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Louise Currie
Louise Currie (born Louise Gunter; April 7, 1913 – September 8, 2013) was an American film actress, active from 1940 into the early 1950s. Biography Currie was born in Oklahoma City, Oklahoma, the daughter of Charles W. Gunter, a banker, and his wife, Louise (née Currie), whose maiden name she would take for her professional acting surname. She was prominent in society. While attending the Martha Washington Seminary, a finishing school for young women in Washington, D.C., she was chosen one of the ten most beautiful society girls in the nation's capital."RKO Director Makes Ten Strike". ''Oakland Tribune'', December 15, 1940 She attended Sarah Lawrence College in New York, where she became interested in acting. She moved to Hollywood, California and attended Max Reinhardt's drama school, where she was spotted by talent scouts while taking part in the school's stage workshop. She declined to attempt screen tests until after graduation. With the help of her agent, Sue C ... [...More Info...] [...Related Items...] OR: [Wikipedia] [Google] [Baidu] |
Adventures Of Captain Marvel
''Adventures of Captain Marvel'' is a 1941 American 12-chapter black-and-white serial film, movie serial from Republic Pictures, produced by Hiram S. Brown, Jr., directed by John English (director), John English and William Witney, that stars Tom Tyler in the title role of Captain Marvel and Frank Coghlan, Jr. as his alter ego, Billy Batson. The serial was adapted from the popular Captain Marvel (DC Comics), Captain Marvel comic book character, then appearing in the Fawcett Comics publications ''Whiz Comics'' and ''Captain Marvel Adventures''. The character is now owned by DC Comics and is known as Shazam. ''Adventures of Captain Marvel'' was the 21st of 66 film serials produced by Republic and their first comic book character adaptation (not counting comic strips). The serial featured the Fawcett Comics superhero, placed within an original screen story. It is considered the first comic book superhero movie. Captain Marvel fights a masked criminal mastermind called the Scorpion, ... [...More Info...] [...Related Items...] OR: [Wikipedia] [Google] [Baidu] |
Alan Ladd
Alan Walbridge Ladd (September 3, 1913 – January 29, 1964) was an American actor and film producer. Ladd found success in film in the 1940s and early 1950s, particularly in films noir and Westerns. He was often paired with Veronica Lake in films noir, such as ''This Gun for Hire'' (1942), ''The Glass Key'' (1942), and ''The Blue Dahlia'' (1946). ''Whispering Smith'' (1948) was his first Western and color film, and ''Shane'' (1953) was noted for its contributions to the genre. Ladd also appeared in ten films with William Bendix; both actors coincidentally died in 1964. His other notable credits include ''Two Years Before the Mast'' (1946) and ''The Great Gatsby'' (1949). His popularity diminished in the mid 1950s, though he continued to appear in numerous films, including his first supporting role since ''This Gun for Hire'' in the smash hit ''The Carpetbaggers'' released in 1964. He died of an accidental combination of alcohol, a barbiturate, and two tranquilizers in Jan ... [...More Info...] [...Related Items...] OR: [Wikipedia] [Google] [Baidu] |
Voodoo Man
''Voodoo Man'' is a 1944 American horror film directed by William Beaudine and starring Bela Lugosi, John Carradine, and George Zucco. Plot Nicholas (George Zucco) runs a filling station in the sticks. In reality, he is helping Dr. Richard Marlowe (Bela Lugosi) capture comely young ladies so he can transfer their life essences to his long-dead wife. Also assisting is Toby (John Carradine), who lovingly shepherds the left-over zombie girls and pounds on bongos during voodoo ceremonies. The hero is a Hollywood screenwriter who, at the end of the picture, turns the experience into a script titled "Voodoo Man". When his producer asks who should star in it, the hero suggests ... Bela Lugosi. Cast * Bela Lugosi as Dr. Marlowe * John Carradine as Toby * George Zucco as Nicholas * Wanda McKay as Betty * Louise Currie as Sally * Michael Ames as Ralph * Ellen Hall as Mrs. Marlowe * Terry Walker as Alice * Mary Currier as Mrs. Benton * Claire James as Zombie * Henry Hall as Sheriff ... [...More Info...] [...Related Items...] OR: [Wikipedia] [Google] [Baidu] |
The Ape Man
