ADDENDUM: HISTORIC FEATURE FILMS
The following motion pictures are of historic value and have been restored in new 4K HD versions.
The Chase 1946
Producer: Seymour Nebenzal Script: Cornell Woolrich (novel), Philip Yordan (script) Director: Arthur Rioley Cinematography: Frank F. Planer CAST: Robert Cummings, Peter Lorre, Michelle Morgan Music: Michel Michelet Production: Nero Films 86 min. Color sound English dialog.
American film-noir production directed by Arthur Ripley and starring Robert Cummings, Peter Lorre, Michelle Morgan, etc.
"The Chase" is based on Cornell Woolrich's 1944 novel "The Black Path of Fear." The film stars Robert Cummings as Chuck Scott, a veteran who suffers from hallucinations. When he performs a kindly act by returning a lost wallet to violent criminal mobster Eddie Roman, Eddie offers to hire Chuck as his personal chauffeur but Chuck becomes mixed up in a plot to help Eddie's wife, Lorna run off to Havana, Cuba in order to escape her cruel abusive husband.
The overall reception to "The Chase" was generally positive. "The Chase" was an official entry in the 1947 Cannes Film Festival in Cannes, France.The Hollwood Scene (Gene Arieel wrote: "The Chase" has flaws, to be sure, but it has additionally a good share of suspense and excitement."
Conspiracy 1930
Producer: William LeBaron Script: Robert B. Baker (play), John Emerson (play), Beulah Marie Dix (script) Director: Christy Cabanne Cinematography: Nicholas Musuraca CAST: Bessie Love, Ned Sparks, Hugh Trevor, Rita La Roy Music: Roy Webb Production: RKO Pictures 69 min. Color sound English dialog.
American Pre-Code melodramatic mystery film directed by Christy Cabanne and starring Bessie Love, Ned Sparks, Hugh Trevor, Rita La Roy, etc.
"Conspiracy" is the second adaptation (the silent version) of the 1912 play "The Conspiracy" by Robert B. Baker and John Emerson. "The Conspiracy" started filming in 1914 by the Famous Players Film Company, produced by Charles Frohman, and starring Emerson himself in the pivotal role of Clavering, reprised from his stint in the Broadway play.
Danger Lights 1930
Producers: William LeBaron, Myles Connolly Script: James Ashmore Creelman Director: George B. Seitz Cinematography: Karl Struss, John W. Boyle CAST: Louis Wolheim, Robert Armstrong, Jean Arthur, Hugh Hubert Production: RKO Radio Pictures 74 min. B/W sound English dialog.
American Pre-Code railroad drama directed by George B. Seitz and starring Louis Wolheim, Robert Armstrong, Jean Arthur, Hugh Hubert, etc.
"Danger Lights" concerns railroading on the Chicago, Milwaukee, St. Paul and Pacific Railroad. The production was shot along that particular railroad's lines in Montana. The railway yard in Miles, Montana, was a primary setting, while rural scenes were filmed along the railway line through Sixteen Mile Canyon, Montana. Additional footage was captured in Chicago, Illinois, when it went out of business eventually in 1986.
"Danger Lights" was the first motion picture ever filmed in the new Spoor-Berggren Natural Vision Process.
The film features rare motion picture footage of a 'tug of war' between two steam locomotives, actual documentary film footage of the activities in the Miles City Yard, and what is believed to be the only existing motion picture footage of a dynamometer railroad car from the steam railroad era in the USA.
The Deadly Companions 1961
Producer: Charles B. Fitzsimmons Script: A.S. Fleischman (novel + script) Director: Sam Peckinpah Cinematography: William H. Clothier CAST: Maureen O'Hara, Brian Keith, Chill Willis, Strother Martin Music: Martin Skiles Production: Carousel Productions 93 min. Color sound English dialog.
American Western war film directed by Sam Peckinpah and starring Maureen O'Hara, Brian Keith, Chill Willis, Strother Martin, etc.
"The Deadly Companions" is based on the novel by A. S. Fleischman and concerns an ex-army soldier who accidentally kills a woman's only son, and tries to make up for it by escalating the funeral procession through extremely dangerous Indian territory.
