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Big City (1937 Film)
''Big City'' is a 1937 American drama film directed by Frank Borzage and starring Luise Rainer and Spencer Tracy. The film was also released as ''Skyscraper Wilderness''. Plot Joe Benton (Spencer Tracy) and his wife Anna (Luise Rainer) are suspected of starting a taxi war. Although innocent, they are blamed for everything that has happened and the officials demand that Anna be deported from the United States. While trying to prove their innocence, the couple feels forced to hide. The film also casts a number of popular sports figures including Jack Dempsey, James J. Jeffries, Jim Thorpe, and Frank Wykoff in minor comic roles. Cast * Luise Rainer as Anna Benton * Spencer Tracy as Joe Benton * Charley Grapewin as Robert, the Mayor * Janet Beecher as Sophie Sloane * Eddie Quillan as Mike Edwards * Victor Varconi as Paul Roya * Oscar O'Shea as John C. Andrews * Helen Troy as Lola Johnson * William Demarest as Beecher * John Arledge as Bud * Irving Bacon as Jim Sloane * Guinn "Big Bo ... [...More Info...] [...Related Items...] OR: [Wikipedia] [Google] [Baidu] |
Norman Krasna
Norman Krasna (November 7, 1909 – November 1, 1984) was an American screenwriter, playwright, producer, and film director who penned screwball comedies centered on a case of mistaken identity. Krasna directed three films during a forty-year career in Hollywood. He garnered four Academy Award screenwriting nominations, winning once for 1943's ''Princess O'Rourke'', which he also directed. Biography Early life Krasna was born in Queens, New York City. He attended Columbia University and St John's University School of Law, working at Macy's Department Store during the day. He wanted to get into journalism and talked his way into a job as a copy boy for the Sunday feature department of the ''New York World'' in 1928. (He worked with Lewis Weitzenkorn who turned Krasna into a character in the play ''Five Star Final''.) He quit law school, worked his way up to being a drama critic, at first for ''The World'' then the ''New York Evening Graphic'' and ''Exhibitors Herald World''. H ... [...More Info...] [...Related Items...] OR: [Wikipedia] [Google] [Baidu] |
Eddie Quillan
Edward Quillan (March 31, 1907 – July 19, 1990) was an American film actor and singer whose career began as a child on the vaudeville stages and silent film and continued through the age of television in the 1980s. Vaudeville and silent films Born in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, into a family of vaudeville performers, Quillan made his stage debut at the age of seven alongside his parents, Scottish-born Joseph Quillan and his wife Sarah, as well as his siblings in their act titled 'The Rising Generation'. By the early 1920s he was called upon by film director Mack Sennett to perform a screen test for Mack Sennett Studios. Sennett signed Quillan to a contract in 1922. Quillan's very first film appearance was in the 1922 comedy short ''Up and at 'Em''. His next performance was in the 1926 comedy short ''The Love Sundae'' opposite actress Alice Day. His next ten film appearances (all released in 1926) were all comedy shorts that were vehicles for Day. He would spend most of the ... [...More Info...] [...Related Items...] OR: [Wikipedia] [Google] [Baidu] |
Paul Fix
Peter Paul Fix (March 13, 1901 – October 14, 1983) was an American film and television character actor who was best known for his work in Westerns. Fix appeared in more than 100 movies and dozens of television shows over a 56-year career between 1925 and 1981. Fix was best known for portraying Marshal Micah Torrance, opposite Chuck Connors's character in ''The Rifleman'' from 1958 to 1963. He later appeared with Connors in the 1966 Western film ''Ride Beyond Vengeance'' and ''The Time Tunnel'' episode, ""End of the World". Early life and military service Paul Fix was born in Dobbs Ferry, New York, to Wilhelm Fix, a brewmaster, and the former Louise C. Walz, though some sources say he was born Paul Fix Morrison. His mother and father were German immigrants who had left their Black Forest home and arrived in New York City in the 1870s. Following the United States' entry into World War I in April 1917, Fix joined the National Guard, initially serving at Peekskill, New York. Af ... [...More Info...] [...Related Items...] OR: [Wikipedia] [Google] [Baidu] |
Alice White
