Ricardo Cortez Movies
Though his professional name was suggestive of a Latin Lover type, actor Ricardo Cortez was actually an Austrian Jew, born Jacob Krantz. He arrived in Hollywood in 1922, at a time when the Rudolph Valentino craze was at its height. Producers liked the darkly handsome Jacob Krantz but felt that neither his name nor his heritage would do for publicity purposes: thus he became Ricardo Cortez, and his birthplace shifted to Spain. Despite the fact that his roles called upon his looks more than his talent, Cortez wanted to learn to act, and to that end signed on for the 1926 film The Sorrows of Satan, directed by the legendary D. W. Griffith. But Griffith was going through a career downer, and the disappointed Cortez left the film knowing little more about acting than he had when shooting started. Nonetheless, Cortez was a popular star, so much so that he was billed above up-and-coming Greta Garbo in The Torrent, her first American picture. When sound pictures came in, Cortez' studio dragged its feet with indecision as to whether or not the actor's voice would record adequately. Cortez took matters in his own hands by starring in a cheap independent melodrama titled Phantom in the House (1929). The picture was terrible, but at least Cortez proved he could talk. On top again in the early '30s, Cortez shed his "second string Valentino" image to play wisecracking urban types, including Sam Spade in the 1931 version of The Maltese Falcon. Relegated to second leads and villains by the late '30s, Cortez decided to give directing a try, acquitting himself nicely with 1939's Heaven with a Barbed Wire Fence. Eventually Cortez lost interest in Hollywood (and vice versa), choosing instead to dabble in the stock market. Though he still took the occasional film part, by the '50s Cortez was better known for his activities as a member of one of Wall Street's top brokerage firms. Not the only showbiz professional in the Krantz family, Ricardo Cortez was the older brother of cinematographer Stanley Cortez (The Magnificent Ambersons [1942]). ~ Hal Erickson, All Movie Guide- 1934
This is the second movie version of Willa Cather's Pulitzer Prize winning novel that tells the story of a bride-to-be whose fiance is near-fatally injured by the jealous husband of a woman he had an affair with. The poor young woman is so upset by the situation that she swears she will never love another and takes off to live in an isolated mountain retreat. There she feels terribly sorry for herself. One day she is moping along a rough trail, falls and hurts herself. Fortunately, she is rescued by an elderly lawyer who helps her heal both physically and psychologically. The grateful girl ends up marrying him. Unfortunately she meets a handsome young man with whom she falls passionately, but chastely in love. Now she regrets marrying the old attorney. She decides to tell the lawyer her true feelings. When she is finished he promptly keels over with a heart attack. It might be noted that after Cather saw this film, she forbade the further sale of her works to Hollywood. ~ Sandra Brennan, All Movie Guide
- Starring:
- Barbara Stanwyck, Frank Morgan, (more)
- 1941
The oft-used title A Shot in the Dark was affixed in 1941 to this Warner Bros. B-picture. Much of the film takes place in the big-city nightclub owned by shady Phil Richards (Ricardo Cortez). When the prospective buyer of Richards' establishment is murdered, there's no shortage of suspects, but the cops have their money on Richards' jealous sweetheart Clare Winters (Lucia Carroll)-until she's murdered as well. Police reporter Peter Kennedy (William Lundigan) and detective Bill Ryder (Regis Toomey) put their heads together to solve the mystery, with the help (and sometimes hindrance) of pert nightclub singer Dixie Waye (Nan Wynn). A Shot in the Dark is based on a story by Frederick Nebel, creator of the "Torchy Blaine" series. ~ Hal Erickson, All Movie Guide
- Starring:
- William Lundigan, Nan Wynn, (more)
- 1924