"The Deadly Companions" was Sam Peckinpah's directorial debut.
The film is also largely passed without hardly any notice and it is noted that "The Deadly Companions" was the least known of Sam Peckinpah's motion pictures.
Debbie Does Dallas 1978
Producer/Director: Jim Clark Script: Maria Minestra Cinematography: Billy Budd CAST: Bambi Woods, Richard Balla, Christie Ford, Robyn Byrd Music: Gerald Sampler Production: School Day Films 84 min. Color sound English dialog.
American X-rated adult entertainment film produced and directed by Jim Clark starring Bambi Woods, Richard Balla, Christie Ford, Robyn Byrd, etc.
"Debbie Does Dallas" follows a team of Dallas cheerleaders (presumably, Dallas) attempting to earn enough funds in order to send the title character (Debbie) to Dallas, Texas to try out for the famous "Texas Cowgirls" cheerleading squad. The fictional name "Texas Cowgirls" was viewed as an allusion to the real-life Dallas Cowboy Cheerleaders. The film's star Bambi Woods had previously tried out for the Dallas Cowboy Cheerleaders in real life, but was cut during auditions.
"Debbie Does Dallas" was highly successful in its day, selling 50,000 copies on video cassettes, making it the most successful adult entertainment home video release of its time. Some of the scenes had been filmed at the Brooklyn College athletic field and the Pratt Institute library in Brooklyn, New York. There was also an urban legend claiming certain sequences were shot at the State University of New York, Stony Brook, including the library scene.
Dementia 13 1963
Producer: Roger Corman Script/Director: Francis Ford Coppola Cinematography: Charles Hanawalt CAST: William Campbell, Patrick Magee, Luane Anders, Bart Patton Music: Ronald Stein Production: The Film Group 75 min. Color sound English dialog.
American horror/thriller film produced by Roger Corman and written and directed by Francis Ford Coppola starring William Campbell, Patrick Magee, Luane Anders, Bart Patton, etc.
Although Francis Ford Coppola had been involved in at least two sexploitation films previously, "Dementia 13" served as his first mainstream "legitimate" directorial effort on his behalf.. Roger Corman had offered Coppola the chance to direct a low-budget horror film to be shot in Ireland utilizing leftover production funds from Corman's "The Young Racers" 1963), on which Coppola had been employed as a sound technician. Corman wanted an inexpensive "Psycho" (1960) copy, complete with gothic atmosphere and brutal killings, and Coppola briskly wrote a screenplay with Corman's specifications.
"Dementia 13" was released in the fall of 1963 as the bottom half of a double bill with Corman's "The Man with X-Ray Eyes" (1963).
Due to the rushed production and a somewhat incomprehensible screenplay, reviews of "Dementia 13" has been mixed. The New York Times wrote: "Under the stolid direction of Francis Ford Coppola, who also wrote the script, the picture stressed gore rather than atmosphere and all but buries a fairly workable plot."
The Devil Bat 1940
Producer: Jack Gallagher Script: George Bricker (story), John Thomas Neville Director: Jean Yarborough Cinematography: Arthur Martinelli, ASC CAST: Bela Lugosi, Suzanne Kaaren, Dave O'Brien, Guy Usher Music: David Chudnow Production: Producers Releasing Corp. 68 min. Color sound English dialog.
American horror film directed by Jean Yarborough and starring Bela Lugosi, Suzanne Kaaren, Dave O'Brien, Guy Usher, etc.
"The Devil Bat" concerns a mad scientist who manages to develop an aftershave lotion that causes gigantic bats to kill anyone who wears it.
The picture was re-released following a brief ineffective first-run release in 1945 on a double bill with "Man Made Monster" (1941). The New York Times wrote at the time of the two movies: "Two of the scariest features on the market."
D.O.A. 1949
Producer: Leo C. Popkin Script: Russell Rouse, Clarence Greene Director: Rudolph Mate Cinematography: Ernest Laszlo CAST: Edmund O'Brien, Luther Adler, Neville Brand, Beverly Garland Music: Dimitri Tiomkin Production: Harry Popkin Productions 84 min. Color sound English dialog.
