Jackie Cooper Movies
American actor Jackie Cooper was in movies at the age of three; his father had abandoned the family when Jackie was two, forcing his mother to rely upon the boy's acting income to keep food on the table. Shortly after earning his first featured part in Fox Movietone Follies of 1929. Cooper was hired for producer Hal Roach's "Our Gang" two-reeler series, appearing in 15 shorts over the next two years. The "leading man" in many of these comedies, he was most effective in those scenes wherein he displayed a crush on his new teacher, the beauteous Miss Crabtree. On the strength of "Our Gang," Paramount Pictures signed Cooper for the title role in the feature film Skippy (1931), which earned the boy an Oscar nomination. A contract with MGM followed, and for the next five years Cooper was frequently co-starred with blustery character player Wallace Beery. Cooper outgrew his preteen cuteness by the late 1930s, and was forced to accept whatever work that came along, enjoying the occasional plum role in such films as The Return of Frank James (1940) and What a Life! (1941). His priorities rearranged by his wartime Naval service, Cooper returned to the states determined to stop being a mere "personality" and to truly learn to be an actor. This he did on Broadway and television, notably as the star of two popular TV sitcoms of the 1950s, The People's Choice and Hennessey. Cooper developed a taste for directing during this period (he would earn an Emmy for his directorial work on M*A*S*H in 1973), and also devoted much of his time in the 1960s to the production end of the business; in 1965 he was appointed vice-president in charge of production at Screen Gems, the TV subsidiary of Columbia Pictures. From the early 1970s onward, Cooper has juggled acting, producing and directing with equal aplomb. Modern audiences know Cooper best as the apoplectic Perry White in the Christopher Reeve Superman films. In 1981, Cooper surprised (and sometimes shocked) his fans with a warts-and-all autobiography, Please Don't Shoot My Dog. ~ Hal Erickson, All Movie Guide- 1989
Hosted by Jackie Cooper, each episode of Hollywood Chronicles takes a lighthearted look at an aspect of American cinema. From the famous to the obscure, from scandal to triumph, no significant moment is missed. This episode of the series features a close look at character actors, those who so memorably inhabit their small roles that their actual identities are often obscured. ~ Rob Ferrier, All Movie Guide
- 1989
Hosted by Jackie Cooper, each episode of Hollywood Chronicles takes a lighthearted look at an aspect of American cinema. From the famous to the obscure, from scandal to triumph, no significant moment is missed. In this episode, the darker side of Hollywood is examined, including some of its famous murder cases. It details the murders of William Desmond Taylor and Thelma Todd as well as the strange death of George Reeves, known to a generation as Superman. ~ Rob Ferrier, All Movie Guide
- 1989
Hosted by Jackie Cooper, each episode of Hollywood Chronicles takes a lighthearted look at an aspect of American cinema. From the famous to the obscure, from scandal to triumph, no significant moment is missed. In this episode, viewers take a look at the sorts of characters offered as heroes by Hollywood, and the way the changing values of the world at large have affected their choices. Actors in this examination include James Dean and Gary Cooper. ~ Rob Ferrier, All Movie Guide
- 1989
Hosted by Jackie Cooper, each episode of Hollywood Chronicles takes a lighthearted look at an aspect of American cinema. From the famous to the obscure, from scandal to triumph, no significant moment is missed. In this particular episode viewers look at the way Hollywood promotes its product. The enormous sums of money involved in the success of a picture have always tied executive careers to the pictures they make. In this tape, viewers get an inside peek at the outrageous lengths to which these men will go to ensure a picture's success. ~ Rob Ferrier, All Movie Guide
- 1989
Hosted by Jackie Cooper, each episode of Hollywood Chronicles takes a lighthearted look at an aspect of American cinema. From the famous to the obscure, from scandal to triumph, no significant moment is missed. In this episode, viewers take a look at the horror film. Interviews with some of its central figures are featured, including Samuel Arkoff and Harvey Korman. Close attention is paid to the careers of some of the genre's most memorable actors including Bela Lugosi and Lon Chaney. ~ Rob Ferrier, All Movie Guide
- 1989
Hosted by Jackie Cooper, each episode of Hollywood Chronicles takes a lighthearted look at an aspect of American cinema. From the famous to the obscure, from scandal to triumph, no significant moment is missed. In this episode viewers review the accomplishments of some of the silver screen's greatest clowns. Charlie Chaplin, Buster Keaton, and the Marx Brothers are all profiled here. Also included is a look at the vaudeville roots of many of these beloved stars. ~ Rob Ferrier, All Movie Guide
