Paul White Movies
- 1958
Set amidst the beauty of the Caribbean, this romance centers upon the captain of a sail boat who falls in love with a tourist. The happy couple encounter rough seas when he tourist's aunt decides she wants the handsome salt for herself. ~ Sandra Brennan, Rovi
- 1942
The Harlem Tuff Kids, African-American counterparts to Monogram's East Side Kids, star in the morale-boosting comedy-drama Take My Life. It all begins when the Kids-Johnny (Freddie Jackson), Bill (Eugene Jackson), Icky (Paul White), Stinky (Eddie Lynn) and Shadow (Monte Hawley)-disdainfully disregard their patriotic responsibilities as America enters WW2. Our hoodlum heroes are brought into line by tough-but-kindly Sergeant Holmes (Jack Carr), who gives them a crash course in what it means to be a "Real American". Before they've been completely won over, however,the Tuff Kids are sucked into a murder-mystery subplot. Curiously, the fact that most black American citizens in 1942 were routinely denied the very freedoms they were expected to fight for is sidestepped in this cheap but lively programmer. ~ Hal Erickson, Rovi
- Starring:
- Freddie Jackson, Eugene Jackson, (more)
- 1942
RKO Radio's film series based on the popular radio serial Scattergood Baines rolled into 1942 with Scattergood Rides High. Guy Kibbee returns as Scattergood Baines, the grocer-sage of the small town of Coldriver. On this occasion, Baines champions the cause of orphan boy Dan Knox (Charles Lind), who has been cheated out of his family's racing stable and horse-breeding farm. Using common sense and a bit of genteel larceny, Scattergood out-slickers the crooks who've victimized Dan. He also puckishly stage-manages the romance between Dan and wealthy city gal Helen Van Pelt (Dorothy Moore). Mild comedy relief is provided by black youngsters Philip Hurlic and Paul White. ~ Hal Erickson, Rovi
- Starring:
- Guy Kibbee, Jed Prouty, (more)
- 1941
Scattergood Pulls the Strings was the second in a series of B pictures based on the long-running radio series Scattergood Baines. Guy Kibbee returns as Baines, the philosophy-dispensing proprietor of the general store in the village of Coldriver. Living up to the film's title, Scattergood manages to solve practically everyone's problems in the course of the film's brief running time. He is especially effective in helping a pair of young lovers (Susan Peters and James Corner) achieve their life's ambition, and in reuniting a 10-year-old boy (Bobs Watson) with his long-missing father (silent screen veteran Monte Blue). If this film were any more heartwarming, it would catch fire. ~ Hal Erickson, Rovi
- Starring:
- Guy Kibbee, Susan Peters, (more)
- 1941
The unlikely combination of John Wayne and Joan Blondell adds a bit of vinegar and spice to the so-so costume drama Lady for a Night. Blondell is cast as Jenny Blake, owner of the Memphis Belle-not a WW2 bomber, but a gambling ship moored just outside New Orleans. Jenny's partner and erstwhile suitor is local political boss Jack Morgan (Wayne). She loves Morgan, but decides to marry for money and prestige, and to that end weds "black sheep" socialite Alan Alderson (Ray Middleton). Her new in-laws are infuriated by this marriage of convenience, and do everything they can to ruin Jenny in the eyes of society. When Alderson dies suddenly, his vengeful mother Julia (Blanche Yurka) accuses Jenny of poisoning her husband. Throughout the subsequent trial and scandal, Morgan stands loyally by Jenny's side, convincing her at long last that he's been the "right man" for her all along. Hattie Noel, who two years earlier lost the role of Mammy in Gone with the Wind to Hattie McDaniel, essays a neat Mammy-like characterization as Jenny's all-knowing maidservant. ~ Hal Erickson, Rovi
- Starring:
- Joan Blondell, John Wayne, (more)
- 1941
Inspired by the long-running (1937-1949) radio series of the same name, Scattergood Baines came to the screen in 1941, with Guy Kibbee replacing the radio version's Jess Pugh in the title role. In his first movie outing, storekeeper Scattergood Baines, resident philosopher of the town of Coldriver, tries to prevent a group of shifty financiers from taking control of a local railroad line which he manages. For a while, Baines loses the confidence and support of his friends and neighbors, but in the end he prevails as usual. Carried over from the radio series is Francis "Dink" Trout as eccentric train conductor Pliny Pickett. Like its radio role model, Scattergood Baines is based on characters created by Clarence Buddington Kelland. ~ Hal Erickson, Rovi
- Starring:
- Guy Kibbee, Carolyn Hughes, (more)
- 1941
Scattergood Meets Broadway was the third of RKO's film series based on the long-running radio favorite Scattergood Baines. Guy Kibbee once again plays the avuncular Mr. Baines, philosophical storekeeper of the mythical town of Coldriver. Though he has no use for the Big City, Scattergood heads to New York to save local boy Davy (William Henry), a would-be playwright, from being victimized by a team of clever Broadway con artists (Frank Jenks and Bradley Page). Before the final fade out, Scattergood is nearly suckered himself by the slickers, but he turns out to be a bit too smart for 'em. Some of the film's biggest laughs are provided by Joyce Compton as a deceptively dumb-blonde showgirl. ~ Hal Erickson, Rovi
- Starring:
- Guy Kibbee, Emma Dunn, (more)
- 1940
