Charles Brokaw Movies

Sonja Henie, the Norwegian skating star, reportedly played second fiddle to no one at Fox in the late '30s, and this backstage musical extravaganza is all Henie. Taking a leaf from producer David O. Selznick, Consolidated Pictures send public relation expert Tyrone Power in search of an unknown to star in the studio's upcoming production of Girl of the North. Power returns to Hollywood with Minnesota schoolmarm (and figure skating expert) Trudy Hovland in tow, and then manufactures a romance between the girl and stolid leading man Roger Maxwell (Rudy Vallee). The ensuing complications are quickly solved and the new star is able to perform a flashy finale to Irving Berlin's "The Song of the Metronome." ~ Hans J. Wollstein, Rovi

Cecil B. DeMille's The Buccaneer stars Fredric March, complete with curly hair, pencil moustache and florid "Sacre Bleu!" French accent, as 18th century pirate Jean Lafitte. Operating out of a "buccaneer's haven" of the coast of New Orleans, Lafitte plunders all passing ships for their wealth, but refuses to attack any vessel flying the American flag. During one seafaring skirmish, he rescues Dutch maiden Gretchen (Franziska Gaal) from a sunken ship. Gretchen falls madly in love with the dashing Lafitte, but he has eyes only for aristocratic Louisana belle Annette (Margot Grahame). During the War of 1812, Lafitte is offered a pardon by Andrew Jackson (Hugh Sothern) if he and his pirates will fight on the American side. As good as his word, Lafitte stands shoulder to shoulder with Jackson as they ward off the British at the Battle of New Orleans. During a Victory Ball in his honor, Lafitte is confronted with evidence that he unknowingly caused the death of Annette's younger sister Marie (Louise Campbell) during a previous act of piracy. The assembled guests are all for hanging Lafitte on the spot, but General Jackson offers the pirate an hour's head start out of New Orleans, provided he never set foot on American soil again. This naturally costs Lafitte the love of Annette; fortunately, Gretchen is awaiting him on board his ship with open arms. From the opening scene in which Dolly Madison (Spring Byington) rescues the Declaration of Independence during the burning of Washington to the closing clinch between Lafitte and Gretchen, The Buccaneer is one of DeMille's most exhilarating films. It was remade less successfully in 1958 under the direction of Cecil B's son-in-law Anthony Quinn, who played the supporting role of Beluche in the original film. ~ Hal Erickson, Rovi

Signed for a series of B pictures by Universal in 1936, John Wayne alternated between westerns and modern-day adventure yarns. Idol of the Crowds stars Wayne as a hockey player, threatened with more bodily harm than usual when he refuses to cheat. Leading lady Sheila Bromley falls in love with Wayne due to his "no funny business" stance. Alas, honesty has its price: Wayne's enemies contrive to seriously injure the hockey team's 12 year old mascot Billy Burrud. Idol of the Crowds was produced by Paul Malvern, the man responsible for John Wayne's earlier western series for Lone Star/Monogram. ~ Hal Erickson, Rovi

Bret Harte's short story The Luck of Roaring Camp had previously been woven into the plot of RKO's Outcasts of Poker Flat when this Monogram "special" made its appearance late in 1937. The basic story remains intact, with an orphaned baby magically bringing good fortune to a rough-and-tumble mining camp. Among those to benefit from the kid's presence are earnest young miner Davey (Owen Davis Jr.), rough-edged but likeable camp singer Elsie (Joan Woodbury) and shifty-eyed gambler Oakhurst (Charles Brokaw). At base a good yarn, Luck of Roaring Camp suffers from an excess of corn, especially in the closing scenes. It was the final directorial effort of Irvin Willat, a once-prominent figure in the world of silent films. ~ Hal Erickson, Rovi

Seasoned newsreel cameraman Bob Adams (John Wayne) is assigned to cover the rebellion in the fictional Arab country of Samarai. Samari is chock full of tribal unrest, and in order for Adams (Wayne) to get footage of rebel leader El Kadar (Charles Brokaw), he must fight his way through a neverending stream of arms smugglers, agents, throat-cutting tribesmen, and a love affair with Pamela (Gwen Gaze), the beautiful daughter of a Colonel. Eventually, Adams gets his pictures, but not before he manages to save his brother Don (James Bush) and all of the British troops stationed in Samari. I Cover the War was directed by Trem Carr and also features actors Don Barclay, Pat Somerset, and Sam Harris. ~ Tracie Cooper, Rovi