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The Spider (1931 Film)
''The Spider'' is a 1931 American pre-Code mystery film directed by Kenneth MacKenna and William Cameron Menzies and starring Edmund Lowe, Lois Moran, El Brendel and John Arledge. It was released on September 27, 1931, by Fox Film Corporation. It was based on the 1927 play ''The Spider'' by Fulton Oursler and Lowell Brentano. Synopsis A celebrated magician Chatrand the Great announces at the end of a performance in a radio broadcast that he is searching for the real identity of his assistant, a victim of amnesia who apparently lost his memory after suffering a head wound two years earlier. Beverly Lane answers the appeal, as she believes the man in is her brother. A murder soon follows. Cast *Edmund Lowe as Chatrand *Lois Moran as Beverly Lane *El Brendel as Ole *John Arledge as Tommy *George E. Stone as Dr. Blackstone *Earle Foxe as John Carrington *Manya Roberti as Estelle *Howard Phillips as Alexander *Purnell Pratt as Inspector Riley *Jesse De Vorska as Goldberg *Ke ... [...More Info...] [...Related Items...] OR: [Wikipedia] [Google] [Baidu] |
Kenneth MacKenna
Kenneth MacKenna (born Leo Mielziner Jr.; August 19, 1899 – January 15, 1962) was an American actor and film director. Family MacKenna was born as Leo Mielziner Jr. in Canterbury, New Hampshire, to portrait artist Leo Mielziner (December 7, 1868 - August 11, 1935), the son of a prominent Reform rabbi (Moses Mielziner) and Ella Lane McKenna Friend (March 18, 1873 – February 2, 1968). Although Kenneth changed his name from Mielziner to MacKenna for stage purposes, it was taken from family roots. Ella's mother’s maiden name was Margaret A. McKenna, and Ella was also named McKenna. So it seemed natural for Leo, Jr., to take MacKenna as his stage surname, changing the spelling slightly. In Mary C. Henderson's book about his brother, Jo Mielziner, ''Mielziner: Master of Modern Stage Design'' (2001), she states, "Kenneth MacKenna was the classic example of the first born son. On reaching manhood, he felt that it was his duty to take care of his entire family: mother, f ... [...More Info...] [...Related Items...] OR: [Wikipedia] [Google] [Baidu] |
Mystery Film
A mystery film is a genre of film that revolves around the solution of a problem or a crime. It focuses on the efforts of the detective, private investigator or amateur Detective, sleuth to solve the mysterious circumstances of an issue by means of clues, investigation, and clever deduction. The plot often centers on the deductive ability, prowess, confidence, or diligence of the detective as he attempts to unravel the crime or situation by piecing together clues and circumstances, seeking evidence, interrogating witnesses, and tracking down a criminal. Suspense is often maintained as an important Plot (narrative), plot element. This can be done through the use of the soundtrack, camera angles, heavy shadows, and surprising plot twists. Alfred Hitchcock used all of these techniques, but would sometimes allow the audience in on a pending threat then draw out the moment for dramatic effect. This genre has ranged from early mystery tales, fictional or literary detective stories, to ... [...More Info...] [...Related Items...] OR: [Wikipedia] [Google] [Baidu] |
American Black-and-white Films
American(s) may refer to: * American, something of, from, or related to the United States of America, commonly known as the "United States" or "America" ** Americans, citizens and nationals of the United States of America ** American ancestry, people who self-identify their ancestry as "American" ** American English, the set of varieties of the English language native to the United States ** Native Americans in the United States, indigenous peoples of the United States * American, something of, from, or related to the Americas, also known as "America" ** Indigenous peoples of the Americas * American (word), for analysis and history of the meanings in various contexts Organizations * American Airlines, U.S.-based airline headquartered in Fort Worth, Texas * American Athletic Conference, an American college athletic conference * American Recordings (record label), a record label previously known as Def American * American University, in Washington, D.C. Sports teams Soccer * ... [...More Info...] [...Related Items...] OR: [Wikipedia] [Google] [Baidu] |
Films Directed By William Cameron Menzies