American film-noir drama directed by Rudolph Mate who was previously a Polish/Hungarian cinematographer turned director who had collaborated with German director Fritz Lang. The picture had an outstanding cast, including Edmund O'Brien, Luther Adler, Neville Brand, Beverly Garland, etc.
"D.O.A." is considered a classic of the film-noir genre which concerns a fatally poisoned man who attempts to discover who poisoned him
The critical reception for "D.O.A." was mostly positive at the time of the film's release. The New York Times wrote: on May 1950: "A fairly obvious and plodding recital, involving crime, passion, stolen indium, gangland beatings and one man's innocent bewilderment upon being caught up in a web of circumstance that marks him for death. O'Brien's performance had a "good deal of drive," while Britton adds a "pleasant touch of blonde attractiveness."
Emperor Jones 1933
Producers: Gifford A. Cochran, John Krimsky Script: Eugene O'Neil (play), DuBose Heyward Director: Dudley Murphy Cinematography: Ernest Haller CAST: Paul Robeson, Dudley Digges, Frank H. Wilson, Fredi Washington Music: John Rosamond Johnson, Frank Tours Production: John Krimsky & Gifford Cochran Inc. 80 min. Color sound English dialog.
American Pre-Code film adaptation of Eugene O'Neil's 1920 play directed by the iconoclast Dudley Murphy, penned for the screen by playwright DuBose Heyward and starring the well-known actor Paul Robeson in the title role as Brutus Jones, a role he had previously essayed on the stage. Actors Dudley Digges, Frank H. Wilson, Fredi Washington, etc.
"The Emperor Jones" was produced outside the Hollywood studio system, financed with private investment from neophyte wealthy producers Gifford A. Cochran and john Krimsky, who had been best known for bringing the 1931 Weimarian German film "Girls in Uniform" to U.S. theatre audiences. "The Emperor Jones" was the only film produced by the two as Cochran resigned as producer following a failed U.S. futile attempt at "The Threepenny Opera" that same year.
"The Emperor Jones" is a loosely based adaptation of O'Neil's play, but adds an entire backstory before O'Neil's actual play starts, and includes several new characters that do not appear in it. This motion picture provided what is today regarded as Paul Robeson's greatest dramatic performance in a motion picture.
Despite this, the picture's distributor United Artists was disappointed that the film did not love up to its cinematic art. "The Emperor Jones" was originally produced in black & white, however, the picture was tinted blue for the jungle scenes, though this tinting disappeared from most existing film prints as if it were an old silent cinematic relic. The FMHV version of this exceptional film classic has been color tinted which enhances this artistic cinematic masterpiece.
Fear and Desire 1953
Producer/Director/Cinematograpgy'Editing: Stanley Kubrick Script: Howard Sackler CAST: David Allen, Frank Silvera, Kenneth Harp, Paul Mazursky Music: Gerald Fried Production: Kubrick Family Films 78 min. Color sound English dialog.
American independent anti war film produced, directed, shot and edited by master storyteller Stanley Kubrick (his directorial debut) and starring David Allen, Frank Silvera, Kenneth Harp, Paul Mazursky, etc.
"Fear and Desire" was produced with a team of fifteen film technicians, the picture premiered at the Venice Film Festival, in a program under the title "Festival of the Scientific Film and Art Documentary" - Shape of Fear." Though the film is not specifically about any particular war or military conflict, it was produced and released during the height of the Korean War conflict.
Stanley Kubrick received significant praise for "Fear and Desire" from cinema critic and screenwriter James Agee, who reportedly took Kubrick for a drink and told him, "There are too many good things to call 'Fear and Desire' arty"
"Fear and Desire' was not a commercial success, and Kubrick had to take a for-hire job directing a promotional short film "The Seafarers" (1953) in order to raise production funds for his next feature film "Killer's Kiss" (1955), which was co-written by Kubrick and Howard Sackler and star Frank Silvera, one of the "Fear and Desire" actors.
Go For Broke 1951
Producer: Dore Schary Script/Director: Robert Pirosh Cinematography: Paul C. Vogel CAST: Van Johnson, Richard Anderson, Don Haggerty, Lane Nakano Music: Alberto Colombo Production: MGM 92 min. Color sound English dialog.
