Ahhhhhhhhhhhhh

One of the sexiest of the early Warner Film stars Ann Sheridan. Here the hopeful young starlet gets ready to take on the world. Enjoy.

The Headache of Silent to Sound

When Paramount decided to re-make their unreleased silent, "The Canary Murder Case" (1928-29) as a talkie, they faced two problems. The first was that the title star, Louise Brooks, had accepted an offer to work in Germany and refused to return. The second was that director Mal St Clair had no knowledge of sound technique. And perhaps it's true too that he supported Miss Brooks' stand. She and Paramount had parted on bad terms because the studio refused to honor her contract. In any event, Frank Tuttle was engaged to direct the talkie. In order to get around the Brooks problem, the studio wheeled in a double, Margaret Livingston. Not only did Miss Livingston dub the Canary's voice (in an atrocious Brooklyn accent yet!) but also substituted visually in back-to-the-camera long shots. So what we have is a movie in which all the Brooks close-ups (in fact all the shots which show her face), plus at least one short clip in a hotel corridor and maybe the long shot of the dancing chorus in the theater (and perhaps the location snip of the speeding car), were directed by Mal St Clair, whereas the rest of the action was directed by Frank Tuttle. A major headache for the editor indeed, and he is to be commended for a sterling job of work under extremely difficult circumstances. The pace is odd, the cutting arrhythmical and even jarringly abrupt at times, but at least the narrative still makes sense.
Presented here is the visually striking Window Card.

whatever became of?

Ever seen this part of the now classic Three Stooges short THREE LITTLE PIGSKINS (1934)? Bet ya haven't. Why? we'll, although filmed, it never made it into the final release version of the short!!! Most likely now residing in some landfill, at least we have this delightful still to view. Fun Fact: A very young and cute as heck Lucille Ball was featured in the same film.

Unexpected Gem!

I had purchased this little low budget film on DVD a few years+ back. What a delight! Good pacing, brisk direction and best of all terrific acting. John Carradine has just the right touch as the very sympathetic artist who hides a dark secret. His secret is an uncontrollable lust for strangulation. One of his almost victims is Jean Parker. The cutie that stole Oliver Hardy's heart as the innkeepers daughter in the comedy delight Flying Deuces (1939). Ollie was so won over by her whim some wiles, he tried to commit suicide and take Stanley with him! Miss Parker (who passed away in 2005 at the ripe old age of 90) is the unfortunate victim you see on this poster.
Miss Parker had a varied and exciting career in films and on the stage. She was once quoted as saying: "Acting is truly a glorious and noble profession. When anyone can give other people a few hours of escape or enchantment away from the ills of the world and their own personal lives, that's a very worthwhile occupation."
Bluebeard (1944) which was directed by Edger G. Ulmer offers at least 72 min. of escape and is recommended.

Something to Sow

Wild Oats (1940) Exploitation film about the trials of a meek, henpecked middle-aged man who wants to look at undressed women. I'm neither meek, or henpecked. However, I fit the bill on the rest.

What!!! Bela Again!!!???

Sorry bout this, but this Title Card lobby from the 1951 re-issue of Dracula to theaters looked too good not to post.

More Joi!

WOW! It sure would be great to en-Joi this great looking little B-movie. Look at this plot: Nick Dunn (John Bromfield) doesn't want to be mixed up in a stolen car ring operating out of a chain of car dealerships in Culver City, CA, but Nick Dunn's son needs an operation, and an operation costs money. When detective Davenport comes snooping around about some hot cars, and later turns up dead, Nick's fortunes take a turn for the worse. Release this 1956 Film Noir on dvd!!!!! .....especially for Joi (Eye Candy extraordinaire) Lansing.