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Herman Bing
Herman Bing (March 30, 1889 – January 9, 1947) was a German-American character actor. He acted in more than 120 films and many of his parts were uncredited. Biography Bing was born in Frankfurt am Main, Germany. He was son of the opera singer Max Bing (1865-1919) and Frieda Seckback (1869-1939), and brother of actor Gustav Bing (1893-1967), Clara Bing (1895-1976), and Erna Bing Swarzchild. He was married to Carla Lichtenstein and had one daughter. Bing began his career at the circus, at age 16, and vaudeville showing comedic talent. In 1921 he made his film debut in "Ciska Barna, die Zigeunerin". He was production chief of several films in Germany before he went to America, in 1923, with director Friedrich Wilhelm Murnau as Murnau's interpreter and assistant director. He also worked under John Ford and Frank Borzage, before establishing himself as a successful character actor well known for his wild-eyed facial expressions and thick German accent. He provided the voi ... [...More Info...] [...Related Items...] OR: [Wikipedia] [Google] [Baidu] |
The Great Ziegfeld
''The Great Ziegfeld'' is a 1936 American musical drama film directed by Robert Z. Leonard and produced by Hunt Stromberg. It stars William Powell as the theatrical impresario Florenz "Flo" Ziegfeld Jr., Luise Rainer as Anna Held, and Myrna Loy as Billie Burke. The film, shot at Metro-Goldwyn-Mayer studios in Culver City, California in the fall of 1935, is a fictionalized and sanitized tribute to Florenz Ziegfeld Jr. and a cinematic adaptation of Broadway's Ziegfeld Follies, with highly elaborate costumes, dances and sets. Many of the performers of the theatrical Ziegfeld Follies were cast in the film as themselves, including Fanny Brice and Harriet Hoctor, and the real Billie Burke acted as a supervisor for the film. The "A Pretty Girl Is Like a Melody" set alone was reported to have cost US$220,000 (US$ in dollars), featuring a towering rotating volute of diameter with 175 spiral steps, weighing 100 tons. The music to the film was provided by Walter Donaldson, ... [...More Info...] [...Related Items...] OR: [Wikipedia] [Google] [Baidu] |
The Guardsman
''The Guardsman'' is a 1931 American pre-Code film based on the play '' Testőr'' by Ferenc Molnár. It stars Alfred Lunt, Lynn Fontanne, Roland Young and ZaSu Pitts. It opens with a stage re-enactment of the final scene of Maxwell Anderson's ''Elizabeth the Queen'', with Fontanne as Elizabeth and Lunt as the Earl of Essex, but otherwise has nothing to do with that play. The film was adapted by Ernest Vajda (screenplay) and Claudine West (continuity) and was directed by Sidney Franklin. Lunt and Fontanne were husband and wife and a celebrated stage acting team. This film was based upon the roles they had played on Broadway in 1924 and it was their only starring film role together. They were nominated for Best Actor in a Leading Role and Best Actress in a Leading Role, respectively. Nonetheless, the film was not a popular success at the box office, and the two stars returned to working on Broadway.Balio p.185 Plot The story revolves around a husband-and-wife acting team. S ... [...More Info...] [...Related Items...] OR: [Wikipedia] [Google] [Baidu] |
Manhattan Love Song
''Manhattan Love Song'' is a 1934 American pre-Code film directed by Leonard Fields. Plot summary Although sisters Geraldine and Carol Stewart live luxuriously in a Park Avenue apartment in New York City, their money has run out due to some bad business investments. Their servants, Williams and Annette, expect to be leaving, but the sisters invite them to remain as paying tenants. They agree, then surprise the haughty sisters by expecting them to share in performing the household chores. Geraldine looks for work, but receives no offers except for a striptease act in a burlesque show. Williams is mistaken for a taxi driver by a wealthy tourist, "Pancake Annie" Jones from Nevada, who has come with her son Phineas to seek an entry into Manhattan high society. Carol elopes with a rich acquaintance, Garrett Wetherby, which leaves Geraldine on her own, needing money. She accepts the job doing a striptease, but is arrested when the club is raided. Williams decides to accept Pancake ... [...More Info...] [...Related Items...] OR: [Wikipedia] [Google] [Baidu] |
I'll Tell The World (1934 Film)
