Leonard Henry Movies
- 1950
Faith Domergue, the latest of Howard Hughes' protegees, made her film debut in 1950's Where Danger Lives. Domergue plays Margo Lannington the wife of Frederick Lannington (Claude Rains), an elderly millionaire possessed of a sadistic streak. Robert Mitchum co-stars as Jeff Cameron, a poor soul who falls in love with Margo without knowing that she's married. During a violent confrontation with the jealous Frederick, Cameron knocks the older man out and stumbles out of the room. Upon his return, he discovers that Frederick is dead. Margo had smothered her husband during Cameron's absence, but she insists that Cameron is the killer. The desperate lovers flee to Mexico, where Cameron at long last discovers that his travelling companion is more than a little unhinged. Masterfully directed by John Farrow, Where Danger Lives might have been one of the classic "film noirs," were it not for the acting deficiencies of Faith Domergue, who flounders in a role that Jane Greer could have played blindfolded. ~ Hal Erickson, All Movie Guide
- Starring:
- Robert Mitchum, Faith Domergue, (more)
- 1941
Bob Hope plays a famous movie star who does his best to avoid the pre-war draft, but ends up in uniform all the same. Hope marries Dorothy Lamour, the daughter of Army colonel Clarence Kolb, in hopes that this union will help him sidestep military service. Stuck in boot camp, Hope is a class-A screw-up until redeeming himself during a sham battle--though his "heroic" commandeering of a tank began as yet another boo-boo. Still not entirely certain that Hope could carry a film by himself, Paramount teamed him with Eddie Bracken and Lynne Overman--a sort of Abbott and Costello plus One. Despite the efforts to make Bob Hope part of an ensemble, it is clear from the first frame to the last who is truly the star of Caught in the Draft. ~ Hal Erickson, All Movie Guide
- Starring:
- Bob Hope, Dorothy Lamour, (more)
As with any film featuring the outrageously operatic antics of early horror star Tod Slaughter, this slow, stagebound murder-mystery would be completely unwatchable without the producer-star's presence. A third adaptation of the stage play by F. Brooke Warren, this film stars Slaughter as Chevalier Lucio del Gardo, a respected Parisian aristocrat responsible for the ghastly crimes previously attributed to a notorious killer known only as "The Wolf." Del Gardo has concocted a devious plan with his deranged, brutish brother to pull off a rash of bank robberies, using The Wolf's murderous ways to throw police off their trail. Their plans are foiled in the end, though del Gardo apparently escapes the clutches of the law. One of Slaughter's better efforts, made bearable by a brief running time. ~ Cavett Binion, All Movie Guide
- 1938
In this Irish romance, two farmers fall in love, but must part when their high falutin' landlord evicts them. The man then goes to London where he ends up falling for a wealthy young woman while the woman farmer ends up working as a hostess in a London restaurant. Eventually the two former lovers meet and the romantic sparks fly. They eventually return to their land where they discover the landlord has left the fellow an inheritance. ~ Sandra Brennan, All Movie Guide
- 1936
Producer Eddie Pola (a well-known British master of ceremonies) hopes to stir up publicity by staging an outdoor radio broadcast. The inclement British weather is only one problem: Pola must also contend with waspish critic Leslie Perrins, who does his best to sabotage the show. That's the plot, take it or leave it. Essentially, Sunshine Ahead is an excuse to showcase several top radio personalities, including bandleader Jack Payne, The Two Leslies, Ruth Naylor (performing the Jewel song from Faust) and Troise and His Mandoliers. This standard quota quickie was distributed throughout the British Empire by Hollywood's Universal Pictures. ~ Hal Erickson, All Movie Guide
- 1934
In this comedy, a pair of hard-working fellows at the Henry VIII Pub find their labors unappreciated by their boss. One of them, however, is appreciated by the patrons who enjoy his singing. When the pair decide to begin working at the Henry IV, his audience follows. Unfortunately, their new boss does not appreciate their singing and so the two leave the pub business all together and head for the stage. ~ Sandra Brennan, All Movie Guide
