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William Sistrom
William "Billy" Sistrom (19 March 1884 – March 1972) was an English film producer who worked in the United States. Biography Sistrom was born in Lincolnshire, England. He began work with Universal Pictures. Later he joined RKO Pictures in 1935, where he worked on the film adaptation of Leslie Charteris' ''The Saint in New York''. He produced 30 British and American films between 1930 and 1949. As well as a producer, William also worked as a studio manager. Actor Lon Chaney, Sr. tells of confronting Universal studio manager William Sistrom in 1918 demanding a payrise and contract. According to Chaney, Sistrom told him that he knew a good actor when he saw one but that, looking directly at Chaney, he saw only a wash-out. According to their website, William managed the Hollywood Center Studios for a time starting in 1925. Wiliam's first wife Louise Rowan had two American-born sons and three daughters microbiologist William R Sistrom, William, Hollywood producer Joseph Sistrom, ... [...More Info...] [...Related Items...] OR: [Wikipedia] [Google] [Baidu] |
William Sistrom - Dec 1925 EH
William is a male given name of Germanic languages, Germanic origin.Hanks, Hardcastle and Hodges, ''Oxford Dictionary of First Names'', Oxford University Press, 2nd edition, , p. 276. It became very popular in the English language after the Norman conquest of England in 1066,All Things William"Meaning & Origin of the Name"/ref> and remained so throughout the Middle Ages and into the modern era. It is sometimes abbreviated "Wm." Shortened familiar versions in English include Will (given name), Will, Wills (given name), Wills, Willy, Willie, Bill (given name), Bill, and Billy (name), Billy. A common Irish people, Irish form is Liam. Scottish people, Scottish diminutives include Wull, Willie or Wullie (as in Oor Wullie or the play Douglas (play)#Theme and response, ''Douglas''). Female forms are Willa, Willemina, Wilma (given name), Wilma and Wilhelmina (given name), Wilhelmina. Etymology William is related to the given name ''Wilhelm'' (cf. Proto-Germanic ᚹᛁᛚᛃᚨᚺᛖᛚ ... [...More Info...] [...Related Items...] OR: [Wikipedia] [Google] [Baidu] |
The Fall Guy (1930 Film)
''The Fall Guy'' is a 1930 American pre-Code crime drama film directed by Leslie Pearce and adapted for the screen by Tim Whelan. Based on the 1925 Broadway hit ''The Fall Guy, a Comedy in Three Acts'', which was written by George Abbott and James Gleason, the RKO production stars Jack Mulhall, Pat O'Malley, and Mae Clarke. The year after this film's release, Clarke would become famous as a result of her minor role in another crime drama, ''The Public Enemy'', in which James Cagney shoves a grapefruit into her face. Plot When Johnny Quinlan loses his job in a drug store, he is afraid to tell his wife, Bertha, and therefore keeps up the pretense of leaving each morning for a non-existent job, as he begins the search for a new job. As the days pass and he is unable to find employment, their household, which includes his sister, Lottie, and Bertha's brother, Dan Walsh, goes through what little savings they have. As he gets more desperate, he agrees to do small jobs for "Nifty" He ... [...More Info...] [...Related Items...] OR: [Wikipedia] [Google] [Baidu] |
Blond Cheat
''Blond Cheat'' is a 1938 romantic comedy film directed by Joseph Santley and starring Joan Fontaine, Derrick De Marney, and Cecil Kellaway. The film was produced by William Sistrom, and originally released by RKO Radio Pictures. The original story is by Aladar Lazlo. The screenplay is by Harry Segall, Charles Kaufman, Paul Yawitz, and Viola Brothers Shore. The tagline for the movie was: "A happy blend of blackmail, robbery, treachery, and love!" The film was known as ''The Muddled Deal''. Plot Michael Ashburn (Derrick De Marney) is the chief assistant to Rufus Trent (Cecil Kellaway), a wealthy London loan broker. Michael is socially prominent, but works for a living. He is engaged to Trent's daughter, Roberta (Lilian Bond). The match had been engineered primarily by the socially-ambitious Mrs. Trent (Cecil Cunningham). As Michael is closing the shop late one afternoon, a man named Douglas (Olaf Hytten) takes out a large loan, using earrings worn by his niece, Julie (Joan Fon ... [...More Info...] [...Related Items...] OR: [Wikipedia] [Google] [Baidu] |
