Posts about “B” films from the 1930s and 1940s.
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 […]
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John Howard took over the Bulldog Drummond role in 1937, when it became a “B” film franchise for Paramount Pictures. Paramount insured higher production quality than the average “B” movie. The series had more capable actors and actresses which resulted in its higher than normal quality. Arrest Bulldog Drummond (1939) was released on January 11, 1939. Besides the capable Howard […]
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Charlie Chan at Treasure Island (1939) 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 Essex, played […]
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In the sixth of eight Mr. Moto films released between 1937 and 1939, Interpol police officer Kentaro Moto pursues a group of international saboteurs. Twentieth Century – Fox Film Corporation released Mr. Moto’s Last Warning (1939) (affiliate link) on January 20, 1939. Peter Lorre returns as the cerebral but deadly Mr. Moto. Ricardo Cortez plays Fabian the Great, a ventriloquist, […]
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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 […]
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The series of the Charlie Chan films starring Warner Oland were the strongest films in the Charlie Chan series. Sidney Toler made several good films but eventually the series became a low-budget “B” films produced by Monogram Pictures. Charlie Chan’s Secret (1936) was one of the earlier Twentieth-Century Fox films (affiliate link) about Charlie Chan. The production values are better […]
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Dark Alibi (1946) is one of the last Charlie Chan films (affliliate link) starring Sidney Toler. This film and the three subsequent movies made in 1946 were filmed while Toler was dying from cancer. Toler was so weak, he could barely walk during these films. Toler somehow managed to make these last four films even though he was 72 years […]
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British International Pictures (BIP) released The Return of Bulldog Drummond (1934) on April 19, 1934. Ralph Richardson takes his only turn as the English hero Captain Hugh “Bulldog” Drummond. Drummond recently married long-time love interest Phyllis Clavering. Politics and the presence of old foe Carl Peterson intrude on Drummond’s wedded bliss. When Peterson kidnaps Phyllis, Drummond determines to rescue his […]
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The Black Camel (1931) is the oldest surviving Charlie Chan film starring Warner Oland. It was the second film in the series for Fox Films. The first, third, fourth and fifth films are lost although a Spanish language version of Charlie Chan Carries On (Eran Trece, 1931) does exist. Fox Films released The Black Camel on June 21, 1931. It […]
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“B” films resulted from Hollywood distribution companies implementing a double bill or two movies screening strategy at theaters they owned. When the Great Depression led movie goers to start forgoing films between 1930 and 1932, Hollywood studios, which still controlled production and distribution, came up with the idea of showing two films back-to-back to give customers more bang for their […]
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