This society comedy-drama was given witty direction by Allan Dwan, and was based on The Laughing Lady by respected playwright Alfred Sutro. When Marjorie Colbert (Gloria Swanson) is neglected by her husband, Hector (Allan Simpson), she spends time befriending Harrison Peters (Ricardo Cortez). Peters mistakes her attention for love and puts her in a compromising position at a house party. Hector's mother (Ida Waterman) insists that her son get a divorce, and it goes through with the help of a detective and the skill of his talented attorney, Daniel Farr (Rod LaRocque). Marjorie blames the divorce on Farr and is determined to get back at him. She makes it look like he has attacked her, which ruins his reputation. She later regrets her action and, after confessing to the press, she makes plans to leave town. Farr, however, has fallen in love with her, and stops her from leaving. Marjorie realizes that she has fallen for him, too, and the two unite. In his attempt to portray New York society as realistically as possible, Dwan cast Thelma Morgan Converse in a small role. ~ Janiss Garza, All Movie Guide
- Starring:
- Gloria Swanson, Rod La Rocque, (more)
- 1924
Argentine Love is based on a novel by Vincent Blasco-Ibanez, whose Four Horsemen of the Apocalypse made a star of Rudolph Valentino. Not surprisingly, leading man Ricardo Cortez plays a Valentino clone: a headstrong Argentinian in love with fetching senorita Bebe Daniels. But Daniels prefers the company of American engineer James Rennie. Argentine Love is kept moving at a fast clip by Allan Dwan, who was far less lugubriously self-indulgent than Four Horsemen helmsman Rex Ingram. In retrospect, it is understandable that Paramount wanted to make a Valentino film without Valentino: he had recently ankled the studio in a bitter (and well-publicized) dispute over story material. ~ Hal Erickson, All Movie Guide
- Starring:
- Bebe Daniels, Ricardo Cortez, (more)
- 1931
Writer/director Tay Garnett reunited the stars of his fabulously successful Her Man (1930) for the 1931 RKO crime drama Bad Company. Ricardo Cortez plays a ruthless, near-psychotic gangster who withal follows his own code of honor. Helen Twelvetrees co-stars as a trusting young woman who marries mob lawyer John Garrick, never dreaming that both her husband and her brother Frank Conroy are involved in the rackets. When she does learn the horrible truth, it is she who determines to "cleanse" her family of the tinge of crime by dealing directly with Cortez-and we mean directly. Drawing most of its incidents from actual events, the screenplay even serves up a fascinating variation on the St. Valentine's Day massacre (it's staged in a hotel room rather than a garage, and it's the best scene in the film). Bad Company was adapted by Garnett and Thomas Buckingham from Put on the Spot, a novel by New York "expose" journalist Jack Lait. ~ Hal Erickson, All Movie Guide
- Starring:
- Helen Twelvetrees, Ricardo Cortez, (more)
A pompous executive has a hard time admitting that his hard-working, devoted secretary is really the one pulling the strings in his office and is behind his promotion to company president. As a result, he takes her for granted until she falls in love with another up-and-coming executive. Romantic fireworks ensue before he is able to rectify the situation. ~ Sandra Brennan, All Movie Guide
- Starring:
- Mary Astor, Robert Ames, (more)
- 1931
Loretta Young briefly contemplates using her sexual allure to get ahead in business in this sometimes frank but ultimately old-fashioned comedy-drama from Warner Bros. Packing her new husband, bandleader Johnny Saunders (Frank Albertson), off to Paris, Claire McIntyre (Young) sets her sight on her boss, wolfish advertising maven Robert J. Clayton (Ricardo Cortez). The latter's clumsy attempt to seduce the girl is interrupted by an enraged Johnny, however, and Claire comes to her senses. But Clayton doesn't take no for an answer and concocts a plan to sabotage the union. Big Business Girl was based on a College Humor magazine story by Patricia Reilly and H.N. Swanson. ~ Hans J. Wollstein, All Movie Guide
- Starring:
- Loretta Young, Frank Albertson, (more)
