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Frank M. Thomas
Frank Marion Thomas (July 13, 1889 – November 25, 1989) was an American character actor of stage, screen and television. He and his wife, actress Mona Bruns, both lived to 100 years old. He died the day before her 90th birthday; she died 11 years later. Their son was Frankie Thomas. Biography Thomas' parents were Jesse and Virginia Thomas.1910 Census, Buchanan County, Missouri. He first appeared on Broadway in 1914. Thomas also played many supporting roles in films from the 1930s through the 1970s. His best-known films were ''We Who Are About To Die'' (1937), '' A Man to Remember'' (1938), ''A Shot In the Dark'' (1941), ''Desert Trail'' (1942), and ''No Place for a Lady'' (1943). His last screen appearance was in ''The Killing of a Chinese Bookie'' (1976). He performed frequently on television from the 1950s to the 1970s. He was president (Shepherd) of The Lambs (1962–63). His film appearances were so prolific at one point in his career that, in 1937 alone, he appeared in ... [...More Info...] [...Related Items...] OR: [Wikipedia] [Google] [Baidu] |
Mummy's Boys
''Mummy's Boys'' is a 1936 American comedy film directed by Fred Guiol and written by Jack Townley, Philip G. Epstein and Charles E. Roberts. The film stars Bert Wheeler, Robert Woolsey, Barbara Pepper, Moroni Olsen, Frank M. Thomas and Willie Best. The film was released on October 2, 1936, by RKO Pictures. Plot Phillip Browning (Frank M. Thomas), convinced that the mysterious deaths of ten of his colleagues is the result of a mummy's curse, hopes to avoid the fate of the others by returning King Pharatime's treasures to his tomb. Ditch diggers Stanley Wright (Bert Wheeler) and Aloysius C. Whittaker (Robert Woolsey) answer a newspaper advertisement to join Browning's Egyptian expedition. Whittaker presents himself (unconvincingly) as an Egyptian expert, and Wright—who is immediately attracted to Browning's daughter Mary (Barbara Pepper)—makes a poor impression because he suffers spells of forgetfulness that can be cured only by taking a nap. (This is a running gag throughout ... [...More Info...] [...Related Items...] OR: [Wikipedia] [Google] [Baidu] |
We Who Are About To Die
''We Who Are About to Die'' is a 1937 film directed by Christy Cabanne and starring Preston Foster, Ann Dvorak Ann Dvorak (born Anna McKim; August 2, 1911 – December 10, 1979) was an American stage and film actress. Asked how to pronounce her adopted surname, she told ''The Literary Digest'' in 1936: "My fake name is properly pronounced ''vor'shack ..., and John Beal. It was based on a book by David Lansom, who was tried four times for murdering his wife before being set free. Premise A man is kidnapped by mobsters after quitting his job, then wrongly arrested, tried, and sentenced to death for murders they committed. A suspicious detective thinks he is innocent and works to save his life. Production Lansom was hired by producer Edward Small to work on the script. References External links * * 1937 films American black-and-white films Films based on non-fiction books 1937 crime drama films American crime drama films RKO Pictures films Films about capital p ... [...More Info...] [...Related Items...] OR: [Wikipedia] [Google] [Baidu] |
Don't Tell The Wife (1937 Film)
''Don't Tell the Wife'' is a 1937 American comedy film directed by Christy Cabanne using a screenplay by Nat Perrin adapted from the play, ''Once Over Lightly'', written by George Holland. The film stars Guy Kibbee, Una Merkel, and Lynne Overman, with Lucille Ball, William Demarest, and Academy Award winner Hattie McDaniel in supporting roles. Produced by RKO Radio Pictures, it premiered in New York City on February 18, 1937, and was released nationwide on March 5. Plot summary While serving time in jail, Major Manning wins a mine in New Mexico from a fellow inmate. Upon his release, he hatches a scheme with several of his former associates to use the mine, which he believes worthless, to con rich New Yorkers. His first contact is with his old partner, Steve Dorsey, who has married a wealthy socialite, Nancy. Dorsey listens to Manning's plan, and agrees to head up the bogus investment company, having become bored with his suburban life. In order to induce the wealthy to invest in ... [...More Info...] [...Related Items...] OR: [Wikipedia] [Google] [Baidu] |
