Combat Sports Historian and Martial Artist
Legacy posts about films from the silent and classic Hollywood film eras.
Roland V. West bought the rights and directed The Bat (1926) (affiliate link), one of the first “old dark house” mysteries for United Artist in 1926. Arthur Edeson was the cinematographer for both this film and The Old Dark House (1932), which share similar Expressionist elements. Both films are set in large mansions, which have seen better days. The key
The Adventure of Sherlock Holmes (1939) is the second and last of the two Sherlock Holmes films made by Twentieth-Century Fox in 1939. Basil Rathbone stars as Sherlock Holmes and Nigel Bruce plays Dr. Watson. The movie is set in 1894 and Holmes is once again pursuing Professor Moriarty, played by George Zucco. Moriarty tells Holmes after once again escaping
(I have included Chapter 4 from my unpublished book, German Expressionism and The Cat and the Canary.) Leni and Karl Freund are the bridge between German Expressionism and American Expressionism. Freund was an art and film director on such films as The Golem (1920) and Metropolis (1927). He brought the distinct look of Expressionism to Dracula (1931) and The Mummy
On May 11, 1931, Fritz Lang’s classic film M (affiliate link) was released in Berlin, Germany. Besides being on most lists for the top 100 films of all time, Fritz Lang believed his finest film was M (1931). The film is the story of a series of child murders that are occurring in Berlin. The police are determined to catch
Also known at The Sleeping Cardinal, Sherlock Holmes’ Fatal Hour (1931) is the first Sherlock Holmes film (affiliate link) starring Arthur Wontner in the title role. The film concerns a young man, who has been cheating at bridge to regain his lost wealth. Professor Moriarty uses the information in an attempt to blackmail the young man Ronald Adair, portrayed
On July 12, 1939, Paramount Pictures released the final film in their “B’ series adaptation of the Bulldog Drummond story. Bulldog Drummond’s Bride (1939) starred John Howard for the seventh final and time as Captain Hugh “Bulldog” Drummond. Heather Angel returns as Phyllis Clavering, Drummond’s long time fiance. Phyllis has given Bulldog Drummond one last chance to marry her or
Charlie Chan in the Secret Service (1944) is the first Charlie Chan film produced by Monogram Pictures. Sidney Toler reprises his role as Inspector Charlie Chan. After Twentieth-Century Fox decided to cancel the series after Castle in the Desert (1942), Sidney Toler bought the production rights. He successfully shopped the rights for the series to Monogram. Sidney Toler made eleven
Sherlock Holmes in Washington (1943) is the third (affiliate link) of twelve Universal Picture productions of the Sherlock Holmes franchise. Basil Rathbone and Nigel Bruce starred as Holmes and Watson respectively in two films for Twentieth-Century Fox and twelve more for Universal Pictures. This film is again set in the 1940s. Holmes and Watson have traveled to Washington, D.C. to
Charlie Chan at Treasure Island (1939) (affiliate link) is the third Twentieth-Century Fox film starring Sidney Toler as Charlie Chan. Inspector Chan and Jimmy Chan, played by Victor Sen Yung, are flying to the San Francisco World Exposition in 1939 as the film opens. The bumpy ride is making Jimmy very nervous. Also on the flight is Charlie’s friend Paul
Stan Laurel and Oliver Hardy star in one of my favorite holiday films, Babe in Toyland (affiliate link) or March of the Wooden Soldiers (1934). It is normally shown around Thanksgiving. This film features Stan Laurel as Stannie Dum and Oliver Hardy as Ollie Dee, who are trying to help Mother Peep, the little old women in the shoe. Barnaby,