American WWII film written and directed by Robert Pirosh starring Van Johnson, Don Haggerty, Lane Nakano, etc.
"Go For Broke" dramatizes the real-life story of the 442nd, which was composed of Nisei (2nd generation Americans born of Japanese parents) soldiers.
Fighting in the European theater during WWII, this unit became the most heavily decorated unit for its size and length of service in the history of the U.S. military, as well as one of the units with the highest casualty rates.
"Go For Broke" is a Hollywood rarity for its era in that it features Asian Americans in a positive light, highlighting the wartime efforts of Japanese Americans on behalf of their country even while that same country confined their families in relocation camps.
The Gorilla 1939
Producer: Harry Joe Brown Script: Ralph Spence (play), Rian James, Sid Silvers Director: Allan Dwan Cinematography: Edward Cronjager CAST: Bela Lugosi, Jimmy Ritz, Harry Ritz, Al Ritz, Anita Louise Music: David Buttolph, David Raksin, Cyril J. Mockridge, Alfred Newman Production: 20th Century-Fox 66 min. Color sound English dialog.
American horror/comedy film directed by Allan Dwan and starring Bela Lugosi and the Ritz brothers (Jimmy, Harry and Al), Anita Louise, etc.
"The Gorilla" is based on the 1925 play by Ralph Spence concerning investigators who are hired to protect a wealthy man from a gorilla-themed murderer.
"The Gorilla" premiered on May 26, 1939 to not too favorable review from The New York Times who wrote: "It's all supposed to be either really funny or shockingly thrilling, depending on how you look at it."
The Ritz brothers were often compared with the antics of The Three Stooges by film critics at the time.
The Great Flamarion 1945
Producer: W. Lee Wilder Script: Vicki Baum (short story), Heinz Herald, Richard Weil, Anne Wigton Director: Anthony Mann Cinematography: James S. Brown, Jr. CAST: Erich von Stroheim, Mary Beth Hughes, Dan Duryea, Stephen Barlay Music: Alexander Laszlo Production: W. Lee Wilder Productions 78 min. Color sound English dialog.
American film-noir thriller directed by Anthony Mann and starring Erich von Stroheim, Mary Beth Hughes, Dan Duryea, Stephen Barclay, etc.
"The Great Flamarion" follows Flamarion, an expert marksman who is entertaining people in a show which features a woman by the name of Connie and her husband, Al Flamarion. The two manage to fall in love with each other and decide to get rid of her alcoholic husband.
Half Shot at Sunrise 1930
Producer: William LeBaron Script: Anne Caldwell, James Ashmore Creelman, Ralph Spence, Fatty Arbuckle Director: Paul Sloane Cinematography: Nicholas Mursuraca CAST: Bert Wheeler, Robert Woolsey, Dorothy Lee, E.H. Calvert Music: Max Steiner Production: RKO Radio Pictures 78 min. B/W sound English dialog.
American Pre-Code comedy film directed by Paul Sloane and starring the comedy duo Wheeler & Woolsey (Bert Wheeler & Robert Woolsey), Dorothy Lee, E.H. Calvert, etc.
"Half Shot at Sunrise" was comic duo Wheeler & Woolsey's fourth film and the second starring cinematic vehicle for the two, following the success of "The Cuckoos" (1930)
The screenplay was penned by Anne Caldwell, James Ashmore Creelman, Ralph Spence, and Fatty Arbuckle, which had been made to fit to highlight the comedic talents of the duo.
The story concerns the comic duo as they disguise themselves as two soldiers who go AWOL in Paris, France during WWI.
The Hitch-Hiker 1953
Producer: Collier Young Script: Ida Lupino, Collier Young Director: Ida Lupino Cinematography: Nicholas Musuraca CAST: Edmond O'Brien, Frank Lovejoy, William Talman, Wendell Niles Music: Leith Stevens Production: RKO Radio Pictures 71 min. Color sound English dialog.
American independent film-noir thriller co-written and directed by Ida Lupino starring Edmond O'Brien, Frank Lovejoy, William Talman, Wendell Niles, etc.
