Philadelphia. Her father was a theatre organist. She studied dancing as a child and began on stage in vaudeville and also worked in night clubs. In 1922, at the age of 12, she marched in the Miss America Pageant Parade on the Atlantic City Boardwalk dressed as a lobster. She returned to the Boardwalk Parade again in 1940 as a featured guest, riding atop a white limousine convertible. Career Clarke started her professional career as a dancer in New York City, sharing a room with Barbara Stanwyck. She starred in many films for Universal Studios, including the original screen version of '' Th ... [...More Info...] [...Related Items...] OR: [Wikipedia] [Google] [Baidu] |
Music In The Air (film)
''Music in the Air'' is a 1934 American romantic comedy musical film based on Jerome Kern and Oscar Hammerstein II's Broadway musical of the same name. It was part of the popular subgenre of operetta films made during the era. The film was a commercial failure on its release, losing $389,000. This was the worst performing release by Fox Film that year. The Broadway musical ''Music in the Air'' opened at the Alvin Theatre in New York City on November 8, 1932, and ran for 342 performances. Plot Aspiring songwriter Karl Roder (Douglass Montgomery) travels to the big city, along with a girl he is in love with, Sieglinde Lessing ( June Lang), and her Father Walter Lessing (Al Shean) who has just written a new song that he thinks will take the world by storm (with lyrics by Karl). They stumble into the stormy relationship of Opera star Frieda Hotzfelt (Gloria Swanson), and librettist Bruno Mahler ( John Boles) who constantly bicker and make up. When the composer for their new show su ... [...More Info...] [...Related Items...] OR: [Wikipedia] [Google] [Baidu] |
Little Man, What Now? (1934 Film)
''Little Man, What Now?'' is a 1934 pre-Code American drama film directed by Frank Borzage and starring Margaret Sullavan. It is based on the 1932 novel of the same name by Hans Fallada. The novel had been turned into a German film the previous year. The film was a box-office disappointment for Universal. Plot In Germany in the early 1930s, a young couple are struggling against poverty. Hans is a small business agent. He is happily married to Emma, whom he affectionately calls "lämmchen" (small lamb). They must keep their marriage a secret in order for Hans to retain his job, as his boss wants him to marry the boss' daughter. However, Hans loses his job when the truth emerges. Hans and Emma stay with his stepmother in bustling Berlin to find success. Hans secures a small job in a department store. Hans and Emma discover that his stepmother is really a notorious madam who runs an exclusive brothel. Cast * Margaret Sullavan as Emm "Lammchen" Pinneberg * Douglass Montgomery as H ... [...More Info...] [...Related Items...] OR: [Wikipedia] [Google] [Baidu] |
Eight Girls In A Boat (1934 Film)
''Eight Girls in a Boat'' is a 1934 American Pre-Code drama film directed by Richard Wallace and written by Helmut Brandis, Lewis R. Foster and Casey Robinson. It is a remake of the 1932 German film '' Eight Girls in a Boat'', which was also co-written by Brandis. The film stars Dorothy Wilson, Douglass Montgomery, Kay Johnson, Walter Connolly, Ferike Boros, James Bush and Barbara Barondess. The film was released on January 5, 1934, by Paramount Pictures. Plot While attending a girls' school in Switzerland Switzerland, officially the Swiss Confederation, is a landlocked country located in west-central Europe. It is bordered by Italy to the south, France to the west, Germany to the north, and Austria and Liechtenstein to the east. Switzerland ..., young Christa Storm discovers she is expecting a baby. Student David wants to marry her, but he is poor and Christa's father objects to him as a suitable spouse. Christa contemplates suicide by poison and even enjoys a fin ... [...More Info...] [...Related Items...] OR: [Wikipedia] [Google] [Baidu] |
A House Divided (1931 Film)
''A House Divided'' is a 1931 American Pre-Code drama film directed by William Wyler and starring Walter Huston, Douglass Montgomery (billed as Kent Douglass) and Helen Chandler. It was produced and released by Universal Pictures. Plot A widowed fisherman (Huston) falls in love with and marries a younger woman (Chandler), who falls in love with the man's son (Montgomery). Cast * Walter Huston as Seth Law * Douglass Montgomery as Matt Law * Helen Chandler as Ruth Evans * Mary Foy as Mary * Lloyd Ingraham as Doctor * Charles Middleton as Minister * Frank Hagney as Big Bill * Richard Alexander as Sailor * Walter Brennan as Musician * Mary Gordon as Townswoman * Gibson Gowland as Bartender * Marjorie Main as Townswoman at Wedding * Vivien Oakland Vivien Oakland (born Vivian Ruth Andersen; May 20, 1895 – August 1, 1958), was an American actress best known for her work in comedies in Hollywood in the 1920s and 1930s, most notably with the Hal Roach Studios. Oakland appe ... [...More Info...] [...Related Items...] OR: [Wikipedia] [Google] [Baidu] |
Daybreak (1931 Film)
''Daybreak'' is a 1931 American pre-Code drama film directed by Jacques Feyder and written by Cyril Hume and Ruth Cummings. The film stars Ramon Novarro, Helen Chandler, Jean Hersholt, C. Aubrey Smith, William Bakewell and Karen Morley. The film was released on May 2, 1931, by Metro-Goldwyn-Mayer. Plot Willi is born into the cream of Vienna society, rising through the ranks of the elite Royal Imperial Guard and becoming an officer. Always having friends and relatives in high places to clean up after him after he screws things up, Willi has no idea what being responsible is. With Willi's uncle, General Von Hertz, in charge of the military base where he is stationed, he knows that whatever mistakes he makes, his uncle will take care of them. One thing Willi does not expect to happen is to fall in love with someone else, besides himself, and accept the responsibility that goes along with that. At a party with his officer friends at a Vienna nightspot, Willi spots the lovely you ... [...More Info...] [...Related Items...] OR: [Wikipedia] [Google] [Baidu] |