The Man Who Found Himself
''The Man Who Found Himself'', also known as ''Wings of Mercy'', is a 1937 American aviation film based on the unpublished story "Wings of Mercy" by Alice F. Curtis. The film marked the first starring role for 19-year-old Joan Fontaine, who was billed as the "new RKO screen personality", highlighted following the end of the film by a special "on screen" introduction. Unlike many of the period films that appeared to glorify aviation, it is a complex film, examining the motivations of both doctors and pilots. Plot Young doctor Jim Stanton has two passionate interests in conflict with each other. He is first a conscientious surgeon, but in his spare time, pursues his love of flying, a dangerous hobby that his well-intentioned father abhors. His father is a well-regarded doctor who does his best to curtail his son's flying. When Jim crashes, his passenger, a married woman is killed. The resulting scandal prompts the hospital to put him on probation. Believing that he is innocent and ... [...More Info...] [...Related Items...] OR: [Wikipedia] [Google] [Baidu] |
We're On The Jury
''We're on the Jury'' is a 1937 American comedy film directed by Ben Holmes and starring Victor Moore and Helen Broderick Helen Broderick (August 11, 1891 – September 25, 1959) was an American actress known for her comic roles, especially as a wisecracking sidekick. Career Broderick began on Broadway as a chorus girl in the ''Follies of 1907'', the first .... The screenplay by Franklin Coen was based on the 1929 play, ''Ladies of the Jury'', written by John Frederick Ballard. The film was produced by RKO Radio Pictures, which premiered it in New York City on February 11, 1937, with a national release the following day on February 12. The film received mixed reviews, one reviewer stated Broderick and Moore's performances "redeem an otherwise mediocre picture." References External links * Films directed by Ben Holmes RKO Pictures films 1937 comedy films 1937 films American comedy films American black-and-white films 1930s American films {{1930s-comedy- ... [...More Info...] [...Related Items...] OR: [Wikipedia] [Google] [Baidu] |
Danger Patrol
''Danger Patrol'' is a 1937 American drama film directed by Lew Landers from a screenplay by Sy Bartlett based on a story by Helen Vreeland and Hilda Vincent. Produced and distributed by RKO Radio Pictures, it was released on December 3, 1937 and stars Sally Eilers, John Beal, and Harry Carey. Plot Dan Loring ( John Beal) wants to be a medical student, but does not have the money for it. He takes a job as an apprentice with the Goliath Explosives Corp. transporting nitroglycerin—or as they like to call it, "soup"—to oil fields. He is trained by Sam "Easy" Street (Harry Carey), a veteran nitro handler, and soon promoted to a full-time nitro truck driver. Meanwhile Dan begins to develop a romantic relationship with Sam's daughter, Cathy (Sally Eilers). Because the explosive is so easily set off, the families of all the "soup handlers" live in fear that they will suddenly die. For years Cathy has been asking her father to leave the job, and he has been replying that he just ... [...More Info...] [...Related Items...] OR: [Wikipedia] [Google] [Baidu] |
Forty Naughty Girls
''Forty Naughty Girls'' is a 1937 American comedy film directed by Edward F. Cline and written by John Grey. The film stars James Gleason, ZaSu Pitts, Marjorie Lord, George Shelley and Joan Woodbury. It is the sixth and final entry in RKO Pictures' series of Hildegarde Withers films. This film was the sixth film in the Hildegarde Withers-Oscar Piper series, and the second film in which ZaSu Pitts appeared as Hildegarde. Before Pitts, Edna May Oliver and Helen Broderick had played the role. Plot The plot follows Inspector Oscar Piper and Hildegarde Withers as they attend a Broadway show, and get involved in a case where a press agent gets shot and an actor gets murdered live on stage. Cast * James Gleason as Inspector Oscar Piper * ZaSu Pitts as Hildegarde Withers * Marjorie Lord as June Preston * George Shelley as Bert * Joan Woodbury as Rita Marlowe * Frank M. Thomas as Jeff Plummer * Tom Kennedy as Detective Casey * Alan Edwards as Ricky Rickman * Stephen Chase as Tommy Wash ... [...More Info...] [...Related Items...] OR: [Wikipedia] [Google] [Baidu] |
