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Comet Over Broadway
''Comet over Broadway'' ( 1938) is an American film starring Kay Francis and released by Warner Brothers. John Farrow stepped in as director when Busby Berkeley became ill, but Farrow was uncredited on the film. Plot Eve Appleton (Francis), wife of small-town garage owner Bill Appleton (Litel), has theatrical ambitions. Bill gets into an argument with a visiting actor over her, kills him accidentally, and is sent to prison. Eve, realizing her part in Bill's fate, vows to right matters, and taking her baby daughter, goes away to make her way in the theatre. Later, Eve is forced to leave her baby girl with her friend Mrs. "Tim" Adams (Gombell). Bert Ballin (Hunter) befriends her and they fall in love, but she moves abroad and becomes a star. Back in America, as the "Toast of Broadway", she is brought back to a realization of her former vows by Joe Grant (Crisp), her hometown lawyer. Cast * Kay Francis as Eve Appleton * Ian Hunter as Bert Ballin * John Litel as Bill Appleton * Don ... [...More Info...] [...Related Items...] OR: [Wikipedia] [Google] [Baidu] |
Busby Berkeley
Busby Berkeley (born Berkeley William Enos; November 29, 1895 – March 14, 1976) was an American film director and musical choreographer. Berkeley devised elaborate musical production numbers that often involved complex geometric patterns. Berkeley's works used large numbers of showgirls and props as fantasy elements in kaleidoscopic on-screen performances. Early life Berkeley was born in Los Angeles, California, to Francis Enos (who died when Busby was eight) and stage actress Gertrude Berkeley (1864–1946). Among Gertrude's friends, and a performer in Tim Frawly's Stock company run by Busby Berkeley's father, were actress Amy Busby from whom Berkeley gained the appellation "Buzz" or "Busby" and actor William Gillette, then only four years away from playing Sherlock Holmes. Whether he was actually christened Busby Berkeley William Enos,Spivak, Jeffrey, ''Buzz, The Life and Art of Busby Berkeley'' (University Press of Kentucky, 2010), pp. 6–7. or Berkeley William Enos, w ... [...More Info...] [...Related Items...] OR: [Wikipedia] [Google] [Baidu] |
John Litel
John Beach Litel (December 30, 1892 – February 3, 1972) was an American film and television actor. Early life Litel was born in Albany, Wisconsin. During World War I, he enlisted in the French Army and was twice decorated for bravery. Back in the U.S. after the war, Litel enrolled in the American Academy of Dramatic Arts and began his stage career. Career His Broadway credits include ''Sweet Aloes'' (1935), ''Hell Freezes Over'' (1935), ''Life's Too Short'' (1935), ''Strange Gods'' (1932), ''Before Morning'' (1932), ''Lilly Turner'' (1932), ''Ladies of Creation'' (1931), ''Back Seat Drivers'' (1928), ''The Half Naked Truth'' (1926), ''The Beaten Track'' (1925), ''Thoroughbreds'' (1924), and ''Irene'' (1919). In 1929, he began appearing in films. Part of the "Warner Bros. Stock Company" beginning in the 1930s, he appeared in dozens of Warner Bros. films and was in over 200 films during his entire career. He often played supporting roles such as hard-nosed cops and dis ... [...More Info...] [...Related Items...] OR: [Wikipedia] [Google] [Baidu] |
William Keighley
William Jackson Keighley (August 4, 1889 – June 24, 1984) was an American stage actor and Hollywood film director. Career After graduating from the Ludlum School of Dramatic Art, Keighley began acting at the age of 23. By the 1910s and 1920s, he was acting and directing on Broadway. With the advent of talking pictures, he relocated to Hollywood. He eventually signed with Warner Bros. He was the initial director of ''The Adventures of Robin Hood'', starring Errol Flynn and Olivia de Havilland, but was replaced by Michael Curtiz. During World War II, he supervised the First Motion Picture Unit of the United States Army Air Forces. Personal life He retired in 1953 at the age of 64 and moved to Paris with his wife, Genevieve Tobin. In retirement, he became a photographer. He died of a stroke in New York City. Complete directorial filmography *''The Match King'' (1932) (co-director) *''Ladies They Talk About'' (1933) (co-director) *'' Easy to Love'' (1934) (solo directori ... [...More Info...] [...Related Items...] OR: [Wikipedia] [Google] [Baidu] |
Four's A Crowd