Alice White (born Alva White; August 25, 1904Katz, Ephraim (1979). ''The Film Encyclopedia: The Most Comprehensive Encyclopedia of World Cinema in a Single Volume''. Perigee Books. , pg. 1228. – February 19, 1983) was an American film actress. Her career spanned late silent films and early sound films. Early years Alice White was raised by her maternal grandparents in Paterson, New Jersey, and she attended schools in Paterson and East Orange, New Jersey. Her grandfather owned a fruit business. Film After leaving school, White became a secretary and "script girl" for director Josef Von Sternberg, Josef von Sternberg. She also worked as a switchboard operator at the Hollywood Writers' Club. After clashing with von Sternberg, White left to work for Charlie Chaplin, who decided before long to place her in front of the camera. Her bubbly and vivacious persona led to comparisons with Clara Bow, but White's career was slow to progress. In his book ''Silent Films, 1877-1996 ... [...More Info...] [...Related Items...] OR: [Wikipedia] [Google] [Baidu] |
Clem Bevans
Clem Guy Bevans (October 16, 1880 – August 11, 1963) was an American character actor best remembered for playing eccentric, grumpy old men. Early life Bevans was born in Cozzadale, Ohio. Career Bevans had a very long career, starting in vaudeville in 1900 in an act with Grace Emmett. He progressed to burlesque, Broadway, and even light opera, before making his film debut at the age of 55 in ''Way Down East'' (1935). His portrayal was so good, he became stereotyped and played mostly likable old codgers for the rest of his life. Bevans played the neighbour of Gregory Peck in ''The Yearling'' and the gatekeeper in ''Harvey'' (1950). However, he did occasionally play against type, for example as a Nazi spy in Alfred Hitchcock's ''Saboteur'' (1942). He also made some television appearances, including the role of Captain Hugo in the 1958 ''Perry Mason'' episode "The Case of the Demure Defendant" and as Pete in ''The Twilight Zone'' episode "Hocus-Pocus and Frisby" (1962). He play ... [...More Info...] [...Related Items...] OR: [Wikipedia] [Google] [Baidu] |
Andrew Tombes
Andrew Tombes (29 June 1885 – 17 March 1976) was an American comedian and character actor. Biography The son of a grocer, originally from Ashtabula, Ohio, Tombes was educated at Phillips Exeter Academy. Early in his career, he worked as a vaudeville comic. By December 1914 he had appeared in the headlining act for the opening of the Kansas City Orpheum Theatre. He successfully ascended to Broadway comedies beginning in 1917, in the revue ''Miss 1917'', and appeared there consistently through the 1920s, for instance in ''Poor Little Ritz Girl'' in 1920, ''Tip-Toes'' in 1925, and the Ziegfeld Follies of 1922 and 1927. Tombes' first film appearances were in 1933, as he was already approaching 50 years old. He made a total of about 150 films for various studios. Selected filmography * ''The Bowery'' (1933) - Shill (uncredited) * ''Broadway Through a Keyhole'' (1933) - Sidney - Columnist (uncredited) * ''Moulin Rouge'' (1934) - McBride * ''Doubting Thomas'' (1935) - Huxley H ... [...More Info...] [...Related Items...] OR: [Wikipedia] [Google] [Baidu] |
Paul Harvey (actor)
Roy Paul Harvey (September 10, 1882 – December 5, 1955) was a prolific American character actor who appeared in at least 177 films. Biography Primarily a character actor, Harvey began his career on stage and in silent films. He appeared in the Broadway and original film versions of ''The Awful Truth'', then had supporting roles in many Hollywood films, often portraying dignified executives or pompous authority figures. He was a vacationing businessman whose car is commandeered by fugitive killer Humphrey Bogart in the 1936 crime drama ''The Petrified Forest'' and the minister who marries Spencer Tracy's daughter Elizabeth Taylor in the 1950 comedy ''Father of the Bride'' and baptizes her baby in its sequel. In the thriller ''Side Street'', Harvey played a married man forced to pay $30,000 in blackmail money after having an affair. Besides his numerous films, Harvey appeared in 1950s television series such as ''I Love Lucy'', ''December Bride'', ''My Little Margie'', ... [...More Info...] [...Related Items...] OR: [Wikipedia] [Google] [Baidu] |
Edgar Dearing
Edgar Dearing (May 4, 1893 – August 17, 1974) was an American actor who became heavily type cast as a motorcycle cop in Hollywood films. Biography Born in 1893, Dearing started in silent comedy shorts for Hal Roach, including several with Laurel and Hardy, notably in their classic '' Two Tars'', probably his best ever screen role. He later had supporting roles in several of their features for 20th Century Fox in the 1940s. Dearing continued in his familiar persona until the early 1950s, when he appeared in many film and television westerns, usually as a sheriff. One of his guest roles was on the syndicated television series, ''The Range Rider'', starring Jock Mahoney and Dick Jones. He was still active in films and television until he retired in the early 1960s. Death He died from lung cancer. Selected filmography * ''Hot Water'' (1924) * '' The Second Hundred Years'' (1927) * ''Should Men Walk Home?'' (1927) * '' Why Girls Love Sailors'' (1927) * '' Playin' Hookey'' (1 ... [...More Info...] [...Related Items...] OR: [Wikipedia] [Google] [Baidu] |