- 1989
Hosted by Jackie Cooper, each episode of Hollywood Chronicles takes a lighthearted look at an aspect of American cinema. From the famous to the obscure, from scandal to triumph, no significant moment is missed. This episode of the series takes a retrospective look at the special effects that have made so many movies memorable. Close attention is paid to King Kong and Ghostbusters II as a way of showing the evolution of this cinematic art. ~ Rob Ferrier, All Movie Guide
- 1989
Hosted by Jackie Cooper, each episode of Hollywood Chronicles takes a lighthearted look at an aspect of American cinema. From the famous to the obscure, from scandal to triumph, no significant moment is missed. This particular episode examines the newsreels. Before the era of television, the newsreels played before each feature gave most people their only glimpse of the events of their day. Featuring hard news, the reels also brought sports and entertainment news to large audiences. ~ Rob Ferrier, All Movie Guide
- 1989
Hosted by Jackie Cooper, each episode of Hollywood Chronicles takes a lighthearted look at an aspect of American cinema. From the famous to the obscure, from scandal to triumph, no significant moment is missed. On this episode, the careers, troubles, and triumphs of some of Hollywood's child actors are revealed. Included are looks at the lives and times of Hal Roach and Spanky McFarland. ~ Rob Ferrier, All Movie Guide
- 1989
Hollywood Chronicles was first seen in the US in 1989 as a weekly series on the Discovery Channel cable service. Jackie Cooper hosts this authoritative but informal journey through 90 years of Hollywood history. Though most of the clips shown are from the usual "public domain" sources, they are carefully chosen and attractively presented. When originally telecast, the episode series was offered in 26 half-hour installments; the video version consists of thirteen volumes, two episodes per tape. The titles are as follows: (1) "Censorship: The Unseen Cinema" and "Sex in the Cinema"; (2) "In the Beginning" and "The Studio System"; (3) "Pen and Ink" and "The Evolution of Sound"; (4) "Poverty Row" and "The New Rebels"; (5) "Publicity Stunts" and "Coming Attractions"; (6) "Riding Into the Sunset" and "The American Hero"; (7) "Scandal" and "Mysteries and Secrets"; (8) "Stereotypes and Minorities" and "Familiar Faces, Unknown Names"; (9) "Depression Years" and "Silent Witness"; (10) "The Futurists" and "Wizards of F/X"; (11) "The Great Detectives" and "The Great Clowns"; (12) "Search for God, Grails and Profits" and "Nightmare Fantasy"; and "Women With Clout" and "Hollywood's Children". ~ Hal Erickson, All Movie Guide
- 1989
Hosted by Jackie Cooper, each episode of Hollywood Chronicles takes a lighthearted look at an aspect of American cinema. From the famous to the obscure, from scandal to triumph, no significant moment is missed. In this tape, viewers examine a critical moment in movie history, the founding of the major studios, along with the consequences for smaller production companies. The rise of companies like MGM and 20th Century Fox is examined in detail. ~ Rob Ferrier, All Movie Guide
- 1989
Hosted by Jackie Cooper, each episode of Hollywood Chronicles takes a lighthearted look at an aspect of American cinema. From the famous to the obscure, from scandal to triumph, no significant moment is missed. In this particular episode, viewers examine how Hollywood has portrayed sex on films. Included are profiles of some of Hollywood's most famous sex symbols including Marilyn Monroe and Theda Bara. ~ Rob Ferrier, All Movie Guide
- 1989
Hosted by Jackie Cooper, each episode of Hollywood Chronicles takes a lighthearted look at an aspect of American cinema. From the famous to the obscure, from scandal to triumph, no significant moment is missed. This episode of the series looks at some of Hollywood's most independent directors, men willing to lay it all on the line to realize their artistic vision. Those profiled include Orson Welles and D.W. Griffith. Interviews with some of modern day's rebels are also featured, including Stanley Kramer. ~ Rob Ferrier, All Movie Guide
- 1989
Hosted by Jackie Cooper, each episode of Hollywood Chronicles takes a lighthearted look at an aspect of American cinema. From the famous to the obscure, from scandal to triumph, no significant moment is missed. This episode takes a close look at the B-movies, low-budget films made outside the studio system that nevertheless had a huge impact on the careers of many famous stars. ~ Rob Ferrier, All Movie Guide
- 1989