Like so many Gene Autry westerns of the early 1940s, Carolina Moon draws its title from a popular song of the era, duly warbled by Autry in the course of the film. In fact, music takes precedence over action in this outing, which would remain one of Gene's quietest and most laid-back vehicles. The plot finds Autry and his perennial saddle pal Frog (Smiley Burnette) coming to the rescue of several elderly Carolina plantation owners, presently at the mercy of a Uriah Heep-ish villain. The southern setting is as good an excuse as any to trot out several African American spirituals, soulfully performed by the Hall Johnson Choir. And as mentioned, Autry tackles the title tune, singing enthusiastically to wide-eyed heroine June Storey. ~ Hal Erickson, Rovi
- Starring:
- Gene Autry, Smiley Burnette, (more)
- 1940
This "Little Tough Guys" series entry finds the kids gainfully employed building airplane engines. Hoping to get into the air themselves, the boys take jobs with a crooked crop-dusting concern. Carter (Victor Jory), the head of the company, refuses to buy new planes, despite the dangers faced by his pilots. When young Rap (Bobby Jordan) is killed in a subtandard plane, his pal Tommy (Billy Halop) swears revenge. The plot is resolved in a wild car chase which segues into an aerial dogfight between Tommy and the fleeing Carter. Much-needed comedy relief is provided by series regular Huntz Hall and by the inimitable Shemp Howard. ~ Hal Erickson, Rovi
- Starring:
- Billy Halop, Huntz Hall, (more)
- 1938
A concert singer goes blind after a rival throws acid in his face and leaves his New York girlfriend to return to his grandmother's plantation in Kentucky. The town centennial celebration his grandmother has planned is actually the method she has devised to help him get his self-confidence back. The singer performs some Stephen Foster songs, with plantation employees as his backup group, and feels like a true man again. ~ Steve Huey, Rovi
- Starring:
- Evelyn Venable, The Hall Johnson Choir, (more)
- 1938
Chronic gambler Joe Beebe (Bing Crosby) is a source of great consternation for his loving mother (Elizabeth Patterson), who wishes that Joe would follow the example of his responsible, strait-laced brother David (Fred MacMurray). Meanwhile, the youngest member of the Beebe clan, 13-year-old Mike Beebe (Donald O'Connor, in his first major film role) unabashedly hero-worships the wastrelly Joe. It so happens that all three brothers are talented musicians, but only Joe has star quality. Heading to Los Angeles to seek his fortune, Joe promises that he'll send for the rest of his family when he makes good. Inspired by the glowing reports of his success in L.A., Mother Beebe sells everything she owns and heads to the coast--only to discover that the prodigal Joe has spent every penny he's earned on a long-shot race horse. While Joe tries to groom the nag for the big money--with Mike as the jockey--middle brother David arrives in L.A., prepared to knock some sense into Joe's head. As things turn out, the brothers join forces to thwart a bunch of race-fixing gangsters, segueing into the long-delayed happy ending. Heavily touted as the first film in which Bing Crosby played a "serious" role (which it really wasn't) Sing You Sinners is best known today for introducing the hit songs "Small Fry" and "I've Got a Pocketful of Dreams." ~ Hal Erickson, Rovi
- Starring:
- Bing Crosby, Fred MacMurray, (more)
- 1938
Boy Slaves is an effective indictment of the exploitation of reform school labor. Several troublesome boys are offered an opportunity to work on a turpentine farm run by the seemingly benign Charles Lane, with the promise that their good behavior will ensure their early release from the reformatory. But the kids soon learn that they're little more than slaves, toiling at a dangerous job for free while Lane grows rich on their labors. After numerous tragedies, the boys are finally able to relay the facts to the outside world, and Lane is brought to justice. Based on several true accounts of Southern work farms, Boy Slaves managed to overcome the lurid nature of its title with the sincerity of its storytelling. ~ Hal Erickson, Rovi
- Starring:
- Anne Shirley, Roger Daniel, (more)
In this urban drama, a teenage street punk learns a valuable lesson about the dangers of crime. Jackie Cooper is the tough gangleader with political aspirations. He tries to get himself involved in the graft and corruption of local city government. He almost dies after he is plugged by a gangster. That is the turning point in his life. He decides to forego the crooked path for the straight and narrow. He takes his sweetheart along for the ride. ~ Sandra Brennan, Rovi
- Starring:
- Jackie Cooper, Maureen O'Connor, (more)
- 1937
In the South Seas, Seaman Duke (John Wayne) boards a whaler, and asks the owner, Capt. Drew (Montague Love) and his daughter Janet (Diana Gibson) to look after the pearls he's gathered. Drew, who's dying, persuades Duke to marry Janet to prevent her from marrying crewman Rand (Moroni Olsen), who's thereafter suspicious of Duke. When the crew learns Duke knows where more pearls are, they want to go after them, but Duke sides with Janet, who's after whales, though he's still opposed by Rand. Eventually, incited by Blackie (Maurice Black), the crew mutinies, forcing Rand and Duke to work together. ~ Bill Warren, Rovi
- Starring:
- John Wayne, Diana Gibson, (more)
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