''I'll Tell the World'' is a 1934 American pre-Code comedy film directed by Edward Sedgwick and written by Ralph Spence and Dale Van Every. The film stars Lee Tracy, Gloria Stuart, Roger Pryor, Onslow Stevens, Alec B. Francis and Willard Robertson. The film was released on April 21, 1934, by Universal Pictures. Plot Cast *Lee Tracy as Stanley Brown * Gloria Stuart as Jane Hamilton * Roger Pryor as William S. Briggs *Onslow Stevens as Prince Michael *Alec B. Francis Alec B. Francis (born Alec Francis Budd, 2 December 1867 – 6 July 1934) was an English actor, largely of the silent era. He appeared in more than 240 films between 1911 and 1934. Biography Francis was born in Suffolk, England. He studied law ... as Grand Duke Ferdinand * Willard Robertson as Hardwick * Lawrence Grant as Count Strumsky * Leon Ames as Spud Marshall * Wilhelm von Brincken as Joseph * Craig Reynolds as Aviator * Herman Bing as Adolph * Dorothy Granger as Brown's Girlfriend References ... [...More Info...] [...Related Items...] OR: [Wikipedia] [Google] [Baidu] |
Melody In Spring
''Melody in Spring'' is a 1934 American pre-Code musical film directed by Norman Z. McLeod and written by Benn W. Levy, Frank Leon Smith, and Jane Storm. The film stars Lanny Ross, Charlie Ruggles, Mary Boland, Ann Sothern, George Meeker, and Herman Bing. The film was released on April 20, 1934, by Paramount Pictures. Plot Cast *Lanny Ross as John Craddock *Charlie Ruggles as Warren Blodgett * Mary Boland as Mary Blodgett *Ann Sothern as Jane Blodgett * George Meeker as Wesley Prebble * Herman Bing as Wirt *Wade Boteler Wade Boteler (October 3, 1888 – May 7, 1943) was an American film actor and writer. He appeared in more than 430 films between 1919 and 1943. Biography He was born in Santa Ana, California, and died in Hollywood, California, from a heart ... as Anton * Thomas E. Jackson as House Detective * William Irving as Mr. Shorter References The film was a box office disappointment for Paramount. References External links * 1934 films American mus ... [...More Info...] [...Related Items...] OR: [Wikipedia] [Google] [Baidu] |
Mandalay (film)
''Mandalay'' is a 1934 American pre Code drama film directed by Michael Curtiz and written by Austin Parker and Charles Kenyon based on a story by Paul Hervey Fox. The film stars Kay Francis, Ricardo Cortez, Warner Oland and Lyle Talbot, and features Ruth Donnelly and Reginald Owen. The film is about a world-weary woman (Francis) nicknamed "Spot White" at the local brothel-bar who does what she can to survive. Curtiz used cutting edge wipes and opticals in the film. Future child star Shirley Temple won a small role in the film as the daughter of the Donnelly and Littlefield characters, but the role was little more than a walk-on. Originally, her name was not listed in the credits and was only included years later. Plot summary Russian refugee Tanya Borisoff is suddenly abandoned penniless in Rangoon, Burma, by her lover, Tony Evans, who accepted a gunrunning deal from Nick, the owner of an amoral nightclub. Nick made the deal hoping to get Tanya as his main "hostess," which Ta ... [...More Info...] [...Related Items...] OR: [Wikipedia] [Google] [Baidu] |
College Coach
''College Coach'' (UK title ''Football Coach'') is a 1933 American pre-Code drama film starring Dick Powell and Ann Dvorak. The film features John Wayne in his last bit-part role. Plot Calvert College begins taking football more seriously, over the objections of Dr. Sargeant, the president of the school. Coach Gore is brought in and given a free rein, which he uses to pay money to standout players. He is so obsessed with winning that he ignores his wife, Claire. The president's son, Phil Sargeant, is also an outstanding athlete, but is far more interested in studying chemistry. He is persuaded to join the team, however, and becomes the fourth of the "Four Aces" who begin leading Calvert to victories. Football stars begin feeling entitled to things, including favoritism in the classroom. One of them, Weaver, even makes a pass at the coach's wife. Phil Sargeant is offended when given a passing grade for a chemistry test he didn't even complete. He quarrels with the coach and quit ... [...More Info...] [...Related Items...] OR: [Wikipedia] [Google] [Baidu] |
The Bowery (film)
''The Bowery'' is a 1933 American pre-Code action film set in the Lower East Side of Manhattan around the start of the 20th century directed by Raoul Walsh and starring Wallace Beery and George Raft. The supporting cast features Jackie Cooper, Fay Wray, and Pert Kelton. Plot In the Gay Nineties, on New York's Bowery, saloon owner Chuck Connors (Wallace Beery), finds that his rival, Steve Brodie (George Raft), has thrown a muskmelon at his window. The happy-go-lucky Brodie explains that he threw the melon on a dare. As Connors threatens to fight him, the two learn of a fire in neighboring Chinatown. Both men call upon their volunteer fire brigades, and wager $100 on which will be the first to throw water on the fire. Although Brodie is first to arrive, he finds Connor's young pal, Swipes McGurk (Jackie Cooper), sitting on a barrel placed over the fire hydrant preventing Brodie from using it first. Connors arrives and the rival fire fighters brawl as the fire reduces the building ... [...More Info...] [...Related Items...] OR: [Wikipedia] [Google] [Baidu] |