Hosted by Jackie Cooper, each episode of Hollywood Chronicles takes a lighthearted look at an aspect of American cinema. From the famous to the obscure, from scandal to triumph, no significant moment is missed. This particular tape offers a behind-the-scenes glimpse at the craft of moviemaking. Viewers investigate many facets of movie production from camera technique to wardrobe selection and prop construction. ~ Rob Ferrier, All Movie Guide
- 1989
Hosted by Jackie Cooper, each episode of Hollywood Chronicles takes a lighthearted look at an aspect of American cinema. From the famous to the obscure, from scandal to triumph, no significant moment is missed. In this episode, viewers are introduced to some of Hollywood's most powerful women, women who as actresses and directors demanded control of their own careers. Included are close looks at Joan Crawford and Lucille Ball. ~ Rob Ferrier, All Movie Guide
- 1989
Hosted by Jackie Cooper, each episode of Hollywood Chronicles takes a lighthearted look at an aspect of American cinema. From the famous to the obscure, from scandal to triumph, no significant moment is missed. This episode examines the experience of black actors in Hollywood, considering the strides that have been made and the road that yet stretches before them. Prominently featured are interviews with Della Reese and Nick Stewart. ~ Rob Ferrier, All Movie Guide
- 1989
Hosted by Jackie Cooper, each episode of Hollywood Chronicles takes a lighthearted look at an aspect of American cinema. From the famous to the obscure, from scandal to triumph, no significant moment is missed. This episode examines the history of the cinema during one of the darkest episodes of American history. Escapism was the order of the day. Gangster films and cartoons sated the public's desire to be entertained. ~ Rob Ferrier, All Movie Guide
- 1989
Hosted by Jackie Cooper, each episode of Hollywood Chronicles takes a lighthearted look at an aspect of American cinema. From the famous to the obscure, from scandal to triumph, no significant moment is missed. This selection from the series takes a look at the close relationship between the movies and Christianity, both on and off the screen. The program examines how this relationship has affected what is seen in the final product. ~ Rob Ferrier, All Movie Guide
- 1989
Hosted by Jackie Cooper, each episode of Hollywood Chronicles takes a lighthearted look at an aspect of American cinema. From the famous to the obscure, from scandal to triumph, no significant moment is missed. This particular tape examines the history of animated movies in the years before Disney came to dominate the genre. An interview with Walter Lantz, the creator of Woody Woodpecker, is featured. ~ Rob Ferrier, All Movie Guide
- 1989
Hosted by Jackie Cooper, each episode of Hollywood Chronicles takes a lighthearted look at an aspect of American cinema. From the famous to the obscure, from scandal to triumph, no significant moment is missed. In this episode, some of Hollywood's greatest scandals are given close attention. Included are examinations of the Fatty Arbuckle case, the Red Scare in Hollywood, and the arrest of Errol Flynn on rape charges. ~ Rob Ferrier, All Movie Guide
- 1989
Hosted by Jackie Cooper, each episode of Hollywood Chronicles takes a lighthearted look at an aspect of American cinema. From the famous to the obscure, from scandal to triumph, no significant moment is missed. In this episode, viewers will take a long look at that most American of film genres: the Western. A long interview with Gene Autry sheds light on the history of the Western in Hollywood. ~ Rob Ferrier, All Movie Guide
- 1989
Hosted by Jackie Cooper, each episode of Hollywood Chronicles takes a lighthearted look at an aspect of American cinema. From the famous to the obscure, from scandal to triumph, no significant moment is missed. This episode looks at the very beginnings of Hollywood's involvement with motion pictures and profiles some of the men that were there at the very start, men like Carl Laemmle and D.W. Griffith. ~ Rob Ferrier, All Movie Guide
- 1989
Hosted by Jackie Cooper, each episode of Hollywood Chronicles takes a lighthearted look at an aspect of American cinema. From the famous to the obscure, from scandal to triumph, no significant moment is missed. In this episode, viewers review the accomplishments of some of the silver screen's greatest detectives. The great characters of Sherlock Holmes, Charlie Chan, and Bulldog Drummond are investigated along with many others. ~ Rob Ferrier, All Movie Guide
- 1989
Hosted by Jackie Cooper, each episode of Hollywood Chronicles takes a lighthearted look at an aspect of American cinema. From the famous to the obscure, from scandal to triumph, no significant moment is missed. This episode examines the history of censorship in Hollywood. Many outside groups have attempted to control the content of Hollywood's films. From political ideas to images of sexuality and drug abuse, the struggle for artistic control has deep roots. ~ Rob Ferrier, All Movie Guide