''The Ape Man'' is a 1943 American horror film directed by William Beaudine. The film is based on "They Creep in the Dark" by Karl Brown, which was published in ''The Saturday Evening Post''. It stars Bela Lugosi as Dr. James Brewster who is aided by his colleague Dr. Randall (Henry Hall). The doctor managed to transform himself into a ape man hybrid and desperately seeks a cure. Brewster believes that only the injection of human spinal fluid will prove effective as a cure. As Randall refuses to help him, Brewster and his captive gorilla seek involuntary donors. The film was announced in November 1942, began shooting in December and was released in March by Monogram Pictures Corp. The film received negative reviews from ''Variety'', ''The Hollywood Reporter'' and '' The Daily News''. An in-name only sequel was released ''Return of the Ape Man'' in 1944. Plot Dr. James Brewster and his colleague Dr. Randall are involved in a series of scientific experiments which have caused ... [...More Info...] [...Related Items...] OR: [Wikipedia] [Google] [Baidu] |
Bela Lugosi
Béla Ferenc Dezső Blaskó (; October 20, 1882 – August 16, 1956), known professionally as Bela Lugosi (; ), was a Hungarian and American actor best remembered for portraying Count Dracula in the 1931 horror classic ''Dracula'', Ygor in ''Son of Frankenstein'' (1939) and his roles in many other horror films from 1931 through 1956. Lugosi began acting on the Hungarian stage in 1902. After playing in 172 different productions in his native Hungary, Lugosi moved on to appearing in Hungarian silent films in 1917. He had to suddenly emigrate to Germany after the failed Hungarian Communist Revolution of 1919 because of his former socialist activities (organizing a stage actors' union), leaving his first wife in the process. He acted in several films in Weimar Germany, before arriving in New Orleans as a seaman on a merchant ship, then making his way north to New York City and Ellis Island. In 1927, he starred as Count Dracula in a Broadway adaptation of Bram Stoker's novel, mo ... [...More Info...] [...Related Items...] OR: [Wikipedia] [Google] [Baidu] |
The Masked Marvel
''The Masked Marvel'' (1943) is a 12-chapter film serial created by Republic Pictures, who produced many other well known serials. It was Republic's thirty-first serial, of the sixty-six they produced. Plot In ''The Masked Marvel'', a hero dressed in a business suit and a face mask fights the Japanese saboteur Sakima and his espionage organization. The hook of the story is that, in a reversal of the common serial "Masked Mystery Villain" stock character, the audience doesn't know who the hero is until the final reel—all the audience is told is that The Masked Marvel is one of a group of special investigators (the same plotline is used in the Republic serial ''The Lone Ranger''). Cast * William Forrest as Martin Crane * Louise Currie as Alice Hamilton * Johnny Arthur as Mura Sakima, Japanese saboteur * Rod Bacon as Jim Arnold * Richard Clarke as Frank Jeffers * Anthony Warde as 'Killer' Mace * David Bacon as Bob Barton/The Masked Marvel * Bill Healy as Terry Morton * Howard C. ... [...More Info...] [...Related Items...] OR: [Wikipedia] [Google] [Baidu] |
Citizen Kane
''Citizen Kane'' is a 1941 American drama film produced by, directed by, and starring Orson Welles. He also co-wrote the screenplay with Herman J. Mankiewicz. The picture was Welles' first feature film. ''Citizen Kane'' is frequently cited as the greatest film ever made. The ''Sight & Sound'' Poll of the Greatest Films of All Time * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * For 50 consecutive years, it stood at number 1 in the British Film Institute's ''Sight & Sound'' decennial poll of critics, and it topped the American Film Institute's 100 Years ... 100 Movies list in 1998, as well as its 2007 update. The film was nominated for Academy Awards in nine categories and it won for Best Writing (Original Screenplay) by Mankiewicz and Welles. ''Citizen Kane'' is praised for Gregg Toland's cinematography, Robert Wise's editing, Bernard Herrmann's music, and its narrative structure, all of which have been considered innovative and precedent-setting. The quasi-biographi ... [...More Info...] [...Related Items...] OR: [Wikipedia] [Google] [Baidu] |
Tom Tyler
Tom Tyler (born Vincent Markowski; August 9, 1903 – May 1, 1954) was an American actor known for his leading roles in low-budget Western films in the silent and sound eras, and for his portrayal of superhero Captain Marvel in the 1941 serial film ''The Adventures of Captain Marvel''. Tyler also played Kharis in 1940's ''The Mummy's Hand'', a popular Universal Studios monster film. Early years Tyler was born Vincent Markowski or Markowsky (Vincas Markauskas) (sources differ) in Port Henry, New York, to Lithuanian-American parentsChapman, p. 9. Helen (née Elena Montvila) and Frank Markowski (Pranas Markauskas) . he had two brothers: Frank Jr. and Joe (who changed his last name to Marko) and two sisters: Katherine (Mrs. Slepski) and Maliane "Molly" (Mrs. Redge). He made his First Communion in a small church in Mineville around 1910. His father and older brother worked in the mines for the Witherbee Sherman Company.Chapman, p. 10. In 1913, his family moved to Hamtramck, ... [...More Info...] [...Related Items...] OR: [Wikipedia] [Google] [Baidu] |
