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The Secret Witness
''The Secret Witness'' is a 1931 American pre-Code drama film, directed by Thornton Freeland and starring Una Merkel, William Collier Jr. and Zasu Pitts.Goble p. 946 It is an adaptation of the novel ''Murder in the Gilded Cage'' by Sam Spewack. Plot A man is found murdered in his luxury apartment. His neighbors believe that the wrong man has been arrested and set out to solve the crime. Cast * Una Merkel as Lois Martin * William Collier Jr. as Arthur Jones aka Casey * Zasu Pitts as Bella * Purnell Pratt as Capt. McGowan * Ralf Harolde as Lewis Leroy * Clyde Cook as Larson - Building Engineer * June Clyde as Tess Jones * Nat Pendleton as Gunner - Bodyguard * Clarence Muse as Jeff - Building Janitor * Hooper Atchley as Herbert 'Bert' Folsom * Billy Bletcher as Radio Announcer's Voice * Mike Donlin as Mike - Speakeasy Proprietor * James Durkin as Detective * Greta Granstedt as Moll * Henry Hall as Police Commissioner Martin * Paul Hurst as Officer ... [...More Info...] [...Related Items...] OR: [Wikipedia] [Google] [Baidu] |
Thornton Freeland
Thornton Freeland (February 10, 1898 – May 22, 1987) was an American film director who directed 26 British and American films in a career that lasted from 1924 to 1949. Early success He was born in Hope, North Dakota in 1898 and originally worked as an assistant director during the silent era. In 1929 he directed his first film, the comedy '' Three Live Ghosts''. He enjoyed an early success with the Eddie Cantor Technicolor musical '' Whoopie!'' (1930) and much of his subsequent work was in musicals and comedies. In 1933, he directed '' Flying Down to Rio'' which launched the screen partnership of Fred Astaire and Ginger Rogers although it had originally been designed as a starring vehicle for the Mexican actress Dolores del Río. The following year Freeland made a film version of the long-running Broadway revue '' George White's Scandals''. Britain In 1935 Freeland went to London to make the musical comedy ''Brewster's Millions'' starring Jack Buchanan. He was to wor ... [...More Info...] [...Related Items...] OR: [Wikipedia] [Google] [Baidu] |
Billy Bletcher
William Bletcher (September 24, 1894 – January 5, 1979) was an American actor. He was known for voice roles for various classic animated characters, most notably Pete in Walt Disney's ''Mickey Mouse'' short films and the Big Bad Wolf in Disney's '' Three Little Pigs''. Early life William Bletcher was born in Lancaster, Pennsylvania, on September 24, 1894, to Huber and Dora Bletcher. Career Bletcher appeared on-screen in films and later television from the 1910s to the 1970s, including appearances in several ''Our Gang'' and ''The Three Stooges'' comedies. He was most active as a voice actor. His voice was a deep, strong and booming baritone. Bletcher provided the voices of various characters for Walt Disney Productions (including his recurring roles as Black Pete and the Big Bad Wolf). He auditioned to play one of the dwarfs in Disney's ''Snow White and the Seven Dwarfs'' (1937). However, Walt Disney disapproved for fear that people would recognize Bletcher from the stu ... [...More Info...] [...Related Items...] OR: [Wikipedia] [Google] [Baidu] |
American Black-and-white Films
American(s) may refer to: * American, something of, from, or related to the United States of America, commonly known as the "United States" or "America" ** Americans, citizens and nationals of the United States of America ** American ancestry, people who self-identify their ancestry as "American" ** American English, the set of varieties of the English language native to the United States ** Native Americans in the United States, indigenous peoples of the United States * American, something of, from, or related to the Americas, also known as "America" ** Indigenous peoples of the Americas * American (word), for analysis and history of the meanings in various contexts Organizations * American Airlines, U.S.-based airline headquartered in Fort Worth, Texas * American Athletic Conference, an American college athletic conference * American Recordings (record label), a record label that was previously known as Def American * American University, in Washington, D.C. Sports tea ... [...More Info...] [...Related Items...] OR: [Wikipedia] [Google] [Baidu] |
Columbia Pictures Films
