Billy Sullivan Movies

Noted for its stunt-flying scenes rather than its threadbare plot and production values, this silent action melodrama starred Billy Sullivan, a nephew of former heavyweight Champion John L. Sullivan. Sullivan played William Gordon, Jr., the carefree son of an aeroplane manufacturer (Tom Lingham). Against his father's wishes, Gordon falls in love with Helen Courtney (Molly Malone), the daughter of an inventor (Lafe Mckee), whom he saves from a usurper (Earl Metcalfe). Not only that, but Billy goes on to win the big race in the inventor's machine and receives a government contract for his father. Ironically, the film's villain, Earl Metcalfe, was tragically killed in a real-life airplane accident on January 26, 1928. ~ Hans J. Wollstein, Rovi

Stuntman Billy Sullivan was awarded for past services rendered by being given his own starring feature, Goat Getter. The title refers to a bit of 1920s slang which only makes sense in context of the film. Sullivan plays an aspiring boxer who wants a second crack at a lightweight champ who'd beaten him earlier. He follows the champ all the way to Hollywood, where the latter is starring in a movie. Several plot contrivances later, Billy and the champ square off before the cameras, whereupon their "reel" bout becomes uncomfortably "real." Screenwriter Grover Jones ladles on his usual mixture of action and sentiment. ~ Hal Erickson, Rovi

Directed by one of "Uncle" Carl Laemmle's many relatives, this Universal "Blue Streak Western" sat on the shelf for two years before being released to a mostly indifferent reception in 1927. The reason for the film's delay could have been aged leading man William Desmond's waning popularity, or its subject matter -- the bad treatment of Native American recruits in the past war -- might have worried a rather matter-of-fact studio such as Universal, despite the success of Paramount's The Vanishing American (1925). Desmond played Chief John Nisheto who, during the campaign in France, saves the life of Jack Burr (Albert J. Smith), the son of a United States senator (Byron Douglas) favorable to Native Americans. After the Armistice, Chief Nisheto starts dating Jack's sister Agnes (Marceline Day), to the dismay of the racist Jack, who doesn't realize that the chief is the man who once saved his life. Nisheto is later mortally wounded and Jack repents his prejudice on his rescuer's deathbed. Despite the film's honorable intentions, Red Clay suffered under Hollywood's stringent miscegenation policy. Desmond (a white actor, of course) had to die for Red Clay to reach an acceptable conclusion. This and several other melodramatic treatments of Native Americans were inspired by pro-Indian legislation enacted by real-life senator John Collier. The subject matter, however, was much better served in the early silent era, where Native Americans were more a subject of benign curiosity than the condescending praise typified by films such as Red Clay and The Vanishing American. ~ Hans J. Wollstein, Rovi

Stuntman Billy Sullivan stars as the "Speed Cop" in the motion picture of the same name. The picture begins as Sullivan gives a ticket to motorist Rose Blossom, who happens to be the daughter of a judge. Though she could very well "break" our hero, Blossom falls in love with him instead. She arranges a banquet in his honor, capriciously making it seem as though he's about to be fired by a police tribunal. Upon finding out that his job is secure, Sullivan further proves his value to the force by capturing banquet guest Francis Ford, who turns out to be a "society thief." ~ Hal Erickson, Rovi

Producer-director Duke Worne gathered a cast of B-Western actors, hired a cameraman (Ernest F. Smith), and using a blueprint provided by screenwriter Suzanne Avery, made this very low-budget action melodrama about a former ne'er-do-well (Billy Sullivan) who finds redemption in his love for an aspiring novelist (Hazel Deane). The girl's mother (Virginia True Boardman) requires expensive eye surgery and the boy agrees to fight a bully (Harry Tenbrook) for the necessary money. The film was released on the states rights market by Rayart Pictures, the forerunner of Monogram. ~ Hans J. Wollstein, Rovi

Stuntman-turned-actor Billy Sullivan performs several awesome feats of strength in the low-budget actioner The Gallant Fool. Sullivan is cast as millionaire's son Billy Banner, who heads to the mythical country of Valdonia to collect a debt in his father's behalf. Instead, he goes the "Prisoner of Zenda" route, posing as the Valdonian prince to foil the evil schemes of the actual monarch, Crown Prince Boris (Ferdinand Schumann-Heink). He also puts down a revolution and wins the undying love of the gorgeous Princess Iris (Hazel Deane). With a little more money and effort, The Gallant Fool might actually been worthy of its leading man. ~ Hal Erickson, Rovi

This lively outing chronicles the adventures of a daring young buck who defies his father, who grounded the lad for getting bad grades, and swipes his neighbor's car so he can take his girl to the dance. Afterward, he and his buddies begin playing "chicken" and the lad destroys his neighbor's rig. He then takes it to a body shop, unknowing that it is really run by crooks who use the cars for robberies. The innocent youth and his gal end up working as getaway drivers while the crooks rob his father's company. The crooks shoot his father during the heist and then threaten to kill him unless he drives. They force him to go the speed limit so as not to attract undue attention. The ever-defiant youth does just the opposite and peels off towards the police department where all ends happily. ~ Sandra Brennan, Rovi