"The Hitch-Hiker" was based on the 1950 killing spree of Billy Cook, who was a mass murderer of six people, including a family of five, on a 22 day rampage between Missouri and California during 1950-1951. The story follows two friends who are taken hostage by murderous hitchhiker Billy Cook during an automobile trip to Mexico.
"The Hitch-Hiker" is the first film-noir motion picture directed by a female.
The critical reaction to Ms. Lupino's picture was mixed upon release. The Philadelphia Enquirer wrote: "With nothing more than three able actors, a lot of rugged scenery and their own impressive talents as producers, authors, and director, Collier Young and Ida Lupino have brewed a grim little chiller."
Hook, Line and Sinker 1930
Producers: William LeBaron, Miles Connolly Script: Ralkph Spence, Tim Whelan Director: Edward F. Cline Cinematography: Nicholas Mursuraca CAST: Bert Wheeler, Robert Woolsey, Dorothy Lee, William B. Davidson Music: Max Steiner Production: RKO Radio Pictures 72 min. Color sound English dialog.
American Pre-Code slapstick comedy directed by Edward F. Cline starring Wheeler & Woolsey (Bert Wheeler and Robert Woolsey), Dorothy Lee, William B. Davidson, etc.
"Hook, Line and Sinker" was the third starring cinematic vehicle for the comic duo and was one of the largest financial successes for RKO Radio Pictures.
The picture opened at the Mayfair Theatre in New York in December 23, 1930.
Indestructible Man 1956
Producer/Director: Jack Pollexfen Script: Vy Russell, Sue Dwiggins Cinematography: John L. Russell CAST: Lon Chaney, Jr., Max Showalter, Marian Carr, Ross Elliot Music: Albert Glasser Production: C.G.K. Productions 72 min. Color sound English dialog.
American Sci-Fi/horror crime film produced and directed by Jack Pollexfen starring Lon Chaney, Jr., Max Showalter, Marian Carr, Ross Elliot, etc.
"Indestructible Man" was independently produced by C.G.K. Productions and released in the USA by Allied Artists. The picture was distributed theatrically in 1956 on a double bill with "World Without End" (1956) and in some areas billed with "Invasion of the Body Snatchers" (1956).
Lon Chaney, Jr. has almost no dialog in the film. His character's emotions were shown through physical gesture reminiscent of his iconic father's silent, motion picture persona and extreme close-up shots of his horrific face.
Inside the Lines 1930
Producers: William LeBaron, Roy Pomeroy Script: Earl Derr Biggers (play), John Farrow, Ewart Adamson Director: Roy Pomeroy Cinematography: Nicholas Musuraca CAST: Betty Compson, Ralph Forbes, Montagu Love, Mischa Auer Music: Roy Webb Production: RKO Radio Pictures 72 min. Color sound English dialog.
American Pre-Code espionage drama co-produced and directed by Roy Pomeroy starring Betty Compson, Ralph Forbes, Montagu Love, Mischa Auer, etc.
"Inside the Lines" is based on the 1915 Broadway play by Earl Derr Biggers and the 1918 silent film version of the same title.
The story is set during WWI as Imperial German spies will apparently stop at nothing to monitor Allied war plans stored in Gibraltar.
The Jackie Robinson Story 1950
Producers: Mort Briskin, William J. Heineman Script: Arthur Mann, Lawrence Taylor Director: Alfred E, Green Cinematography: Ernest Laszlo CASTl Jackie Robinson (himself), Ruby Dee, Minor Watson, Louise Bevers Music: Herschel Burke Gllbert Production: Jewel Pictures 77 min. Color sound English dialog.
American biographical sports film directed by Alfred E. Green and starring Jackie Robinson (as himself), Ruby Dee, Minor Watson, Louise Bevers, etc.
"The Jackie Robinson Story" is based on Jackie Robinson's own struggle with the racial abuse of bigots as he becomes the first Black American Major League Baseball player of the modern era. The production is in part based on Robinson's own autobiography, "My Own Story" (1948).
Much the production took place in the off-season following Robinson's third season with the Brooklyn Dodgers. A good deal of the picture was shot at Gilmore Field, home of the PCL Hollywood Stars.
