Posts about “B” films from the 1930s and 1940s.
I recently discovered a 1932 film, Uptown New York (affiliate link), with Wladek Zbyszko playing himself. Zbyszko wrestled another wrestler named DeLonn, which I believe is a young Brother Jonathan. Brother Jonathan was the father of Don Leo Jonathan. Director Victor Shertzinger placed the wrestling scene about thirty minutes into the film. To start the film, Shertzinger uses establishing shots […]
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On August 2, 1947, Max M. King Productions released Killer Dill (1947), a crime film that professional wrestler Mike Mazurki plays “Little Joe”, a henchman playing both sides of a gang feud. Stuart Erwin stars as Johnny “Killer” Dill, a lingerie designer and salesperson, who people mistake for a gangster. After accidentally involving himself in a gang war, his […]
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Metro-Goldwyn-Mayer (MGM) released Shadow of the Thin Man (1941) in November 1941. One of the later Thin Man films (affiliate link), the film contains interesting vignettes for wrestling fans. Nick Charles, played by William Powell, is pulled into a state investigation of a local gambling ring. Two local wrestling promoters run the gambling ring, which is art imitating life if […]
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film The Son of Monte Cristo (1940) through United Artists. Rowland V. Lee started directing films in 1920 and would make 59 films before retiring in 1945. In this film (affiliate link), Louis Hayward plays The Count of Monte Cristo, Edmund Dantes, Jr. The Count inherits his father’s money and the same sense of adventure. While on a hunt, Dantes […]
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Frank R. Strayer is a little known director today. If classic film fans have heard of him, it is because of Strayer’s work as the frequent director of films in the Blondie Series. Strayer was able to land this “B” film series because of his quality work in lesser “B” film productions in the early 1930s. This film (affiliate link) […]
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Frank B. Strayer frequently directed higher quality “B” films in the 1930s. His work in lesser productions resulted in his assignment to the Blondie series in the 1940s. Strayer’s Murder at Glen Athol (1936) is a tight little “B” mystery (affiliate link) worthy of his reputation for maintaining quality in less expensive productions. John Milijan plays Bill Holt. Holt is […]
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Charlie Chan in Paris (1935) is another entry in the series starring Warner Oland as Charlie Chan. Charlie is returning from his London investigation, when he stops in Paris for a vacation. Actually, the vacation is a cover for his investigation of some forged bonds from the Lamartine Bank. Charlie had installed an undercover agent named Nardi but she is […]
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In the first of the three Shadow films from Monogram Pictures starring Kane Richomond, a number of citizens have fallen from windows to their death. Two of the men seemingly commit suicide in front of Lamont Cranston, the Shadow, and Inspector Cordonna played by Joseph Crehan. Crehan was a character actor who often played policeman in films such as The […]
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Broadcast companies were looking for content during the early days of television. Besides older movies and some broadcast company productions, sports were a source of programming for many television stations. The Dumont Television Network was one of the powerhouse networks in the beginning of the Golden Age of Television. One of their most popular programs was wrestling and the star […]
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Monogram Pictures released Behind the Mask (1946), the second of three films based on the popular Shadow radio program, on May 25, 1946. “B” Film leading actor Kane Richmond returns as Lamont Cranston, the alter ego of the mysterious Shadow. The film (affiliate link) begins by following the activities a blackmailing newspaper reporter Jeff Mann, played by James Cardwell. After […]
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