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Posts about films which played first on a double bill between 1931 and 1949.
On August 20, 1938, Republic Pictures released the second Dick Tracy serial, Dick Tracy Returns (1938). Ralph Byrd returns to the role of Dick Tracy. In this series, Dick Tracy battles crime boss Pa Stark and his five sons. Pa Stark involves himself in almost every criminal enterprise in the city over the 15 chapters of the series. From car
On October 14, 1938, 20th Century-Fox Film Corporation released the fifth of eight Mr. Moto Films starring Peter Lorre as Interpol Policeman Kentaro Moto. In Mysterious Mr. Moto (1938), Mr. Moto infiltrates a prison and helps a prisoner escape to discover the plans of his criminal organization. Mr. Moto breaks international criminal Paul Brissac, played by Leon Ames, out of
On Christmas Eve, 1937, the second Mr. Moto film, Thank You, Mr. Moto (1937) staring Peter Lorre, debuted. International Agent Mr. Moto strives to protect Chinese cultural treasures from international criminals. The Seven Scrolls will reveal the hiding place for the Tomb of Genghis Khan. Genghis Khan’s warriors reportedly buried great treasure with their dead leader. Mr. Moto’s friend Prince
On January 27, 1939, Columbia Pictures released the first of the Lone Wolf films, The Lone Wolf Spy Hunt (1939). Warren William plays the “Lone Wolf” Michael Lanyard, a former safe burglar and jewel thief. The film opens with two men kidnapping Lanyard off the streets of Washington, D.C. A mysterious man asks Lanyard to burglarize a safe but he
Monogram Pictures released So’s Your Aunt Emma! (1942) on April 17, 1942. Zasu Pitts stars as Aunt Emma Bates. In her youth, Aunt Emma was engaged to up-and-coming professional fighter Jim O’Banion. Her sister didn’t approve of the match, so they sent her on a trip to break up the couple. Aunt Emma regretted it and starts following the career
On December 5, 1932, K.B.S. Productions released a Hollywood murder mystery (affiliate link) starring three members of the Dracula (1931) film for Universal Studios. David Manners, Bela Lugosi and Edward Van Sloan all played prominent roles in The Death Kiss (1932). Myles Brent is a leading man acting in a scene where his character will be killed. A woman walks
The first Mr. Moto film starring Peter Lorre as Japanese jujitsu expert Kentaro Moto sees Mr. Moto tracking down a smuggling ring leader. Twentieth Century Fox Film Corporation released Think Fast, Mr. Moto (1937) on July 27, 1937. Peter Lorre would play Mr. Moto seven more times for Twentieth Century – Fox. Mr. Moto disguises himself as a peddler and
The Penguin Pool Murder (1932) is the first of three films starring Edna May Oliver as Hildegard Withers, a school teacher, and James Gleason as Police Inspector Oscar Piper. Hildegard Withers was a character created by Stuart Palmer. Withers uses her above average intelligence and observation skills to assist Inspector Piper. The film begins in the office of stock broker
On March 21, 1941, United Artists released the third Topper film (affiliate link), Topper Returns (1941). Roland Young plays Cosmo Topper, a middle aged businessman with the unique gift of seeing ghosts stuck in this world. This film is set in a large country home. The film begins with Gail Richards, played by Joan Blondell, and Ann Carrington, played by
Murder by the Clock (1931) was a YouTube recommendation I watched over my recent vacation. The film starts pretty slowly but was interesting by the end. Murder by the Clock only runs 75 minutes, so it easily watched in one sitting. The film tells the story of the widow Mrs. Endicott, who knows her life is coming to an end,