- 1933
The Big Executive is Ricardo Cortez, to whom success is less important than the pursuit of success. Having lost as many fortunes as he's gained, Cortez again teeters on the verge of bankruptcy. His principal business rival, who'd like nothing better than to see Cortez standing on a street corner selling apples, is Richard Bennett. Complicating matters is the fact that Cortez is in love with Bennett's daughter, Elizabeth Young. Paramount Pictures dressed up the low-budget proceedings of The Big Executive with high-class art direction; the film was scripted by Laurence Stallings, best known for such war dramas as The Big Parade. ~ Hal Erickson, All Movie Guide
- Starring:
- Ricardo Cortez, Richard Bennett, (more)
- 1947
The all-purpose title Blackmail was again revived for this breezy Republic comedy-mystery. William Marshall (not the African American star of Blacula) plays private eye Dan Turner, assigned to shield playboy Ziggy Cranston (Ricardo Cortez) from a pair of clever blackmailers (Adele Mara, Richard Fraser). As a result of Turner's interference, the extortionists up the ante from $50,000 to three times that amount. A few murders and plot twists later, Turner emerges triumphant; still, one wonders if Cranston wouldn't have been better off handling his persecutors by himself. Originally 67 minutes, Blackmail was trimmed to 54 minutes for its earliest TV showings. ~ Hal Erickson, All Movie Guide
- Starring:
- William Marshall, Adele Mara, (more)
- 1960
Little Joe and Hoss set out for Monterey, CA, bearing the cash with which they intend to purchase a prize bull for their father Ben. En route, they are ambushed by bandits. But this is hardly the end of their troubles, as the two brothers also contend with a youthful thief, a pack of starving Indians, and a strange woman named Cayetena (Barbara Luna). Veteran actor/director Ricardo Cortez appears as Don Xavier. First shown on January 2, 1960, "El Toro Grande" was written by John Tucker Battle. ~ Hal Erickson, All Movie Guide
- Starring:
- Lorne Greene, Pernell Roberts, (more)
- 1933
Broadway Bad stars Joan Blondell as a wisecracking but goodhearted chorus girl whose husband (Ricardo Cortez) is an abusive lout. Blondell's plight makes the headlines, which results in an upswing in her career. Rather than wallow in self-pity, she trades on the publicity to become a star, while hubby mutters dark promises of revenge. This film was based on the real-life relationship between Broadway star Hal Skelly and a promiscuous young actress who assumed several professional names. Though its cast and subject matter might suggest that Broadway Bad is a Warner Bros. epic, the picture was actually produced and released by Fox Studios. ~ Hal Erickson, All Movie Guide
- Starring:
- Joan Blondell, Ricardo Cortez, (more)
- 1950
RKO's Bunco Squad stars Robert Sterling as Sgt. Steve Johnson, a big-city detective dedicated to tracking down con artists. His current target is a gang of slicksters who are running a successful seance racket. Wealthy Jessica Royce (Elizabeth Risdon) is on the verge of bequeathing her fortune to the crooks, in exchange for communications from her deceased son. Posing as a couple of "marks," Johnson and girlfriend Grace Bradshaw (Joan Dixon) turn the tables on con-man Anthony Wells (Ricardo Cortez) and his confreres. On hand to reveal some of the techniques used by bunco artists is Dante the Magician, aka Harry A. Janssen, making the second of his two screen appearances (the first was in Laurel & Hardy's A-Haunting We Will Go). ~ Hal Erickson, All Movie Guide
- Starring:
- Robert Sterling, Joan Dixon, (more)
- 1927
By Whose Hand? is a swift little thriller expertly assembled by up-and-coming Columbia Pictures. Ricardo Cortez stars as a society swell who, unbeknownst to all but insurance investigator J. Thornton Baston, is actually the daring Agent X-9. More troubleshooter than spy, Cortez is assigned to solve a baffling jewel theft. All the evidence points to Cortez' sweetheart Eugenie Gilbert, and even he is convinced for a while that she's guilty. The actual miscreant is nearly as clever and resourceful as Cortez-but only nearly. Art director Robert E. Lee does wonders convincing us that Columbia's decidedly economical sets are actually a lavish night club and a huge mansion. ~ Hal Erickson, All Movie Guide