As for the film's initial reception upon release, even during its distribution in the era of racial segregation, "The Jackie Robinson Story" received critical praise and fared extremely well at the box-office. According to The New York Times movie critic Bosley Crowther wrote: "What is surprising in the new film is the sincerity of the dramatization and the integrity of Mr. Robinson playing himself. Too often, in films of this nature about sports figures, fanciful or real, the sentiments are inflated and the heroics glorified."
The Joe Louis Story 1953
Producer: Stirling Stilliphant Script: Robert Sylvester Director: Robert Gordon Cinematography: Joseph C. Brun CAST: Coley Wallace, Hilda Simms, Paul Stewart, James Edwards Music: George Bassman Production: Walter P. Chrysler Productions 88 min. Color sound English dialog
American film noir sports film produced by Stirling Stilliphant and directed by Robert Gordon starring Coley Wallace (as Joe Louis), Hilda Simms, Paul Stewart, James Edwards, etc.
"The Joe Louis Story" is a biographical motion picture concerning the true story of boxer Joe Louis from his rise out of poverty to becoming heavyweight champion of the world.
Kansas City Confidential 1952
Producer: Edward Small Script: Rowland Brown (story), Harold Greene (story), George Bruce (script), Harry Essex (script) Director: Phil Carlson Cinematography: George E. Diskant CAST: John Payne, Preston Foster, Neville Brand, Lee Van Cleef, Jack Elam Music: Paul Sawtell Production: Associated Players and Producers, Edward Small Productions 99 min. Color sound English dialog.
American independently-produced film-noir crime film directed by Phil Carson and starring John Payne, Preston Foster, Neville Brand, Lee Van Cleef, Jack Elam, etc.
"Kanas City Confidential" was originally titled "Kansas City 117," the title based on a police code. The story opens in Kansas City, but most of the picture actually takes place at a fictitious fishing resort, Borados, in Mexico.
"Kanas City Confidential" was director Phil Carlson's second crime production, he also directed "Scandal Sheet" (1952), which proved to be a modest commercial success.
"Kansas city Confidential" had been popular enough to usher in a series of "Confidential" films from Edward Small - "New York Confidential" (1955), "Chicago Confidential" (1957), and "Hong Kong Confidential" (1958). Variety wrote upon the release of "Kansas City Confidential": "With the exception of the denouement (story structure), director Phil Carlson reins his cast in a grim atmosphere that develops momentum through succeeding reels, Payne delivers an impressive portrayal of an unrelenting outsider who cracks the ring."
The plot of "Kansas City Confidential" served as an inspiration for Quentin Tarantino's "Reservoir Dogs" (1992).
Kept Husbands 1931
Producers: William LeBaron, Louis Sarecky Script: Louis Sarecky (script), Forest Halsey (adaptation), Alfred Jackson (adaptation) Director: Lloyd Bacon Cinematography: Jack MacKenzie CAST: Joel McCrea, Dorothy Mackaill, Ned Sparks, Mary Carr Music: Max Steiner Production: RKO Radio Pictures 75 min. Color sound English dialog.
American Pre-Code comic drama film directed by Lloyd Bacon and starring Joel McCrea, Dorothy Mackaill, Ned Sparks, Mary Carr, etc.
"Kept Husbands" is primarily a drama film, but also contains elements of comedy as well. The picture centers around the class struggles and stereotypes between the working class and the wealthy, which was particularly striking during the Great Depression era when the picture was produced. The film also points out the stereotypical gender roles which were quite prevalent at the time.
The Lady Refuses 1931
Producers: William LeBaron, Bertram Millhauser Script: Guy Botton (story), Robert Milton (story), Wallace Smith (script) Director: George Archainbaud Cinematography: Leo Tover CAST: Betty Compson, John Darrow, Gilbert Emery, Ed Norton Music: Max Steiner Production: RKO Radio Pictures 72 min. Color sound English dialog.
American Pre-Code melodrama directed by George Archainbaud and starring Betty Compson, John Darrow, Gilbert Emery, Ed Norton, etc.
"The Lady Refuses" follows a destitute young woman on the verge of becoming a prostitute, who is hired by a wealthy man to woo his ne'er-do-well son away from the clutches of a gold-digger.