Columbia most often refers to: * Columbia (personification), the historical personification of the United States * Columbia University, a private university in New York City * Columbia Pictures, an American film studio owned by Sony Pictures * Columbia Sportswear, an American clothing company * Columbia, South Carolina * Columbia, Missouri Columbia may also refer to: Places North America Natural features * Columbia Plateau, a geologic and geographic region in the U.S. Pacific Northwest * Columbia River, in Canada and the United States ** Columbia Bar, a sandbar in the estuary of the Columbia River ** Columbia Country, the region of British Columbia encompassing the northern portion of that river's upper reaches *** Columbia Valley, a region within the Columbia Country ** Columbia Lake, a lake at the head of the Columbia River *** Columbia Wetlands, a protected area near Columbia Lake ** Columbia Slough, along the Columbia watercourse near Portland, Oregon * Glacial La ... [...More Info...] [...Related Items...] OR: [Wikipedia] [Google] [Baidu] |
Films Directed By Thornton Freeland
A film, also known as a movie or motion picture, is a work of visual art that simulates experiences and otherwise communicates ideas, stories, perceptions, emotions, or atmosphere through the use of moving images that are generally, since the 1930s, synchronized with sound and (less commonly) other sensory stimulations. Etymology and alternative terms The name "film" originally referred to the thin layer of photochemical emulsion on the celluloid strip that used to be the actual medium for recording and displaying motion pictures. Many other terms exist for an individual motion-picture, including "picture", "picture show", "moving picture", "photoplay", and "flick". The most common term in the United States is "movie", while in Europe, "film" is preferred. Archaic terms include "animated pictures" and "animated photography". "Flick" is, in general a slang term, first recorded in 1926. It originates in the verb flicker, owing to the flickering appearance of early films. ... [...More Info...] [...Related Items...] OR: [Wikipedia] [Google] [Baidu] |
American Drama Films
American(s) may refer to: * American, something of, from, or related to the United States of America, commonly known as the "United States" or "America" ** Americans, citizens and nationals of the United States of America ** American ancestry, people who self-identify their ancestry as "American" ** American English, the set of varieties of the English language native to the United States ** Native Americans in the United States, indigenous peoples of the United States * American, something of, from, or related to the Americas, also known as "America" ** Indigenous peoples of the Americas * American (word), for analysis and history of the meanings in various contexts Organizations * American Airlines, U.S.-based airline headquartered in Fort Worth, Texas * American Athletic Conference, an American college athletic conference * American Recordings (record label), a record label that was previously known as Def American * American University, in Washington, D.C. Sports tea ... [...More Info...] [...Related Items...] OR: [Wikipedia] [Google] [Baidu] |
1931 Drama Films
Events January * January 2 – South Dakota native Ernest Lawrence invents the cyclotron, used to accelerate particles to study nuclear physics. * January 4 – German pilot Elly Beinhorn begins her flight to Africa. * January 22 – Sir Isaac Isaacs is sworn in as the first Australian-born Governor-General of Australia. * January 25 – Mohandas Gandhi is again released from imprisonment in India. * January 27 – Pierre Laval forms a government in France. * January 30 – Charlie Chaplin comedy drama film ''City Lights'' receives its public premiere at the Los Angeles Theater with Albert Einstein as guest of honor. Contrary to the current trend in cinema, it is a silent film, but with a score by Chaplin. Critically and commercially successful from the start, it will place consistently in lists of films considered the best of all time. February * February 4 – Soviet leader Joseph Stalin gives a speech calling for rapid industrialization, arguing that only strong indus ... [...More Info...] [...Related Items...] OR: [Wikipedia] [Google] [Baidu] |
1931 Films
The following is an overview of 1931 in film, including significant events, a list of films released and notable births and deaths. Top-grossing films (U.S.) The top ten 1931 released films by box office gross in North America are as follows: Events * January 5: RKO acquires the producing and distribution arm of Pathé for $4.6 million. * March 14: '' Alam Ara'', the first Indian-made sound film, premieres at the Majestic Cinema in Bombay. * June 20: Monogram Pictures releases its first film, ''Ships of Hate''. * July 7: Anti-competitive practices disclosed about certain distributors and producers in Canada. * November 17: E. R. Tinker elected president of Fox Films replacing Harley L. Clarke. * December 14: RKO refinancing plan approved. Best money stars '' Variety'' reported the following as the biggest male stars in the U.S. in alphabetical order although grouped George Arliss and Ronald Colman together as having equal ranking. The following were the biggest women ... [...More Info...] [...Related Items...] OR: [Wikipedia] [Google] [Baidu] |
