Combat Sports Historian and Martial Artist
Posts about films which played first on a double bill between 1931 and 1949.
Universal Pictures released the thirteenth (affiliate link) of fourteen Sherlock Holmes films starring Basil Rathbone as Sherlock Holmes on February 1, 1946. Twentieth Century-Fox produced the first two films. Universal produced the final 12 films. Terror By Night (1946) finds Holmes hired to protect the Star of Rhodesia diamond on a train bound for Scotland. Rodney Carstairs hires Holmes to
Tangled Destinies (1932) is an example of an early “B” film, the film shown first on a double bill. However, this film (affiliate link) holds up well despite being released during the early transition to sound films. Frank R. Strayer directed the film for Mayfair Pictures Corporation. Strayer was a better than average “B” film director. He also directed another
One of the earliest talkie films based on the Sherlock Holmes stories, The Speckled Band (1931) is a public domain film heavily edited from its original form. British and Dominion Films Corporation produced the film, which they released on March 5, 1931. Raymond Massey has his first starring role as Sherlock Holmes. The film is set in 1930s England. Sherlock
Dark Alibi (1946) is one of the last Charlie Chan films starring Sidney Toler. This film (affiliate link) and the three subsequent movies made in 1946 were filmed while Toler was dying from cancer. He was so weak, he could barely walk during these films. He somehow managed to make these last four films even though he was 72 years
On January 29, 1940, First National Pictures, the Warner Brothers “B” film company, released the spy thriller British Intelligence (1940). The film (affiliate link) is set in Britain during World War I. Released almost two years before the attack on Pearl Harbor, the film showed that Hollywood and probably most of the countries sympathies were with Britain and the Allies.
Dangerous Money (1946) is the second to last Charlie Chan film starring Sidney Toler from Monogram Pictures. After Sidney Toler’s death, Roland Winters would take over the role for nine more films. This film (affiliate link) allows us to appreciate Toler’s portrayal of Inspector Chan for close to the last time. This film was the tenth for Monogram and his
The Gorilla (1939) is a comedy-mystery “B” film (affiliate link) starring the Ritz Brothers, Joseph Calleia, Bela Lugosi and Lionell Atwill. The film was produced by Twentieth-Century Fox before they quit making “B” films, the first film on a double bill. The Ritz Brothers were active between 1925 and the 1960s, when Al Ritz the oldest brother passed away. The
The Woman in Green (1945) is the ninth of twelve Sherlock Holmes (affiliate link) produced by Universal Pictures. Basil Rathbone returns as Holmes in the eleventh of fourteen turns as the English sleuth. The film is one of the few “B” series films, which could have been an “A” film. Sherlock Holmes investigates the murder of several young London women.
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