Regis Toomey
John Francis Regis Toomey (August 13, 1898October 12, 1991) was an American film and television actor. Early life Born in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, he was one of four children of Francis X. and Mary Ellen Toomey, and attended Peabody High School. He initially pondered a law career, but acting won out and he established himself as a musical stage performer. Career Educated in dramatics at the University of Pittsburgh, where he became a brother of Sigma Chi, Toomey began as a stock actor and eventually made it to Broadway. Toomey was a singer on stage until throat problems (acute laryngitis) while touring in Europe stopped that aspect of his career. In 1929, he appeared in his first films, starting out as a leading man, but finding more success as a character actor, ''sans'' his toupee. In 1941, Toomey appeared in ''You're in the Army Now'', in which Jane Wyman and he had the longest screen kiss in cinema history: 3 minutes and 5 seconds. In 1956, Toomey was cast as the Re ... [...More Info...] [...Related Items...] OR: [Wikipedia] [Google] [Baidu] |
Guinn "Big Boy" Williams
Guinn Terrell Williams Jr. (April 26, 1899 – June 6, 1962) was an American actor who appeared in memorable westerns such as ''Dodge City'' (1939), ''Santa Fe Trail'' (1940), and '' The Comancheros'' (1961). He was nicknamed "Big Boy" as he was 6' 2" and had a muscular build from years of working on ranches and playing semi-pro and professional baseball, and at the height of his movie career was frequently billed above the title simply as Big Boy Williams or as "Big Boy" Guinn Williams on posters and in the film itself. Biography His father, Guinn Williams (1871–1948), a Democratic Party (United States), Democratic congressman, represented the 13th Texas Congressional District in the United States House of Representatives from 1922 to 1932. When Williams Jr. returned from World War I as an Army officer, he found out his father had secured for him an appointment to West Point that Williams Jr. saw no need to attend after his war service; he decided to become a baseball ... [...More Info...] [...Related Items...] OR: [Wikipedia] [Google] [Baidu] |
Irving Bacon
Irving Bacon (born Irving Von Peters; September 6, 1893 – February 5, 1965) was an American character actor who appeared in almost 500 films. Early years Bacon was the son of entertainers Millar Bacon and Myrtle Vane. He was born in St. Joseph, Missouri, and grew up in San Diego, California. Career Bacon played on the stage for a number of years before getting into films in 1912 in Mack Sennett productions. The actor returned to the Sennett studio in 1924, and appeared frequently in Sennett's silent and sound comedies as a supporting actor. By 1933 Bacon was so well established as a utility player that he was pressed into service to replace Andy Clyde -- wearing Clyde's "old man" costume and makeup -- in a Sennett comedy. Irving Bacon was sometimes cast in films directed by Lloyd Bacon (incorrectly named as his brother in several sources) such as ''The Amazing Dr. Clitterhouse'' (1938). He often played comical "average guys" in scores of feature films; in 1939 alone he app ... [...More Info...] [...Related Items...] OR: [Wikipedia] [Google] [Baidu] |
John Arledge
Johnson Lundy Arledge (March 12, 1907 – May 15, 1947) was an American film and stage actor. Biography He played dozens of supporting roles in the Hollywood movies of the 1930s–1940s, including the tractor driver who destroys a house in ''The Grapes of Wrath''. Arledge pursued engineering as a major in college, but eventually his work with a little theatre turned his interest to acting. He performed in vaudeville before taking on his first film role in 1931. Filmography This filmography is believed to be complete. * '' King of Jazz'' (1930) - First Pianist at Giant Piano ('Rhapsody in Blue') / Quartet Member ('Nellie') (as Johnson Arledge) * '' Young Sinners'' (1931) – Jimmy * '' Daddy Long Legs'' (1931) – Jimmy McBride * ''The Spider'' (1931) – Tommy * '' Heartbreak'' (1931) – Jerry Sommers * ''After Tomorrow'' (1932) – Office Worker / Wedding Rehearsal Guest (uncredited) * ''Disorderly Conduct'' (1932) – Driver with Flat Tire (uncredited) * ''Careless Lady'' ... [...More Info...] [...Related Items...] OR: [Wikipedia] [Google] [Baidu] |
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