A film also called a movie, motion picture, moving picture, picture, photoplay or (slang) flick is a work of visual art that simulates experiences and otherwise communicates ideas, stories, perceptions, feelings, beauty, or atmosphere through the use of moving images. These images are generally accompanied by sound and, more rarely, other sensory stimulations. The word "cinema", short for cinematography, is often used to refer to filmmaking and the film industry, and to the art form that is the result of it. Recording and transmission of film The moving images of a film are created by photographing actual scenes with a motion-picture camera, by photographing drawings or miniature models using traditional animation techniques, by means of CGI and computer animation, or by a combination of some or all of these techniques, and other visual effects. Before the introduction of digital production, series of still images were recorded on a strip of chemically sensitiz ... [...More Info...] [...Related Items...] OR: [Wikipedia] [Google] [Baidu] |
1931 Mystery Films
Events January * January 2 – South Dakota native Ernest Lawrence invents the cyclotron, used to accelerate particles to study nuclear physics. * January 4 – German pilot Elly Beinhorn begins her flight to Africa. * January 22 – Sir Isaac Isaacs is sworn in as the first Australian-born Governor-General of Australia. * January 25 – Mohandas Gandhi is again released from imprisonment in India. * January 27 – Pierre Laval forms a government in France. February * February 4 – Soviet leader Joseph Stalin gives a speech calling for rapid industrialization, arguing that only strong industrialized countries will win wars, while "weak" nations are "beaten". Stalin states: "We are fifty or a hundred years behind the advanced countries. We must make good this distance in ten years. Either we do it, or they will crush us." The first five-year plan in the Soviet Union is intensified, for the industrialization and collectivization of agriculture. * February 10 – Official ... [...More Info...] [...Related Items...] OR: [Wikipedia] [Google] [Baidu] |
American Mystery Films
American(s) may refer to: * American, something of, from, or related to the United States of America, commonly known as the "United States" or "America" ** Americans, citizens and nationals of the United States of America ** American ancestry, people who self-identify their ancestry as "American" ** American English, the set of varieties of the English language native to the United States ** Native Americans in the United States, indigenous peoples of the United States * American, something of, from, or related to the Americas, also known as "America" ** Indigenous peoples of the Americas * American (word), for analysis and history of the meanings in various contexts Organizations * American Airlines, U.S.-based airline headquartered in Fort Worth, Texas * American Athletic Conference, an American college athletic conference * American Recordings (record label), a record label previously known as Def American * American University, in Washington, D.C. Sports teams Soccer * ... [...More Info...] [...Related Items...] OR: [Wikipedia] [Google] [Baidu] |
Fox Film Films
Foxes are small to medium-sized, omnivorous mammals belonging to several genera of the family Canidae. They have a flattened skull, upright, triangular ears, a pointed, slightly upturned snout, and a long bushy tail (or ''brush''). Twelve species belong to the monophyletic "true foxes" group of genus ''Vulpes''. Approximately another 25 current or extinct species are always or sometimes called foxes; these foxes are either part of the paraphyletic group of the South American foxes, or of the outlying group, which consists of the bat-eared fox, gray fox, and island fox. Foxes live on every continent except Antarctica. The most common and widespread species of fox is the red fox (''Vulpes vulpes'') with about 47 recognized subspecies. The global distribution of foxes, together with their widespread reputation for cunning, has contributed to their prominence in popular culture and folklore in many societies around the world. The hunting of foxes with packs of hounds, l ... [...More Info...] [...Related Items...] OR: [Wikipedia] [Google] [Baidu] |
1931 Films
The following is an overview of 1931 in film, including significant events, a list of films released and notable births and deaths. Top-grossing films (U.S.) The top ten 1931 released films by box office gross in North America are as follows: Events * January 5: RKO acquires the producing and distribution arm of Pathé for $4.6 million. * June 20: Monogram Pictures releases its first film, ''Ships of Hate''. * July 7: Anti-competitive practices disclosed about certain distributors and producers in Canada. * November 17: E. R. Tinker elected president of Fox Films replacing Harley L. Clarke. * December 14: RKO refinancing plan approved. Best money stars ''Variety'' reported the following as the biggest male stars in the U.S. in alphabetical order although grouped George Arliss and Ronald Colman together as having equal ranking. The following were the biggest women names in the U.S. in alphabetical order but again grouped two actresses together to denote they were ranked t ... [...More Info...] [...Related Items...] OR: [Wikipedia] [Google] [Baidu] |