You'll Find Out
''You'll Find Out'' is a 1940 American comedy film directed by David Butler and starring Kay Kyser. In 1940, the film was nominated for an Academy Award for Best Original Song ("I'd Know You Anywhere") at the 13th Academy Awards. In the film, members of an orchestra hired to play at a young heiress's birthday party uncover a plot against her.Stephen Jacobs, ''Boris Karloff: More Than a Monster'', Tomahawk Press 2011 p 263-264 The film was very popular and made a profit of $167,000. Plot After Kay Kyser and his orchestra arrive at the castle-shaped mansion, the drawbridge leading to it is mysteriously dynamited, stranding both entertainers and guests. Kyser is suspicious of mystic Prince Saliano, and for good reason. He is taking advantage of the heiress' Aunt Bellacrest's belief in spiritualism to swindle the estate out of large sums of money. Saliano has been "planted" in the house by the "respectable" family attorney, Judge Mainwaring. Also in on the swindle is Professor Fenn ... [...More Info...] [...Related Items...] OR: [Wikipedia] [Google] [Baidu] |
Kay Kyser
James Kern Kyser (June 18, 1905 – July 23, 1985), known as Kay Kyser, was an American bandleader and radio personality of the 1930s and 1940s. Early years James Kern Kyser was born in Rocky Mount, North Carolina, the son of pharmacists Emily Royster Kyser (née Howell) and Paul Bynum Kyser.Annette Bochenek"Kay Kyser" August 1, 2022. ''Hometowns to Hollywood''. He was one of six children, and his mother was the first registered female pharmacist in state. Journalist and newspaper editor Vermont C. Royster was his cousin. Kyser graduated from the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill with a Bachelor of Arts degree in 1928, where he was senior class president and was a member of Sigma Nu Fraternity. Owing to his popularity and enthusiasm as a cheerleader, he was invited by Hal Kemp to take over as bandleader when Kemp ventured north to further his career. He began taking clarinet lessons but was better as an entertaining announcer than a musician. He adopted the initial ... [...More Info...] [...Related Items...] OR: [Wikipedia] [Google] [Baidu] |
Billy The Kid Outlawed
''Billy the Kid Outlawed'' is a 1940 American Western film directed by Sam Newfield and written by Oliver Drake. It stars Bob Steele as gunfighter "Billy the Kid", Al St. John as his sidekick "Fuzzy" Jones and Carleton Young as Jeff Travis, with Louise Currie and John Merton. The film was released on July 20, 1940, by Producers Releasing Corporation. It is the first film in the 1940-1946 "Billy the Kid" film series, which spanned 42 movies—six starring Bob Steele, and the rest starring Buster Crabbe. Steele was replaced in 1941 with '' Billy the Kid Wanted''. The series also starred Al St. John as the Lone Rider's sidekick, "Fuzzy" Jones, who appeared in all 42 films. At the same time that he was appearing in the "Billy the Kid" films, St. John was also playing the same character as the Lone Rider's sidekick in PRC's " Lone Rider" series, which ran from 1941-1943. Carleton Young also played Billy's friend Jeff Travis in the first five movies. Plot In Lincoln County, New ... [...More Info...] [...Related Items...] OR: [Wikipedia] [Google] [Baidu] |
Serial Film
A serial film, film serial (or just serial), movie serial, or chapter play, is a film, motion picture form popular during the first half of the 20th century, consisting of a series of short subjects exhibited in consecutive order at one theater, generally advancing weekly, until the series is completed. Generally, each serial involves a single set of characters, protagonistic and antagonistic, involved in a single story, which has been edited into chapters after the fashion of serial (literature), serial fiction and the episodes cannot be shown out of order or as a single or a random collection of short subjects. Each chapter was screened at a movie theater for one week, and ended with a cliffhanger, in which characters found themselves in perilous situations with little apparent chance of escape. Viewers had to return each week to see the cliffhangers resolved and to follow the continuing story. Movie serials were especially popular with children, and for many youths in the fi ... [...More Info...] [...Related Items...] OR: [Wikipedia] [Google] [Baidu] |