The Saint In New York (film)
''The Saint in New York'' is an American 1938 crime film, directed by Ben Holmes and adapted from Leslie Charteris's 1935 novel of the same name by Charles Kaufman and Mortimer Offner. After a police lieutenant is killed, the New York Police Department enlists gentleman criminal Simon Templar to fight criminal elements in the city. Released by RKO Pictures, ''The Saint in New York'' marks the first screen appearance of Templar, also known as "The Saint". Louis Hayward stars as the title character, with Kay Sutton as his love interest. Alfred Hitchcock was initially discussed as a possible director for the film. This was the first of eight films in RKO's film series about The Saint. After being replaced in the series by George Sanders, Hayward would not play The Saint again until 1953 in Hammer Films production of ''The Saint's Return''. There had not been a Saint film made in twelve years. Plot Police Lieutenant Martin, an officer leading the fight against New York gangsters, ... [...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] |
There Goes My Girl
''There Goes My Girl'' is a 1937 American comedy film directed by Ben Holmes, written by Harry Segall, and starring Gene Raymond, Ann Sothern, Gordon Jones, Richard Lane, Frank Jenks and Bradley Page. It was released on May 21, 1937, by RKO Pictures. Plot When Jerry Martin and Connie Taylor, reporters for rival newspapers, fall in love, Taylor's Editor Tim Whelan sets up a fake murder to disrupt their wedding. Taylor insists on investigating the story, which causes a break-up with her fiancee. When the two reporters end up covering a real murder, Taylor attempts to reconcile her relationship, while Whelan attempts to break them up again. Cast * Gene Raymond as Reporter Jerry Martin * Ann Sothern as Reporter Connie Taylor * Gordon Jones as Reporter Dunn * Richard Lane as Editor Tim J. Whelan * Frank Jenks as Reporter Frank 'George' Tate * Bradley Page as Joe Rethburn * Joan Woodbury as Margot Whitney * Marla Shelton as Mrs. Grace Andrews * Alec Craig as 'Godfrey' * Joseph Cr ... [...More Info...] [...Related Items...] OR: [Wikipedia] [Google] [Baidu] |
The Plot Thickens (film)
''The Plot Thickens'' is a 1936 mystery film directed by William Sistrom, starring James Gleason and ZaSu Pitts, who plays the schoolteacher and amateur sleuth Hildegarde Withers from Stuart Palmer's stories. Gleason reprised his role as Hildegarde's friendly nemesis, Inspector Oscar Piper, from RKO Radio Pictures' previous Hildegarde Withers films. Plot Hildegarde Withers (ZaSu Pitts) is a novelist who now tries to figure out the connection between two unrelated murders. Inspector Oscar Piper (James Gleason), is Hildegarde's friendly nemesis. Cast * James Gleason as Oscar Piper * ZaSu Pitts as Hildegarde Withers * Owen Davis, Jr. as Robert 'Bob' Wilkins * Louise Latimer as Alice Stevens * Arthur Aylesworth as Kendall, the Butler * Paul Fix as Joe, the Chauffeur * Richard Tucker as John Carter * Barbara Barondess as Marie, the Maid * James Donlan as Jim, a Detective * Agnes Anderson as Dagmar, the Sculptor * Oscar Apfel Oscar C. Apfel (January 17, 1878 – March 21, ... [...More Info...] [...Related Items...] OR: [Wikipedia] [Google] [Baidu] |
Bunker Bean
''Bunker Bean'' is a 1936 American black-and-white comedy film adapted from a novel by Harry Leon Wilson and the subsequent play adapted by Lee Wilson Dodd. It was directed by William Hamilton and Edward Killy, produced by William Sistrom, and starred Owen Davis, Jr. as the title character. The cast included Lucille Ball as Mrs Kelly. Plot summary Cast * Owen Davis, Jr. as Bunker Bean * Louise Latimer as Mary Kent * Robert McWade as John 'J.C.' Kent * Jessie Ralph as Grandmother * Lucille Ball as Rosie Kelly * Berton Churchill as Professor Balthazer * Edward Nugent as Mr. Glab * Hedda Hopper as Dorothy Kent * Ferdinand Gottschalk as Dr. Meyerhauser * Leonard Carey as Butler * Russell Hicks Edward Russell Hicks (June 4, 1895 – June 1, 1957) was an American film character actor. Hicks was born in 1895 in Baltimore, Maryland. During World War I, he served in the U.S. Army in France. He later became a lieutenant Colonel in the Cali ... as Al C. Jones * Sibyl Harris as Cou ... [...More Info...] [...Related Items...] OR: [Wikipedia] [Google] [Baidu] |
