|
The Mouthpiece
''The Mouthpiece'' is a 1932 American pre-Code crime drama film starring Warren William and directed by James Flood and Elliott Nugent. It was produced and distributed by Warner Bros.''The American Film Institute Catalog Feature Films: 1931-40'' by The American Film Institute, c.1993 The film is currently available on DVD in the Forbidden Hollywood series. Plot Vincent Day (Warren William) is a prosecutor who is on the fast track to success. When a man he zealously prosecuted all the way to the electric chair is found to have been innocent, he becomes distressed and quits his job. At the suggestion of a friendly bartender (Guy Kibbee), he decides to switch teams and become a defense attorney specializing in the representation of gangsters and other unsavory people. He will use any tactic to get his clients acquitted, up to and including drinking a slow-acting poison from a bottle of evidence to prove that the substance isn't lethal. The jury acquits the man not knowing that imme ... [...More Info...] [...Related Items...] OR: [Wikipedia] [Google] [Baidu] |
James Flood
James Joseph Flood (1895-1953) was an American film director. Born in New York City, Flood became an assistant director with Biograph in 1912 and was active through 1952. Career When working on ''The Swellhead'', Flood decided he wanted to change a scene. He told his plan to actor James Gleason who was also an accomplished playwright and he re-wrote the scene. Actress Marion Shilling then had to quickly learn and execute the new dialogue. "I was a fast study, memorized the scene in a few minutes and we did the scene in one take. Mr. Flood put his arms around me and said, 'You g.d. little trouper.'"Ankerich, Michael G. The Sound of Silence: Conversations with 16 Film and Stage Personalities. McFarland & Company, Inc., Jefferson, NC: 1998. p. 205. Personal life Fellow director William Beaudine was his longtime friend and brother-in-law; actor and producer Bobby Anderson was his nephew (Bobby's mother was James's wife's sister). Death Flood died of complications after surgery ... [...More Info...] [...Related Items...] OR: [Wikipedia] [Google] [Baidu] |
Safe
A safe (also called a strongbox or coffer) is a secure lockable box used for securing valuable objects against theft or fire. A safe is usually a hollow cuboid or cylinder, with one face being removable or hinged to form a door. The body and door may be cast from metal (such as steel) or formed out of plastic through blow molding. Bank teller safes typically are secured to the counter, have a slit opening for dropping valuables into the safe without opening it, and a time-delay combination lock to foil thieves. One significant distinction between types of safes is whether the safe is secured to a wall or structure or if it can be moved around. A less secure version (only suitable for petty cash) is usually called a cash-box. History The first known safe dates back to the 13th century BC and was found in the tomb of Pharaoh Ramesses II. It was made of wood and consisted of a locking system resembling the modern pin tumbler lock. In the 16th century, blacksmiths in souther ... [...More Info...] [...Related Items...] OR: [Wikipedia] [Google] [Baidu] |
Edward G
Edward is an English given name. It is derived from the Anglo-Saxon name ''Ēadweard'', composed of the elements '' ēad'' "wealth, fortune; prosperous" and '' weard'' "guardian, protector”. History The name Edward was very popular in Anglo-Saxon England, but the rule of the Norman and Plantagenet dynasties had effectively ended its use amongst the upper classes. The popularity of the name was revived when Henry III named his firstborn son, the future Edward I, as part of his efforts to promote a cult around Edward the Confessor, for whom Henry had a deep admiration. Variant forms The name has been adopted in the Iberian peninsula since the 15th century, due to Edward, King of Portugal, whose mother was English. The Spanish/Portuguese forms of the name are Eduardo and Duarte. Other variant forms include French Édouard, Italian Edoardo and Odoardo, German, Dutch, Czech and Romanian Eduard and Scandinavian Edvard. Short forms include Ed, Eddy, Eddie, Ted, Teddy and Ned ... [...More Info...] [...Related Items...] OR: [Wikipedia] [Google] [Baidu] |
Illegal (1955 Film)