''Four's a Crowd'' is a 1938 American romantic comedy film directed by Michael Curtiz, starring Errol Flynn, Olivia de Havilland, Rosalind Russell, and Patric Knowles. It was written by Casey Robinson and Sig Herzig from a story by Wallace Sullivan. This was the fourth of nine films that Errol Flynn and Olivia de Havilland appeared in. Plot Reporter Jean Christy (Rosalind Russell) works for a newspaper in danger of being thrown away by its young owner, Pat Buckley ( Patric Knowles), after Buckley has a falling-out with the editor-in-chief, Robert Lansford (Errol Flynn). Meanwhile, Lansford hopes to gain tycoon John Dillingwell's (Walter Connolly) business for his public relations firm, and uses his position at Buckley's paper to drum up good press for Dillingwell. In the process, he discovers that Dillingwell's granddaughter Lorri (Olivia de Havilland) is Buckley's fiancée. Lansford decides to try to charm Lorri, while Christy makes a play for Buckley. Cast * Errol Flynn as R ... [...More Info...] [...Related Items...] OR: [Wikipedia] [Google] [Baidu] |
Jezebel (1938 Film)
''Jezebel'' is a 1938 American romantic drama film released by Warner Bros. and directed by William Wyler. It stars Bette Davis and Henry Fonda, supported by George Brent, Margaret Lindsay, Donald Crisp, Richard Cromwell, and Fay Bainter. The film was adapted by Clements Ripley, Abem Finkel, John Huston, and Robert Buckner, from the 1933 play by Owen Davis Sr. The film tells the story of a headstrong young Southern woman during the antebellum period whose actions cost her the man she loves. Plot In 1852 New Orleans, spoiled, strong-willed belle Julie Marsden is engaged to banker Preston "Pres" Dillard. In an important meeting, Pres is trying to convince the board to invest in railroads, as Northerners are doing, and supporting Dr. Livingstone's plea for measures to prevent another outbreak of yellow fever. In retaliation for Pres refusing to leave the meeting and accompany her to the last fitting for a ball gown, Julie buys a brazen red satin dress ordered by a notorious wo ... [...More Info...] [...Related Items...] OR: [Wikipedia] [Google] [Baidu] |
Bette Davis
Ruth Elizabeth "Bette" Davis (; April 5, 1908 – October 6, 1989) was an American actress with a career spanning more than 50 years and 100 acting credits. She was noted for playing unsympathetic, sardonic characters, and was famous for her performances in a range of film genres, from contemporary crime melodramas to historical films, suspense horror, and occasional comedies, although her greater successes were in romantic dramas. A recipient of two Academy Awards, she was the first thespian to accrue ten nominations. Bette Davis appeared on Broadway in New York, then the 22-year-old Davis moved to Hollywood in 1930. After some unsuccessful films, she had her critical breakthrough playing a vulgar waitress in ''Of Human Bondage'' (1934) although, contentiously, she was not among the three nominees for the Academy Award for Best Actress that year. The next year, her performance as a down-and-out actress in ''Dangerous'' (1935) did land Davis her first Best Actress nomination, ... [...More Info...] [...Related Items...] OR: [Wikipedia] [Google] [Baidu] |
Clem Bevans
Clem Guy Bevans (October 16, 1880 – August 11, 1963) was an American character actor best remembered for playing eccentric, grumpy old men. Early life Bevans was born in Cozzadale, Ohio. Career Bevans had a very long career, starting in vaudeville in 1900 in an act with Grace Emmett. He progressed to burlesque, Broadway, and even light opera, before making his film debut at the age of 55 in ''Way Down East'' (1935). His portrayal was so good, he became stereotyped and played mostly likable old codgers for the rest of his life. Bevans played the neighbour of Gregory Peck in ''The Yearling'' and the gatekeeper in ''Harvey'' (1950). However, he did occasionally play against type, for example as a Nazi spy in Alfred Hitchcock's ''Saboteur'' (1942). He also made some television appearances, including the role of Captain Hugo in the 1958 ''Perry Mason'' episode "The Case of the Demure Defendant" and as Pete in ''The Twilight Zone'' episode "Hocus-Pocus and Frisby" (1962). He play ... [...More Info...] [...Related Items...] OR: [Wikipedia] [Google] [Baidu] |
Edward McWade
Edward McWade (January 14, 1865 – May 17, 1943) was a writer, stage actor and an American film actor. Biography McWade was born in Washington, D.C., on January 14, 1865. His father was notable stage actor Robert McWade Sr. (1835-1913) and his younger brother was character actor Robert McWade Jr. On September 4, 1897, McWade married actress Margaret May Fish. They performed in a number of stage and film productions together both before and after they were married. McWade appeared in more than 130 films between 1919 and 1944, mostly in secondary roles. He also wrote 15 stage plays and silent films scripts between 1897 and 1914. McWade died in Los Angeles, California. Selected filmography * ''Uncle Tom's Cabin'' (1914) * ''Hornet's Nest'' (1919) - Wimms * ''When a Man Loves'' (1919) - Takamura * ''Dangerous Days'' (1920) - Dr. Haverford * '' The Great Accident'' (1920) - Williams * ''Stop Thief!'' (1920) - Mr. Carr * ''The Husband Hunter'' (1920) - Charles Mack * '' Win ... [...More Info...] [...Related Items...] OR: [Wikipedia] [Google] [Baidu] |