Murder On A Bridle Path
''Murder on a Bridle Path'' is a 1936 mystery film directed by William Hamilton and Edward Killy, starring James Gleason and Helen Broderick. This film was the fourth production in the Hildegarde Withers series, and the only one in which Broderick played Hildegarde Withers. Plot An apparent accident involving a horse in Central Park leads a police inspector to join forces with a brash amateur detective (Hildegarde Withers, played by Helen Broderick) to solve a woman's death. Cast * James Gleason as Police Inspector Oscar Piper * Helen Broderick as Hildegarde Withers * Sheila Terry as Violet Feverel * Louise Latimer as Barbara Foley, Violet's sister * Owen Davis Jr. as Eddie Fryi * John Arledge as Joey Thomas * John Carroll as Latigo Wells * Leslie Fenton as Don Gregg * Christian Rub as Chris Thomas * Willie Best as High Pockets * John Miltern as Pat Gregg * Spencer Charters as Warden Sylvester Mahoney * James Donlan as Detective Kane * Gustav von Seyffertitz as Doctor Bloom ... [...More Info...] [...Related Items...] OR: [Wikipedia] [Google] [Baidu] |
A Dog Of Flanders (1935 Film)
''A Dog of Flanders'' is a 1935 American drama film directed by Edward Sloman, based on a screenplay by Ainsworth Morgan from the story by Dorothy Yost, which she adapted from the 1872 novel of the same name by Ouida. The film stars Frankie Thomas, appearing in only his second film (the first being '' Wednesday's Child''). Cast * Frankie Thomas as Nello Daas * Harry Beresford as Sacristan * O. P. Heggie as Grandfather Jehan Daas * DeWitt Jennings as Carl Cogez * Lightning as "Leo", the dog * Sarah Padden as Frau Keller * Helen Parrish as Maria Cogez * Richard Quine as Pieter Vanderkloot * Frank Reicher as Herr Vanderkloot * Addison Richards as Herr Herden * Christian Rub as Hans * Ann Shoemaker as Frau Ilse Cogez * Nella Walker as Frau Vanderkloot Production In November 1934 RKO announced that they would begin production on ''A Dog of Flanders'' the following month. It would be the third film adaptation, and the first sound production, of Ouida's 1872 novel, ''Dog of Flanders' ... [...More Info...] [...Related Items...] OR: [Wikipedia] [Google] [Baidu] |
While Paris Sleeps (1932 Film)
''While Paris Sleeps'' is a 1932 American pre-Code drama film directed by Allan Dwan and starring Victor McLaglen, Helen Mack and Rita La Roy. Plot Jacques Costaud, a French war veteran is sentenced to life in prison for killing a man but soon escapes from a penal colony in French Guiana. He then flees to Paris to find his daughter Manon, who believes him dead. Now he must try to keep her from being abducted into a life of prostitution and keeping his true identity a secret. Cast * Victor McLaglen as Jacques Costaud * Helen Mack as Manon Costaud * William Bakewell as Paul Renoir * Jack La Rue as Julot * Rita La Roy Rita La Roy (born Ina La Roi Stuart; October 2, 1901 – February 18, 1993) was an American actress and dancer, beginning her career in 1929, and having her last significant role in 1940. Career La Roy appeared in over 50 films, the best k ... as Fifi * Maurice Black as Roca * Dot Farley as the Concierge * Lucille La Verne as Mme. Golden Bonnet * Paul ... [...More Info...] [...Related Items...] OR: [Wikipedia] [Google] [Baidu] |
The Crooked Circle (1932 Film)
''The Crooked Circle'' is a 1932 American pre-Code film, a comedy-mystery directed by H. Bruce Humberstone. In 1933, ''The Crooked Circle'' was the first feature film shown on television. In Los Angeles, the Don Lee Broadcasting System showed the film on March 10, 1933, over their experimental station W6XAO, transmitting an 80-line resolution mechanical television picture to a half-dozen or fewer receiving sets in the greater Los Angeles area. The film was shown again on June 18, 1940 on the NBC Television experimental station WX2BS, now WNBC-TV in New York City. Characters and story Amateur detectives in the Sphinx Club are rivals of an evil gang known as The Crooked Circle. When a Sphinx tip leads to an arrest of a Crooked Circle member, they swear revenge on Sphinx member Colonel Theodore Walters (Berton Churchill). Nora Rafferty ( ZaSu Pitts) complains to Old Dan (Christian Rub) about life in creepy Melody Manor. Brand Osborne (Ben Lyon) intends to resign from the Sph ... [...More Info...] [...Related Items...] OR: [Wikipedia] [Google] [Baidu] |