- Starring:
- Ricardo Cortez, Eugenia Gilbert, (more)
- 1923
As might be expected, director Victor Fleming, who always did well with outdoorsy material, deftly handles this adaptation of Zane Grey's novel. Glenn Kilbourne (Richard Dix) was gassed during the war. When he comes home to New York he discovers that his fiancée, Carley Burch (Lois Wilson), has not only fallen in with a jazzy, wealthy crowd -- she's one of their leaders. Kilbourne can't cope with this and he has a relapse. A doctor recommends that he go to Arizona to recuperate, but once he has been there for a while he falls in love with the place and becomes a rancher. Carley goes out to see him, but she's disgusted by the rough life and goes back to New York. After visiting a hospitalized friend of Kilbourne's, however, Carley realizes that she's a quitter and she returns to Arizona. It's not a moment too soon -- Kilbourne is about to marry Flo Hutter (Marjorie Daw), a rancher's daughter. Flo knows that Kilbourne still loves Carley, so she willingly gives him up and returns to Lee Stanton (Leonard Clapham), who has been patiently waiting for her. ~ Janiss Garza, All Movie Guide
- Starring:
- Richard Dix, Lois Wilson, (more)
- 1939
Sidney Toler made his second appearance as oriental sleuth Charlie Chan in the above-average Charlie Chan in Reno. It all begins when nervous young Mary Whitman (Pauline Moore) shows up in Reno to seek a divorce from husband Curtis Whitman (Kane Richmond). Before long, Jeanne Bentley (Louise Henry), another divorce-seeker, is found slain, and the police are certain that Mary, or her estranged husband, is responsible. It so happens that the Whitmans are from Honolulu, the stamping grounds of Charlie Chan, which is why our wily hero shows up in Nevada with son Jimmy (Victor Sen Yung) in tow. Every so often, the mystery slows down long enough for an amusing battle of wits between Chan and local sheriff Fletcher (Slim Summerville), who admittedly has only half the necessary ammunition. The billing order of the supporting cast is as usual a giveaway of the true killer's identity, but this doesn't lessen the enjoyment of this well-crafted programmer. Charlie Chan in Reno was based on Death Makes a Decree, a story by Philip Wylie. ~ Hal Erickson, All Movie Guide
- Starring:
- Sidney Toler, Ricardo Cortez, (more)
- 1939
Trouble follows an American photojournalist in Paris when he meets an exotic woman in Marseille. Initially he had come to France to chronicle an Arab rebellion masterminded by a jewel thief who was supposed to have died. ~ Sandra Brennan, All Movie Guide
- Starring:
- Preston S. Foster, Lynn Bari, (more)
- 1923
Jazz babies and gents danced and partied their way through dozens upon dozens of motion pictures during the Roaring Twenties. After a while, all their plots became interchangeable -- the girls and guys would run wild, but in the end they would realize their parents were right after all, inspiring them to give up their frivolous ways. That's the basic formula in this comedy-melodrama, but there's some Latin American color added to give it a bit of variety. Dancer Theodore Kosloff took the starring role of Richard Forestall, who is engaged to Babs Weston (Eileen Pearcy), the daughter of a rich man (Alec B. Francis). Babs, however, isn't quite ready to settle down, as she proves by getting engaged to two more young men (Ricardo Cortez and Robert Cain). Richard takes off for an island near Cuba where his father (Frank Currier) lives. Babs continues her revelry with her other two suitors and they jump in a plane and head for Havana, where they hope to get more liquor. But the aircraft encounters a storm and is forced to land on the Forestalls' island. Richard puts all of them to work and forces Babs to forego her silly antics. She comes to appreciate his strong and serious nature and her two other boyfriends are out of luck. This film was adapted from the play Other Times by Harold Brighouse. ~ Janiss Garza, All Movie Guide
