Arthur B. Woods Movies

In this drama, a journalist assists a young woman seeking revenge upon the newspaper baron who ruined her father. ~ Sandra Brennan, Rovi

In this farce, a photographer gives up his successful career so that he can become a painter. Unfortunately, he is a terrible artist. Fortunately, his ex-secretary supports him all the way and eventually becomes his wife. ~ Sandra Brennan, Rovi

In this suspense movie, a secretary marries her rich old boss. He suddenly dies and she finds herself the prime suspect in his murder. She goes to court and is found guilty. En route to court, she is involved in a near-fatal auto-accident. Within her heart is a small piece of glass that a surgeon removes during a ground-breaking operation. The doctor then discovers that the woman has been given a death sentence. Not wanting to lose the patient he worked so hard to save, the doctor sneaks her out of the hospital and keeps her well hidden until the police accost the real killer. ~ Sandra Brennan, Rovi

A loving mother sacrifices all for her son in this drama. She is an artist's model who finds herself financially drained by a dead-beat artist when she falls in love with a younger man, marries him and bears a son. When her beloved husband dies in the war, the old artist tries to win her back. When that doesn't work, he lures her into his studio and pulls a gun on her. During the ensuing struggle, she accidentally shoots him and ends up spending 15 years in jail. Upon her release she heads for America to keep her son from discovering the truth. In the States, she gets involved with a gambler, but then returns to England and discovers her son is being flimflammed by gamblers. She then saves him from losing it all, but the ungrateful son only has eyes for his lover and his mother slowly fades from view. ~ Sandra Brennan, Rovi

Teddington Studios, Warner Bros.' British production arm, was responsible for the entertaining quota-quickie Mayfair Melody. Popular radio baritone Keith Falkner stars as Mark, an auto mechanic and aspiring singer who is discovered by spoiled heiress Brenda (Joyce Kirby). The heroine prevails upon her car-manufacturer daddy to sponsor Mark's entree into the world of grand opera. Through his modest and self-effacing example, Brenda becomes unspoiled and falls in love. Mayfair Melody represents another excellent directorial job from Arthur B. Woods, whose burgeoning career was cut tragically short when he became an early casualty of WWII. ~ Hal Erickson, Rovi

This comedy chronicles a long night in which a young couple staying in an isolated cottage find that all their clothing has been stolen by a burglar. ~ Sandra Brennan, Rovi

In this Paris-set comedy, a clerk gets a chance of a lifetime when he is unable to deposit his firm's receipts before the bank closes and has to keep the money over the weekend. He decides to have a little fun and uses the money to fool a fake countess into believing that he too is wealthy. Though he feels bad about it on Monday, he is very surprised to learn that his firm considers him a hero because the bank was robbed over the weekend. ~ Sandra Brennan, Rovi

Charles "Buddy" Rogers and Mary Brian, who'd previously co-starred in several Hollywood silent pictures, were reteamed in the British comedy Once in a Million. The all-American Rogers is somewhat unconvincingly cast as Pierre, a Parisian clerk who is reluctantly entrusted with five million francs. To avoid attracting attention with so large a sum, he checks into a fancy hotel and places the money in the hotel safe. Dressmaker's assistant Suzanne (Brian) notices Pierre -- and his money -- in the lobby and assumes that he's a millionaire. Hoping to strike up an acquaintance, she pretends to be wealthy herself, whereupon the misunderstandings begin piling up like cord-wood. The cliched aspects of One in a Million can be forgiven in the light of its truly surprising finale. ~ Hal Erickson, Rovi

A mid-1930s precursor to the 1956 Broadway musical Bells are Ringing, Give Her a Ring concerns a group of melodic telephone operators who get involved in the lives of their clients. One of these is Karen Swenson (Wendy Barrie), whose inability to mind her own business gets her in all sorts of jams. She finally stops butting in when her boss Paul Hedrick (Clifford Mollison) declares his love for her. American musical-comedy favorite Zelma O'Neal, who'd introduced "The Varsity Drag" in the original stage production of Good News, plays the gum-chewing comedy relief. Give Her a Ring is based on a German play titled Fraulein Falsch Verbunden. ~ Hal Erickson, Rovi

In this British musical, a riveter finds his attention riveted on a pretty tap dancer causing him to fall from a skyscraper and break both of his ankles. Later she visits him in hospital and cons him into learning to tap as a way to strengthen his newly healed joints. As soon as he is fully recovered, he returns to his job but discovers that he is terrified of heights. This causes him to become a professional dancer instead. He also marries the girl. ~ Sandra Brennan, Rovi

Will Hay heads a cast of nearly 40 popular British variety artists in Radio Parade of 1935. The magnificent supercilious Mr. Hay is cast as William Garland, a radio-station manager whose operation is in big financial trouble. Our hero is baled out by Jimmie Clare (Clifford Mollison), head of the station's complaints department, who enlists the aid of his fellow employees to stage a big-time variety show. So grateful is Garland that he consents to the marriage of his daughter Joan (Helen Chandler) and the enterprising Mr. Clare. The film's guest stars may have not meant much to American audiences, but British filmgoers were delighted to see their favorites in action. Filmed in a primitive but eye-pleasing color process, Radio Parade of 1935 represents one of the first directorial efforts of Arthur B. Woods, whose promising career was tragically cut short in the early stage of WW II. In America, the film was released as Radio Follies. ~ Hal Erickson, Rovi