Chester Clute
Chester Lamont Clute (February 18, 1891 – April 2, 1956) was an American actor familiar in scores of Hollywood films from his debut in 1930. Diminutive, bald-pated with a bristling moustache, he appeared in mostly unbilled roles, consisting usually of one or two lines, in nearly 250 films. Biography Born Chester Lamont Clute in Orange, New Jersey, Clute died of a heart attack in Woodland Hills, California, aged 65. He is buried at Valhalla Memorial Park Cemetery. Career Clute's Broadway credits included ''Ceiling Zero'' (1935), ''Page Miss Glory'' (1934), ''Triplets'' (1932), ''Oh, Promise Me'' (1930), ''The New Yorkers'' (1927), and ''She Couldn't Say No'' (1926). Selected filmography * ''The Dentist'' (1932) * ''Crash Donovan'' (1936) - Mr. Horner (uncredited) * '' Navy Blues'' (1937) - Uncle Andrew * ''There Goes My Girl'' (1937) - Stu Parker - Whelan's Idea Man * '' Dance, Charlie, Dance'' (1937) - Alvin Gussett * '' Exclusive'' (1937) - Garner * '' She Asked fo ... [...More Info...] [...Related Items...] OR: [Wikipedia] [Google] [Baidu] |
Vera Lewis
Vera Lewis (June 10, 1873 – February 8, 1956) was an American film and stage actress, beginning in the silent film era. She appeared in more than 180 films between 1915 and 1947. She was married to actor Ralph Lewis. Biography She was born in Manhattan, where she began acting in stage productions. Her film career started in 1915 with the film '' Hypocrites'', which starred Myrtle Stedman and Courtenay Foote. From 1915 to 1929 she appeared in 63 silent films, including the film classic ''Intolerance'' (1916) where she played the "old maid" Miss Jenkins. Unlike many silent film stars, she made a smooth transition to "talking films", starting with her 1930 appearance in ''Wide Open'', starring Patsy Ruth Miller and Edward Everett Horton. Already 56 years old by the time of her first talkie, she appeared in 58 films during the 1930s, and another 60 during the 1940s, almost all of them as a character actress. She retired after 1947, and resided at the Motion Picture Country ... [...More Info...] [...Related Items...] OR: [Wikipedia] [Google] [Baidu] |
Ian Keith
Ian Keith (born Keith Ross; February 27, 1899 – March 26, 1960) was an American actor. Early years Born in Boston, Massachusetts, Keith grew up in Chicago. He was educated at the Francis Parker School there and played Hamlet in a school production at age 16. Career Keith was a veteran character actor of the stage, and appeared in a variety of colorful roles in silent features of the 1920s. In 1919, as Keith Ross, he acted with the Copley Repertory Theatre in Boston. On Broadway, as Ian Keith, he performed in ''The Andersonville Trial'' (1959), ''Edwin Booth'' (1958), ''Saint Joan'' (1956), ''Touchstone'' (1953), ''The Leading Lady'' (1948), ''A Woman's a Fool - to Be Clever'' (1938), ''Robin Landing'' (1937), ''King Richard II'' (1937), ''Best Sellers'' (1933), ''Hangman's Whip'' (1933), ''Firebird'' (1932), ''Queen Bee'' (1929), ''The Command Performance'' (1928), ''The Master of the Inn'' (1925), ''Laugh, Clown, Laugh!'' (1923), ''As You Like It'' (1923), ''The Czari ... [...More Info...] [...Related Items...] OR: [Wikipedia] [Google] [Baidu] |
Melville Cooper
George Melville Cooper (15 October 1896 – 13 March 1973) was an English actor. His many notable screen roles include the High Sheriff of Nottingham in ''The Adventures of Robin Hood'' (1938), Mr. Collins in ''Pride and Prejudice'' (1940) and the wedding-rehearsal supervisor Mr. Tringle in ''Father of the Bride'' (1950). Biography George Melville Cooper was born on 15 October 1896 in Aston, Birmingham, Warwickshire to W.C.J. and Frances (''née'' Brennan) Cooper. He was brought up in Britain and attended public schools, including King Edward's School in Birmingham. He began to develop an interest in acting as a teenager. At the age of eighteen, he made his professional stage debut in a production at Stratford-upon-Avon. His budding acting career was interrupted by his military service in the Scottish regiment during the First World War, in which he was captured on the Western Front and held prisoner by the Germans for a brief time. After the war, Cooper resumed his stage car ... [...More Info...] [...Related Items...] OR: [Wikipedia] [Google] [Baidu] |
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