- Starring:
- Theodore Kosloff, Ricardo Cortez, (more)
- 1938
In this tearful crime melodrama, a waitress becomes so taken with her dream of living in posh luxury and comfort that she leaves her honest boyfriend the district attorney to take up with a notorious gangster who lavishes her with stolen furs and fabulous diamonds. She has no idea that the crook is only using her as a pawn in his scheme to learn the DA's secrets. When she finally does learn the truth, she gives up her life for truth, justice and love. ~ Sandra Brennan, All Movie Guide
- Starring:
- Phyllis Brooks, Ricardo Cortez, (more)
- 1924
When kindly saloon keeper Tim O'Day (Ben Hendricks) is killed by a thug, his wife (Louise Dresser) takes over the business. Because she feels that a saloon is not the best place to raise her little girl Molly (Vondell Darr), she hands the child over to be raised by Mrs. Kendall, a society matron (Kathlyn Williams). When prohibition comes in, Mother O'Day's saloon becomes a fancy cabaret. In the meantime, Molly (now played by Virginia Lee Corbin) has grown up to be a frivolous, self-centered flapper who gets involved with the criminally minded Mark Roth (Ricardo Cortez). Even though Molly scorns her mother, whom she does not remember, Mother O'Day is determined to put Roth behind bars. Roth becomes involved in a shooting at the cabaret. Molly is there, and it brings back the distant memory of her father's murder. She now remembers her mother, and is reunited with Cliff Kelley, her childhood sweetheart (Pierre Gendron). ~ Janiss Garza, All Movie Guide
- Starring:
- Louise Dresser, Ricardo Cortez, (more)
- 1940
Former Latin Lover Ricardo Cortez directed this farfetched but fast-paced gambling melodrama in which girl reporter Julie Reynolds (Lynn Bari) attempts to infiltrate a crooked gaming establishment by pretending to be a naïve girl from Texas. Julie's plans go awry, however, when one of the owners, Steve Walker (Donald Woods), recognizes her as his childhood sweetheart. Although Steve's mentor, The Judge (C. Aubrey Smith), warns him of the consequences, the young man insists on resuming his relationship with Julie, a decision that almost costs him his life when rival gangster Marty Connors (Richard Lane) decides to move in on the operation. But Steve and Julie pull a fast one on Marty and The Judge skips the City of Chance on a floating casino. ~ Hans J. Wollstein, All Movie Guide
- Starring:
- Lynn Bari, C. Aubrey Smith, (more)
- 1926
Eagle of the Sea is based on Charles Tenney Jackson's swashbuckling novel Captain Sazarac. Ricardo Cortez stars as Sazarac, a bold American pirate captain who proves to be putty in the hands of New Orleans belle Louise Lestron (Florence Vidor). While dancing with Louise at a masked ball, Sazarac is recognized by General Andrew Jackson (George Irving), who gives the pirate 24 hours to get out of Louisiana. Months pass before Sazarac and Louise are reunited, and then only because Louise's treacherous uncle (Sam DeGrasse) wants to use the Captain's services in a plot to foment a war between England and Spain. But though Sazarac is a man without a country, he is still loyal to his native United States and refuses to have anything to do with the plan that might endanger his homeland. Louise likewise turns her back on her uncle, whereupon the latter contrives to have the girl kidnapped, spreading the false rumor that Sazarac was her abductor. Thus it is that Captain Sazarac must stay one step ahead of the entire American fleet to rescue Louise from her uncle and his fellow conspirators. ~ Hal Erickson, All Movie Guide
- Starring:
- Florence Vidor, Ricardo Cortez, (more)
- 1928