The Cat And The Canary (1939 Film)
''The Cat and the Canary'' is a 1922 stage play by John Willard (playwright), John Willard, adapted at least four times into feature films, in 1927, 1930, 1939, and again in 1979. The original stage play opened on Broadway February 7, 1922. Plot The story concerns the death and inheritance of old Cyrus West, a rich eccentric who felt that his relatives "have watched my wealth as if they were cats, and I — a canary". He decrees that his will be read 20 years after his death, at which point his relatives converge at his old family home, now a spooky old haunted mansion. The will reads that his most distant relative still bearing the name of West be sole heir, provided they are legally sane. The rest of the night spent in the house calls into question the sanity of Annabelle West, a fragile young woman who is legally Cyrus West's heir. Production Produced by Kilbourn Gordon and directed by Ira Hards, ''The Cat and the Canary'' premiered February 7, 1922, at the Nederlander Theat ... [...More Info...] [...Related Items...] OR: [Wikipedia] [Google] [Baidu] |
John Beal (actor)
John Beal (born James Alexander Bliedung, August 13, 1909 – April 26, 1997) was an American actor. Early life Beal was born James Alexander Bliedung in Joplin, Missouri. His father had a department store and Beal went to the Wharton School of the University of Pennsylvania "mapped for a commercial career." While at Wharton, Beal (who enrolled under his real name, James Alexander Bliedung) spent time drawing cartoons for the school's humor magazine and singing in productions of the Mask and Wig club. Stage Soon after graduating from college in 1930, Beal began acting with the Hedgerow Theatre. Beal originally went to New York to study at the Art Students League of New York. A chance to understudy in a play made him change his mind. He went on to appear in ''Russet Mantle'' and ''She Loves Me''. Beal's Broadway credits include ''Three Men on a Horse'' (1993), ''The Seagull'' (1992), ''The Master Builder'' (1992), ''A Little Hotel on the Side'' (1992), ''The Crucible'' ... [...More Info...] [...Related Items...] OR: [Wikipedia] [Google] [Baidu] |
Paulette Goddard
Paulette Goddard (born Marion Levy; June 3, 1910 – April 23, 1990) was an American actress and socialite. Her career spanned six decades, from the 1920s to the early 1970s. She was a prominent leading actress during the Golden Age of Hollywood. Born in New York City and raised in Kansas City, Missouri, Goddard initially began her career as a child fashion model and performer in several Broadway productions as a Ziegfeld Follies, Ziegfeld Girl. In the early 1930s, she moved to Hollywood, Los Angeles, Hollywood and gained notice as the romantic partner of actor and comedian Charlie Chaplin, appearing as his leading lady in ''Modern Times (film), Modern Times'' (1936) and ''The Great Dictator'' (1940). After signing with Paramount Pictures, Goddard became one of the studio's biggest stars with roles in ''The Cat and the Canary (1939 film), The Cat and the Canary'' (1939) with Bob Hope, ''The Women (1939 film), The Women'' (1939) with Joan Crawford, ''North West Mounted Police (fil ... [...More Info...] [...Related Items...] OR: [Wikipedia] [Google] [Baidu] |
Bob Hope
Leslie Townes "Bob" Hope (May 29, 1903 – July 27, 2003) was an American comedian, actor, entertainer and producer with a career that spanned nearly 80 years and achievements in vaudeville, network radio, television, and USO Tours. He appeared in Bob Hope filmography, more than 70 short and feature films, starring in 54. These included a series of seven ''Road to ...'' musical comedy films with Bing Crosby as his partner. Hope hosted the Academy Awards ceremony a record 19 times. He also appeared in many stage productions and television roles and wrote 14 books. The song "Thanks for the Memory" was his signature tune. He was praised for his comedic timing, specializing in one-liners and rapid-fire delivery of jokes that were often self-deprecating. Between 1941 and 1991, he made 57 tours for the United Service Organizations (USO), entertaining military personnel around the world. In 1997, Congress passed a bill that made him an honorary veteran of the Armed Forces. Hope was bo ... [...More Info...] [...Related Items...] OR: [Wikipedia] [Google] [Baidu] |
The Mystery Of Edwin Drood (1935 Film)
''The Mystery of Edwin Drood'' is a 1935 American melodrama film directed by Stuart Walker and based on the unfinished 1870 novel '' The Mystery of Edwin Drood'' by Charles Dickens. Plot Cast Production Universal Pictures was enthusiastic about adapting '' The Mystery of Edwin Drood'' and exploiting its lack of a finale. Universal afforded the film a budget of $215,375 and developed an aggressive advertising campaign to exploit the novel's unresolved ending. According to Universal publicity, the studio's London office shot thousands of feet of film and took numerous still shots of Victorian-style structures in Rochester in 1934 for the film. A set was built in Universal's backlot that was the largest for the studio since the filming of '' The Hunchback of Notre Dame''. The film's shooting was initially delayed because of casting difficulties. Production began on November 12, 1934, and continued until January 1935. The film was one of the last leading roles for David Mann ... [...More Info...] [...Related Items...] OR: [Wikipedia] [Google] [Baidu] |