''Illegal'' is a 1955 American film noir directed by Lewis Allen. It stars Edward G. Robinson, Nina Foch, Hugh Marlowe and Jayne Mansfield. It is the third film adaptation of the 1929 play "The Mouthpiece" by Frank J. Collins, following ''The Mouthpiece'' and ''The Man Who Talked Too Much''. Plot Victor Scott is a district attorney with a spectacular courtroom style. He acknowledges having risen from the slums and needing to win every case. He is assisted by attorney Ellen Miles, who is not quite as relentless, but is devoted to her D.A. boss. They have had a long relationship: in the past, Scott was encouraged and mentored by Ellen's own father, who, on his deathbed, got Scott to promise to protect Ellen. It is hinted Ellen would have welcomed a romantic relationship, but instead Scott encourages her to marry a co-worker, Ray Borden. Scott prosecutes a sensational murder case (that of Gloria Benson, whose murder opens the film) and the jury hands down a guilty verdict. The judg ... [...More Info...] [...Related Items...] OR: [Wikipedia] [Google] [Baidu] |
George Brent
George Brent (born George Brendan Nolan; 15 March 1904 – 26 May 1979) was an Irish-American stage, film, and television actor. He is best remembered for the eleven films he made with Bette Davis, which included ''Jezebel'' and ''Dark Victory''. Early life Brent was born in Ballinasloe, County Galway, Ireland on March 15, 1904, to John J. and Mary (née McGuinness) Nolan. His father was a shopkeeper and his mother was a native of Clonfad, Moore, County Roscommon.Scott O'Brien''George Brent - Ireland's Gift to Hollywood and its Leading Ladies''(2014) BearManor; (paper back)/978-1-59393-764-5 (hard copy). In September 1915, he moved with his younger sister Kathleen to New York City. There, they joined their mother, who was living in the USA after her separation from her husband. Brent returned to Ireland in February 1921, during the Irish War of Independence (1919–1922), and was involved in the Irish Republican Army. During this period he also became involved with the Abbey ... [...More Info...] [...Related Items...] OR: [Wikipedia] [Google] [Baidu] |
Jack LaRue
Jack La Rue (born Gaspare Biondolillo; May 3, 1902 – January 11, 1984) was an American film and stage actor. Early years The son of Sicilian immigrants Pasquale and Concetta Biondolillo, La Rue was born in New York City. His father sailed to the port of New York as an emigrant steerage passenger on the steamer ''Olympia'', which sailed from the port of Naples in November 1895. According to the 1910 U.S. Census, Pasquale Biondolillo was employed as a piano varnisher. Stage La Rue went from high school to his first acting job in Otis Skinner's road company production of ''Blood and Sand''. He performed in Broadway plays from around 1923 to 1931. According to La Rue, while appearing in Mae West's play ''Diamond Lil'', he was spotted by Howard Hawks, who offered him a part in the film '' Scarface'' (1932), starring Paul Muni. Film He moved to Hollywood, where he appeared in numerous films. However, ''Scarface'' was not one of them. La Rue stated in a newspaper article tha ... [...More Info...] [...Related Items...] OR: [Wikipedia] [Google] [Baidu] |
Noel Francis
Noel Francis (born Noel Frances Sweeney, August 31, 1906 – October 30, 1959) was an American actress of the stage and screen during the 1920s and 1930s. Born in Texas, she began her acting career on the Broadway stage in the mid-1920s, before moving to Hollywood at the beginning of the sound film era. Originally cast in films for her song and dance abilities, when musicals began to fall out of favor, she became better known for her tough girl characters. However, by the mid-1930s, she was being typecast into smaller roles, and made an attempt at a comeback on Broadway. When that failed, she returned briefly to Hollywood to make several B films, before retiring in 1937. Early life Francis was born on August 31, 1906, in Temple, Texas, and grew up in Dallas. After high school, Francis attended Southern Methodist University and moved to New York City, where she attended Columbia University. Career Her break came when she was 19 years old, when she was cast as a Ziegfeld g ... [...More Info...] [...Related Items...] OR: [Wikipedia] [Google] [Baidu] |
Murray Kinnell