The Toast Of New York
''The Toast of New York'' is a 1937 American Biographical film, biopic directed by Rowland V. Lee and starring Edward Arnold (actor), Edward Arnold, Cary Grant, Frances Farmer, and Jack Oakie. The film is a fictionalized account of the lives of financiers James Fisk (financier), James Fisk and Edward Stiles Stokes, Edward S. Stokes. The screenplay was based on the book ''The Book of Daniel Drew'' by Bouck White and the story "Robber Barons" by Matthew Josephson. Plot In post-American Civil War, Civil War America, unscrupulous, ambitious partners Jim Fisk (Arnold) and Nick Boyd (Grant) talk tight-fisted businessman Daniel Drew (Donald Meek) into selling them his shipping company, paying with worthless Confederate bonds. Later, worried that his longtime rival, Cornelius Vanderbilt (Clarence Kolb), is trying to take control of his railroad, Drew seeks help from Fisk, only to have him turn the situation to his own advantage. Fisk and Boyd eventually become powers to be reckoned with ... [...More Info...] [...Related Items...] OR: [Wikipedia] [Google] [Baidu] |
Breakfast For Two
''Breakfast for Two'' is a 1937 American screwball comedy film made by RKO Radio Pictures. It was directed by Alfred Santell. The film stars Barbara Stanwyck, Herbert Marshall and Glenda Farrell. Stanwyck and Marshall worked together once more, immediately following this film, on the 20th-Century-Fox drama '' Always Goodbye'' (1938).http://www.tcm.com/tcmdb/title/1865/Breakfast-for-Two/articles.html Plot After drunkenly carousing on the town, idle playboy, Jonathan Blair, wakes up to find that Texan Valentine Ransome has spent the night in his mansion. He remembers little of the night and knows little about his houseguest. Valentine is attracted to Jonathan and sets out first to reform and then to marry him, explaining to her horse-breaking uncle Sam that she intends to "slip a bit in his mouth and make him like it". In her way is Jonathan's girlfriend, actress Carol Wallace. Jonathan is dismayed to discover that his neglected family shipping firm is in dire trouble, and that he ... [...More Info...] [...Related Items...] OR: [Wikipedia] [Google] [Baidu] |
Behind The Headlines (1937 Film)
''Behind the Headlines'' is a 1937 American drama film directed by Richard Rosson from a screenplay by Edmund Hartmann and J. Robert Bren, based on an original story by Thomas Ahearn. It was produced and distributed by RKO Radio Pictures, who released the film on May 14, 1937. The film stars Lee Tracy and Diana Gibson, with a supporting cast which includes Donald Meek, Paul Guilfoyle, Philip Huston and Frank M. Thomas. Plot Eddie Haines (Lee Tracy) is a big-city radio reporter, known for his on-the-scene reporting. He does it with a backpack radio and lapel microphone. His associate, Tiny (Tom Kennedy), relays Haines' reports to the station with a radio-equipped car. Haines is romantically involved with a reporter for the ''Star'' newspaper, Mary Bradley ( Diana Gibson), whom he constantly scoops. Frustrated by this, Mary steals the pack radio and hides it in her car. Haines leaves his jacket with the microphone in a room where gangster Art Martin (Paul Guilfoyle) and his crew ... [...More Info...] [...Related Items...] OR: [Wikipedia] [Google] [Baidu] |
Wanted! Jane Turner
''Wanted! Jane Turner'' is a 1936 American crime drama film In film and television, drama is a category or genre of narrative fiction (or semi-fiction) intended to be more serious than humorous in tone. Drama of this kind is usually qualified with additional terms that specify its particular super-g ... directed by Edward Killy from a screenplay by Edmund L. Hartmann and John Twist, based on Twist's story. Produced by RKO Radio Pictures, it was premiered in New York City on November 27, 1936, with a national release the following week on December 4. The film stars Lee Tracy and Gloria Stuart, with an extensive supporting cast. Plot summary Cast * Lee Tracy as Tom Mallory * Gloria Stuart as Doris Martin * Shaindel Kalish, Ann Preston as Jane Turner (credited as Judith Blake) * John McGuire (actor), John McGuire as Jerry Turner * Frank M. Thomas as Banks * Paul Guilfoyle (actor, born 1902), Paul Guilfoyle as Phil Crowley * Irene Franklin as Ruby Winston * Patricia Wilde ... [...More Info...] [...Related Items...] OR: [Wikipedia] [Google] [Baidu] |
