Mildred Coles Movies

In this detective drama, a gumshoe must find a priceless hunk of jade. His several leads evaporate when the police succeed in killing all of the suspects. Angered, the dick relaxes in a motel room and ponders the remaining clues, not realizing until it is almost too late that the biggest clue is right under his nose. ~ Sandra Brennan, All Movie Guide

In this tuneful western, a brave hero endeavors to save the town from the evil villains who are trying to poison its water supply. ~ Sandra Brennan, All Movie Guide

Desperadoes of Dodge City is set guess where, and stars the muscular Allan "Rocky" Lane. When a group of homesteaders are plagued by a series of bloody outlaw raids, Lane tries to help out with the assistance of the U.S. Cavalry. Unfortunately, Lane's military orders are stolen by the villain, leaving Our Hero with no proof as to his identity or mission. He spends the next four reels tracking down the bad guys, retrieving the valuable documents, and clearing his name. Billed second in Desperadoes of Dodge City is Lane's "wonder horse" Blackjack, thereby relegating leading lady Mildred Coles to fourth place in the cast list, just under comic sidekick Eddy Waller. ~ Hal Erickson, All Movie Guide

So This is Washington is one of the better entries in the "Lum 'N' Abner" film series. Chester Lauck and Norris Goff recreate their popular radio characters of Lum and Abner, folksy general-store proprietors in the village of Pine Bluff, Arkansas. This time, the boys become convinced that they've developed a synthetic-rubber formula, so they head to the nation's capital to offer their invention to the government. Thanks to the wartime housing shortage, Lum & Abner are obliged to set up residence at a park bench. Before long they've transformed into a pair of backwoods Bernard Baruchs, dispensing sage wisdom to pedestrians and pundits alike. Very much a product of its times, So This is Washington seems more quaint than funny when seen today. ~ Hal Erickson, All Movie Guide

The first of director Frank Capra's independent productions (in partnership with Robert Riskin), Meet John Doe begins with the end of reporter Ann Mitchell's (Barbara Stanwyck) job. Fired as part of a downsizing move, she ends her last column with an imaginary letter written by "John Doe." Angered at the ill treatment of America's little people, the fabricated Doe announces that he's going to jump off City Hall on Christmas Eve. When the phony letter goes to press, it causes a public sensation. Seeking to secure her job, Mitchell talks her managing editor (James Gleason) into playing up the John Doe letter for all it's worth; but to ward off accusations from rival papers that the letter was bogus, they decide to hire someone to pose as John Doe: a ballplayer-turned-hobo (Gary Cooper), who'll do anything for three squares and a place to sleep. "John Doe" and his traveling companion The Colonel (Walter Brennan) are ensconced in a luxury hotel while Mitchell continues churning out chunks of John Doe philosophy. When newspaper publisher D.B. Norton (Edward Arnold), a fascistic type with presidential aspirations, decides to use Doe as his ticket to the White House, he puts Doe on the radio to deliver inspirational speeches to the masses -- ghost-written by Mitchell, who, it is implied, has become the publisher's mistress. The central message of the Doe speeches is "Love Thy Neighbor," though, conceived in cynicism, the speeches strike so responsive a chord with the public that John Doe clubs pop up all over the country. Believing he is working for the good of America, Cooper agrees to front the National John Doe Movement -- until he discovers that Norton plans to exploit Doe in order to create a third political party and impose a virtual dictatorship on the country. The last of Capra's "social statement" films, Meet John Doe posted a profit, although Capra and Riskin were forced to dissolve their corporation due to excessive taxes. ~ Hal Erickson, All Movie Guide

In this comedy, the marital conflicts between a meek banker and his nagging wife are chronicled. First they fight over their daughter's future. His snooty, domineering wife wants her to marry a wealthy man, but he, realizing that she really loves the humble delivery boy for the bakery encourages he to follow her heart. Meanwhile, the wife tries to browbeat her husband into attending a posh mountain resort with her. He weasels out by claiming that he must journey to Washington to meet with the vice president. He does not mention that it is Washington, Oklahoma where he plans to do a little fishing. Upon his return he is shocked to discover that the whole town, believing that he has really important political connections, has come out to welcome him home. Not wanting to lose his credibility, the banker uses a variety of convoluted techniques to maintain the illusion until the real Vice President appears and helps him out. ~ Sandra Brennan, All Movie Guide

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, All Movie Guide

Ladies Must Live was based on George M. Cohan's play The Hometowners, prievious filmed in 1928. Wayne Morris plays the bumpkinish Lake, who tries to prevent his millionaire pal George (George Reeves) from marrying gold-digging nightclub thrush Pat (Rosemary Lane). As it turns out, however, Pat isn't as mercenary as she seems. In fact, it is through the auspices of Pat's inventor father Halliday (Ferris Taylor) that Lake ends up in the millionaire class himself. This outdated farce served only to keep several of Warner Bros.' young contract players busy. ~ Hal Erickson, All Movie Guide

The fact that James M. Cain (Double Indemnity, Mildred Pearce et. al.) was responsible for the storyline is the sole distinguishing feature of the pedestrian Warner Bros. melodrama Money and the Woman. Roger Pryor plays bank teller Charles Patterson, an outwardly honest soul who is actually a conscienceless embezzler. When Patterson becomes seriously ill, his wife Barbara (Brenda Marshall) calls upon bank president Dave Bennett (Jeffrey Lynn), beginning his forgiveness for her husband's past misdeeds. It turns out that Patterson isn't worth the effort, since he's been carrying on a torrid affair with coworker Miss Church (Lee Patrick). But Barbara doesn't have time to grieve, inasmuch as she's fallen in love with the handsome Bennett. ~ Hal Erickson, All Movie Guide