Combat Sports Historian and Martial Artist
Post about classic films and films related to combat sports and history.
On March 19, 1942, RKO Radio Pictures released the second film starring the Old Time Radio comedy team Lum and Abner. The Bashful Bachelor (1942) starred Chester Lauck as Lum Edwards and Norris Goff as Abner Peabody, the owners of the Jot’Em Down Store in Arkansas. In this film (affiliate link), longtime bachelor Lum Edwards wants to become a hero
On June 27, 1941, Producer’s Releasing Corporation (PRC) released Double Cross (1941). The film is a starring vehicle for Kane Richmond, who displays his usual rugged toughness backed up by intelligence. In this film, Richmond plays Police Officer Jim Murray, the son of a Police Captain. At the beginning of the film, Jim Murray’s friend Steve Bronson, another police officer,
On September 16, 1932, RKO Pictures released The Most Dangerous Game (1932), a film about a big game hunter becoming the hunted. Joel McCrea plays big game hunter Bob Rainsford. Rainsford is on a yacht off the South American coast discussing his latest hunt, when another guest asks him, “Do you ever think how the tiger felt?” Rainsford laughs at
Frankie Darro and Mantan Moreland were paired together for the first time in this International Renters, Ltd (Monogram Pictures) film, Irish Luck (1939). In the film (affiliate link), Frankie Darro plays “Buzzy” O’Brien, a hotel bellhop, while Mantan Moreland is Jefferson, the hotel porter. “Buzzy’s” father was a police officer killed in the line of duty. “Buzzy” wants to be
On December 27, 1941, Republic Pictures released the first chapter of the fourth Dick Tracy serial, Dick Tracy vs. Crime, Inc. (1941). Once again, Ralph Byrd played Detective Dick Tracy. In this series, Dick Tracy works with “The Commission” to attack crime but suspects one of the members of the commission is the mysterious Ghost. The Ghost’s henchman Lucifer, played
From 1931 to 1954, Lum and Abner occupied a spot among the most popular shows during the Old Time Radio era. Chester Lauck and Norris Goff attended the University of Arkansas together. Lauck and Goff later developed their show Lum and Abner based on life in Arkansas. The show struck a cord with many listeners. My wife’s grandmother once told
On November 1, 1931, Weiss Brothers Artclass Pictures released The Phantom (1931), a low-budget thriller. The film opens with a death row inmates escape from the prison on the day of his execution. After he jumps from the prison wall to the top of the train, a plane with a rope ladder picks up the prisoner. While the opening sounds
On March 4, 1922, F.W. Murnau released Nosferatu (1922). Nosferatu was Murnau’s adaptation of the Dracula novel by Bram Stoker. Murnau neglected to purchase the rights to film the story from Stoker’s estate, which almost led to this film being lost to film viewers. Stoker’s widow successfully sued Murnau and the German film company that produced the motion picture. The
On Thanksgiving Weekend 1944, Paramount Pictures released One Body Too Many, a comedy-mystery film starring Jack Haley. Haley famously played the Tin Man in The Wizard of Oz (1939). The film also starred Jean Parker, Lyle Talbot, Douglas Fowley and Bela Lugosi in supporting roles. One Body Too Many begins with millionaire Cyrus J. Rutherford’s heirs gathered to hear the
Minor film company Conn Pictures Company released Tough to Handle (1937) on May 24, 1937. Director S. Roy Luby pairs “B” film stars Kane Richmond and Frankie Darro in this story of phony lottery tickets. Grandpa Sanford believe he won the lottery. Grandpa will be able to use the money to improve the circumstances of his grandchildren, Mike, played by