Murray Kinnell (24 July 1889 – 11 August 1954) was a British-born American actor, recognized for playing smooth, gentlemanly, although rather shady characters. He appeared in 71 films in the USA between the pre-code era of 1930 and 1937. He was best known as the two-timing petty-larceny hood Putty Nose in ''The Public Enemy'' (1931). He also appeared in a number of the Charlie Chan series of films. He had a brief tenure in stage work from 1911, prior to his cinema career. On 11 August 1954, Kinnell died at his home in Santa Barbara, California. Filmography * ''Old English'' (1930) as Charles Ventnor (film debut) * ''The Princess and the Plumber'' (1930) as Worthing * ''The Secret Six'' (1931) as Metz - the Dummy * ''The Public Enemy'' (1931) as Putty Nose * ''The Black Camel'' (1931) as Archie Smith * ''Honor of the Family'' (1931) as Captain Elek * '' Reckless Living'' (1931) as Alf * ''The Guilty Generation'' (1931) - Jerry (uncredited) * '' The Deceiver'' (1931) - Breck ... [...More Info...] [...Related Items...] OR: [Wikipedia] [Google] [Baidu] |
Stanley Fields (actor)
Stanley Fields (born Walter L. Agnew; May 20, 1883April 23, 1941) was an American actor. Biography On Broadway, Fields performed in ''Fifty Miles from Boston'' (1908) and ''The Red Widow'' (1911). After that, for eight years, Fields performed in vaudeville with Frank Fay. he started on a film career with a screen debut as a gunman in her talkie '' New York Nights''. In 1930, he signed a long-term contract with Paramount Pictures. He died on April 23, 1941, of a heart attack. Selected filmography *'' New York Nights'' (1929) - Hood (uncredited) *'' Street of Chance'' (1930) - Dorgan *'' Dangerous Paradise'' (1930) - Steamer Captain (uncredited) *'' Mammy'' (1930) - Pig Eyes (uncredited) *'' Captain of the Guard'' (1930) - Hangman (uncredited) *'' Ladies Love Brutes'' (1930) - Mike Mendino *'' The Border Legion'' (1930) - Hack Gulden *'' Manslaughter'' (1930) - Peters *'' Her Man'' (1930) - Al *'' The Lottery Bride'' (1930) - Bartender (uncredited) *'' See America Thirst'' ( ... [...More Info...] [...Related Items...] OR: [Wikipedia] [Google] [Baidu] |
Walter Walker (actor)
Walter Walker (March 13, 1864 – December 4, 1947) was an American actor of the stage and screen during the first half of the twentieth century. Born in New York City on March 13, 1864, Walker would have a career in theater prior to entering the film industry. By 1915 he was appearing in Broadway productions, his first being ''Sinners'', written by Pulitzer Prize-winning playwright, Owen Davis. His film debut was in a leading role in 1917's ''American – That's All''. He had a lengthy career, in both film and on stage, appearing in numerous plays and over 80 films. Walker died on December 4, 1947 in Honolulu, Hawaii. Career Walker had a long career in theater, eventually rising to appear in Broadway productions, beginning with 1915's ''Sinners'', which was written by Pulitzer Prize-winning playwright, Owen Davis. The play was directed by William A. Brady, and also starred his daughter, Alice Brady, as well as Tony Award-winning actor John Cromwell From 1915 through 1930 he w ... [...More Info...] [...Related Items...] OR: [Wikipedia] [Google] [Baidu] |
Morgan Wallace
Morgan Wallace (born Maier Weill, July 26, 1881 – December 12, 1953) was an American actor. He appeared in more than 120 films between 1914 and 1946, including W.C. Fields' ''It's a Gift'' (1934) Introduction by Arthur Knight where he persistently asks Fields for some "Kumquats". He supported Fields again in ''My Little Chickadee'' (1940). Early life Born in Lompoc, California, Wallace was the son of Isidore and Hannah Weill. He attended the University of California. Career In 1918, Wallace acted with and managed the Morgan Wallace Players in the Grand Theater in Sioux City, Iowa, and in 1927, the troupe performed in Harrisburg, Pennsylvania. In 1922, he acted in a production of ''Lawful Larceny'' at the Savoy Theatre in London, England. Wallace's Broadway credits included ''Loco'' (1946), ''Congratulations'' (1929), ''Women Go On Forever'' (1927), ''Ballyhoo'' (1927), ''Gentle Grafters'' (1926), ''The Stork'' (1925), ''The Law Breaker'' (1922), ''Nature's Nobleman'' (1 ... [...More Info...] [...Related Items...] OR: [Wikipedia] [Google] [Baidu] |