Maston Williams
Maston Williams (April 23, 1879 – July 15, 1978) was an American actor who appeared in films during the 1930s. He appeared in more than 40 films between 1931 and 1939. Selected filmography * '' Clearing the Range'' (1931) * '' Without Honor'' (1932) * '' The Gambling Sex'' (1932) * ''Fighting with Kit Carson'' (1933) * ''The Lost Jungle'' (1934) * ''The Outlaw Tamer'' (1935) * '' Public Cowboy No. 1'' (1937) * '' Heart of the Rockies'' (1937) * '' Whistling Bullets'' (1937) * '' Call the Mesquiteers'' (1938) * ''The Overland Express'' (1938) * ''The Lone Ranger The Lone Ranger is a fictional masked former Texas Ranger who fought outlaws in the American Old West with his Native American friend Tonto. The character has been called an enduring icon of American culture. He first appeared in 1933 in a ...'' (1938) * '' Heroes of the Hills'' (1938) References External links * 1879 births 1978 deaths American male film actors Male actors from Texas People fro ... [...More Info...] [...Related Items...] OR: [Wikipedia] [Google] [Baidu] |
Rita La Roy
Rita La Roy (born Ina La Roi Stuart; October 2, 1901 – February 18, 1993) was an American actress and dancer, beginning her career in 1929, and having her last significant role in 1940. Career La Roy appeared in over 50 films, the best known of which was ''Blonde Venus'', which starred Marlene Dietrich. After her acting career, she had a school for models in Hollywood. Early life While the studio publicity machine claimed she had been born in Paris, France, she was actually born in the small town of Bonners Ferry, Idaho in 1901. Her early years saw her work as both a dress designer and a stock company actress, before moving onto vaudeville, where she became a dancer. Performing on the Pantages and Orpheum theater circuits, she was known for erotic acts, which included dances such as the "frog dance", the "peacock dance" and the "cobra dance" in which her feet and legs were tied together under a stylized snakeskin so that she danced by undulating her torso. Film career ... [...More Info...] [...Related Items...] OR: [Wikipedia] [Google] [Baidu] |
Paul Hurst (actor)
Paul Causey Hurst (October 15, 1888 – February 27, 1953) was an American actor and film director. Career Hurst was born in Traver, California, of one quarter Cherokee and one quarter Seneca people, Seneca descent. In 1933 he performed in "Eve the Fifth" at the Beverly Hills Little Theatre for Professionals. Hurst is best remembered for two roles: as the Yankee deserter who trespasses at Tara (plantation), Tara and is shot by Scarlett in ''Gone with the Wind (film), Gone with the Wind'' (1939); and his characterization of the drunken and sadistic vigilante Smith in ''The Ox Bow Incident'' (1943). However, he was most proud of his role as a crotchety, old rancher who refuses water to a Quaker family in the movie ''Angel and the Badman'', until John Wayne's character convinces him to share the water. It was after this latter role that Republic Pictures signed him as the comic sidekick in Monte Hale's Western series. His last film was John Ford's ''The Sun Shines Bright''. P ... [...More Info...] [...Related Items...] OR: [Wikipedia] [Google] [Baidu] |
Henry Hall (actor)
Henry Hall may refer to: Politics and government * Henry Hall (MP), in 1601 MP for City of York * Henry Charles Hall (1883–1962), Canadian politician * Henry Clay Hall (1860–1936), attorney and member of the Interstate Commerce Commission appointed by President Wilson * Lyall Hall (Henry Lyall Hall, 1861–1935), member of the West Australian parliament Entertainment * Henry Hall (bandleader) (1898–1989), British bandleader * Henry Hall (actor) (1876–1954), American actor, including in '' The Secret Witness'' * Henry Hunter Hall (born 1997), American actor * Henry Richard Hall (1920–1999), American actor better known as Huntz Hall Arts and literature * Henry Hall (poet) (died 1707), English poet and composer * Henry Robinson Hall (1859–1927), British painter * Henry Bryan Hall (1808–1884), English stipple engraver and portrait painter Academia * Henry Hall (physicist) (1928–2015), British physicist * Henry Hall (Egyptologist) (1873–1930), British ... [...More Info...] [...Related Items...] OR: [Wikipedia] [Google] [Baidu] |