Ruth Donnelly
Ruth Donnelly (May 17, 1896 – November 17, 1982) was an American film and stage actress. Early years and family Born in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, Donnelly was the daughter of Harry Augustus and Bessie B. Donnelly. Her uncle, Frederick W. Donnelly, was the longtime mayor of Trenton, New Jersey. According to a 1915 article in ''The Day Book'', the young Donnelly was forced to leave Sacred Heart Convent in New Jersey because she repeatedly broke into laughter at inappropriate times. Career Donnelly began her stage career at the age of 17 in ''The Quaker Girl''. Actress Rose Stahl took the teen under her wing and, after giving her training and a year's experience in the chorus, placed the then 18-year-old in the play ''Maggie Pepper''. Her Broadway debut brought her to the attention of George M. Cohan, who proceeded to cast her in numerous comic-relief roles in such musicals as '' Going Up'' (1917). Though she made her first film appearance in 1914, her Hollywoo ... [...More Info...] [...Related Items...] OR: [Wikipedia] [Google] [Baidu] |
Kendall McComas
Kendall McComas (October 29, 1916 – October 15, 1981) was an American child actor. Career Born in Holton, Kansas, McComas first appeared in the '' Mickey McGuire'' short subjects series as a member of Mickey McGuire's gang and stayed throughout the series run in the silent era. He also played the role of Stinky Davis in some of the series' earliest sound shorts. In 1931, he joined the ''Our Gang'' series, first appearing in the 1932 Our Gang short ''Readin' and Writin'''. McComas stayed with Our Gang for a full year and left the series after appearing in the 1932 short ''Birthday Blues''. Even though he was well into his teens during his ''Our Gang'' tenure, McComas was very short for his age and thus capably portrayed his grade-school-age character Breezy aka Brisbane. Breezy's mother refers to him as "Brisbane" in the films ''Readin' and Writin''' and '' Spanky'', the only shorts in which that name appears; the kids refer to him as "Breezy," presumably as a nickname for Br ... [...More Info...] [...Related Items...] OR: [Wikipedia] [Google] [Baidu] |
Jesse De Vorska
Jesse De Vorska (July 13, 1898 – December 27, 1999) was a Russian-born American film actor.Neibaur p. 38 Selected filmography * '' The Unknown Soldier'' (1926) * ''Rose of the Tenements'' (1926) * ''Jake the Plumber'' (1927) * ''Around the Corner'' (1930) * '' The Last Parade'' (1931) * ''Women of All Nations'' (1931) * ''Goldie'' (1931) * ''The Spider'' (1931) * '' Symphony of Six Million'' (1932) * ''The Strange Love of Molly Louvain'' (1932) * ''Pier 13'' (1932) * '' Employees Entrance'' (1933) * ''Wine, Women and Song'' (1933) * ''The Call of the Wild ''The Call of the Wild'' is a short adventure novel by Jack London, published in 1903 and set in Yukon, Canada, during the 1890s Klondike Gold Rush, when strong sled dogs were in high demand. The central character of the novel is a dog named Bu ...'' (1935) References Bibliography * James L. Neibaur. ''James Cagney Films of the 1930s''. Rowman & Littlefield, 2014. External links * 1898 births 1999 deaths Ameri ... [...More Info...] [...Related Items...] OR: [Wikipedia] [Google] [Baidu] |
Purnell Pratt
Purnell Pratt (October 20, 1885 – July 25, 1941) was an American film actor. He appeared in more than 110 films between 1914 and 1941. He was born in Bethel, Illinois and died in Hollywood, California. Partial filmography * ''The Great Diamond Robbery'' (1914) - Maria's Brother * '' Seven Keys to Baldpate'' (1917) - John Bland * '' The Lady Who Lied'' (1925) - Ahmed * ''The Flame Fighter'' (1925) - Mike Turney * ''Phantom Police'' (1926) - Tracy Downs * '' Midnight Lovers'' (1926) - Wibley * ''Alibi'' (1929) - Police Sgt. Pete Manning * ''Thru Different Eyes'' (1929) - Dist. Atty. Marston * ''On with the Show!'' (1929) - Sam Bloom * '' Fast Life'' (1929) - Berton Hall * '' Is Everybody Happy?'' (1929) - Stage Manager * ''The Trespasser'' (1929) - Hector Ferguson * ''Painted Faces'' (1929) - Foreman of Jury * ''The Locked Door'' (1929) - Police Officer (uncredited) * '' Puttin' On the Ritz'' (1930) - George Barnes * ''The Furies'' (1930) - District Attorney * '' Road to Par ... [...More Info...] [...Related Items...] OR: [Wikipedia] [Google] [Baidu] |