MGM star William Haines was at the peak of his popularity when he starred in Excess Baggage. Haines plays Eddie Kane, a juggler-acrobat whose specialty is a dangerous high-wire act. While playing small-time vaudeville, he marries aspiring actress Elsa McCoy (Josephine Dunn). She goes on to fame and fortune in Hollywood, while he's still stuck playing tank-town engagements. When Elsa starts an affair with sleek matinee idol Val D'Errico (Ricardo Cortez), Eddie begins to lose his nerve on stage, suffering a spectacular fall from the high wire. Eventually, Eddie and Elsa are reunited, she having realized that he's the only thing in life she truly cares about. A silent film, Excess Baggage was released with a synchronized score and sound effects; the Frances Marion-Ralph Spence screenplay was adapted from a play by John Wesley McGowan. ~ Hal Erickson, All Movie Guide
- Starring:
- William Haines, Josephine Dunn, (more)
- 1924
While this Cecil B. DeMille production has many of the elements common to his pictures -- lavish, expensive sets and costumes, a high falutin' society background, and domestic turmoil -- it doesn't quite hit its mark. Part of the reason for this is the dream sequence. Instead of something spectacular and historical, DeMille took his characters into the afterworld, which was a bit morbid for the audiences of 1924. Plus, DeMille was lacking a strong female star here -- Vera Reynolds and Julia Faye just weren't Gloria Swanson or Leatrice Joy. There's an accident during a surfboard race off the coast of Catalina Island, and Kerry Harlan (Rod LaRocque) rescues Amy Loring (Reynolds). Harlan's foot has been mangled by a shark, and he is told by Dr. Fergus Lansell (Robert Edeson) that he must not walk for a year. Amy and Harlan marry, and she goes to work as a model. Dr. Lansell's wife, Bertha (Faye), becomes infatuated with Harlan, and she begins pestering him. One day when she comes over to his home, her husband shows up. Bertha climbs out on a windowsill to hide, but falls to her death. A scandal ensues and Amy walks out on Harlan. Distraught over their separation, Harlan tries to gas himself. Amy returns to find him and decides to die, too. They wind up in the afterworld together and meet up with Bertha, who takes the blame for their unhappiness. The couple are told that their time has not come. Meanwhile, on the more earthly side of things, Dr. Lansell finds their inert bodies, and, in spite of his feelings towards Harlan, he saves the pair's lives. ~ Janiss Garza, All Movie Guide
- Starring:
- Vera Reynolds, Rod La Rocque, (more)
- 1932
Flesh was one of the few big-studio films to deal with the subject of professional wrestling--at least until Hulk Hogan came along in the 1980s. Wallace Beery stars as a thickheaded waiter in a German beer garden who uses his muscles to clear out rowdy patrons. Beery channels his strength into a wrestling career, grappling his way up to the championship. His wife Karen Morley enjoys the creature comforts of Beery's success, but her heart belongs to her ex-lover Ricardo Cortez, and soon Karen is stepping out on her husband. Beery finds out and exacts a terrible revenge on Cortez--just minutes after Karen wises up and realizes she loves Beery after all. John Ford directed Flesh in a heavy Germanic fashion reminiscent of the Emil Jannings "cuckolded husband" melodramas of the 1920s. ~ Hal Erickson, All Movie Guide
- Starring:
- Wallace Beery, Karen Morley, (more)
- 1936
Four Days Wonder is adapted from the A. A. Milne novel of the same name. New Universal contractee Jeanne Dante stars as precocious 13-year-old Judy Widdell, a devoted fan of dime-novel detective stories. When a real murder occurs in the vicinity, Judy insists upon playing sleuth, dragging teenaged astronomer Tom Fenton (Kenneth Howell) into her Sherlock shenanigans. It's no trick for Judy or Tom to out-guess dimwitted police detective Duffy (Walter Catlett), but the murderer isn't so easy to flummox, and for a while it looks as though our heroine will never reach adulthood. As it turned out, star Jeanne Dante, a youthful veteran of the Broadway stage, was something of a four-day wonder herself, disappearing from films not long after this one was released. ~ Hal Erickson, All Movie Guide
- Starring:
- Ken Howell, Martha Sleeper, (more)