Footlight Parade
''Footlight Parade'' is a 1933 American pre-Code musical film starring James Cagney, Joan Blondell, Ruby Keeler and Dick Powell and featuring Frank McHugh, Guy Kibbee, Hugh Herbert and Ruth Donnelly. The film was written by Manuel Seff and James Seymour based on a story by Robert Lord and Peter Milne, and was directed by Lloyd Bacon, with musical numbers created and directed by Busby Berkeley. The film's songs were written by Harry Warren (music), Al Dubin (lyrics), Sammy Fain (music) and Irving Kahal (lyrics), and include "By a Waterfall", "Honeymoon Hotel" and "Shanghai Lil". In 1992, ''Footlight Parade'' was selected for preservation in the United States National Film Registry by the Library of Congress as being "culturally, historically, or aesthetically significant". __TOC__ Plot Chester Kent (James Cagney) replaces his failing career as a director of Broadway musicals with a new one as the creator of musical numbers called "prologues", short live stage productions ... [...More Info...] [...Related Items...] OR: [Wikipedia] [Google] [Baidu] |
My Lips Betray
''My Lips Betray'' is a 1933 American pre-Code musical comedy film directed by John G. Blystone and starring Lilian Harvey, John Boles and El Brendel.Solomon p. 343 The film's sets were designed by the art director Joseph C. Wright. Plot In a make-believe, middle-european kingdom, a vivacious but dim nation young lady works as a singer in a beer garden for her lease cash. In the mean time, the Ruler is confronting bankruptcy for his small country, unless he weds a wealthy but undesirable Ruler of another Middle-European territory. Eventually he takes in the struggling young singer, and they fall in love, despite possible bankruptcy and ruin. Cast * Lilian Harvey as Lili Wieler * John Boles as King Rupert aka Captain von Linden * El Brendel as Oswald Stigmat, Chauffeur * Irene Browne as Queen Mother Therese * Maude Eburne as Mamma Watscheck * Henry Stephenson as De Conti * Herman Bing as Weininger * Frank Atkinson as Baptiste, Royal Valet * Robert Barrat as U ... [...More Info...] [...Related Items...] OR: [Wikipedia] [Google] [Baidu] |
Dinner At Eight (1933 Film)
''Dinner at Eight'' is a 1933 American pre-Code comedy-drama film directed by George Cukor from a screenplay by Frances Marion and Herman J. Mankiewicz, based on George S. Kaufman and Edna Ferber's 1932 play of the same title. The film features an ensemble cast of Marie Dressler, John Barrymore, Wallace Beery, Jean Harlow, Lionel Barrymore, Lee Tracy, Edmund Lowe, and Billie Burke. ''Dinner at Eight'' continues to be acclaimed by critics; review aggregator Rotten Tomatoes reports an approval rating of 90% based on 21 reviews. Plot New York City society matron Millicent Jordan is overjoyed when she receives word that Lord and Lady Ferncliffe, the richest couple in England, have accepted her invitation to her upcoming dinner party. However, her husband Oliver, a shipping magnate, finds Lord Ferncliffe a bore. Their daughter, Paula, is preoccupied with the impending return of her fiancé, Ernest DeGraff, from Europe. Oliver asks Millicent to invite legendary stage actress Carlot ... [...More Info...] [...Related Items...] OR: [Wikipedia] [Google] [Baidu] |
The Nuisance (1933 Film)
''The Nuisance'' is a 1933 American pre-Code film starring Lee Tracy as a lawyer, Madge Evans as his love interest (with a secret), and Frank Morgan as his accomplice. Plot summary Cast * Lee Tracy as Joseph Phineas "Joe" Stevens * Madge Evans as Dorothy Mason * Frank Morgan as Dr. Buchanan Prescott * Charles Butterworth as "Floppy" Phil Montague * John Miljan as John Calhoun * Virginia Cherrill as Miss Rutherford * David Landau as Kelley * Greta Meyer as Mrs. Mannheimer * Herman Bing as Willy * Samuel Hinds as Mr. Beaumont * Syd Saylor Syd or SYD may refer to: *Syd (name), including a list of people with the name * ''Syd.'', taxonomic author abbreviation of Hans Sydow (1879–1946), German mycologist * Sydney, New South Wales, Australia ** IATA code for Sydney Airport, New South ... as Fred References External links * * * * American romantic comedy-drama films American black-and-white films Films directed by Jack Conway 1930s legal films Metro-Goldwyn-May ... [...More Info...] [...Related Items...] OR: [Wikipedia] [Google] [Baidu] |
