James Ashmore Creelman Movies

Active in Hollywood from 1924, James Ashmore Creelman was in on the ground floor at fledgling RKO radio studios in 1929. Creelman either produced or wrote several seminal RKO features, including Rudy Vallee's Vagabond Lover, Wheeler & Woolsey's Half Shot at Sunrise (1930) and the experimental wide-screen effort Danger Lights (1930). A veteran scrivener of adventure stories, he worked on many of RKO's best thrillers. It was Creelman who added the sexual element to the villainous Count Zaroff's bloodlust in 1932's The Most Dangerous Game ("First hunt the enemy, then the woman.") He went on to collaborate with Merian C. Cooper on the storyline for RKO's premiere adventure attraction, King Kong (1933). Useful though he was in conjuring up perilous situations, he reportedly had trouble confining his imagination within the film's budgetary limitations, which may be why he didn't contribute as much to the final shooting script of King Kong as his co-writers. In addition to his film credits, James Ashmore Creelman was a prolific playwright; his theatrical piece Jazz King was filmed in 1932 as Dancers in the Dark. ~ Hal Erickson, All Movie Guide

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Unguarded Women: 1924

This Paramount drama was based on the novel Face, by Lucy Stone Terrill. It was a change of pace for light comedienne Bebe Daniels. In a battle during the World War, Douglas Albright (Richard Dix) has a moment of cowardice which causes the death of his friend, Captain Banning (Joe King). When Albright comes back from the war, his fiancée, Helen Castle (Mary Astor), and her father, George (Frank Losee), can see that something is bothering him. So Castle sends him to take care of business in China -- and to pull himself together. While in China, Albright runs across Bannings' widow, Breta (Daniels), who has buried her sorrows behind a mask of revelry and fast living. Because he feels responsible for what she has become, Albright attempts to regenerate her and proposes marriage. When Breta discovers that he is sacrificing his relationship with Helen on her behalf, she kills herself so that the couple can reunite. ~ Janiss Garza, All Movie Guide

Starring:: Bebe Daniels, Richard Dix, (more)

Second Fiddle: 1923

Glenn Hunter, who, with his shy, bashful persona would take off where Charles Ray left off, was the perfect starring choice for this thriller. Jim Bradley (Hunter) has always played second fiddle in his family -- while his older brother, Herbert (Townsend Martin), goes off to college, Jim becomes a garage mechanic. When Herbert returns home, it's easy for him to steal Jim's girl, Polly Crawford (Mary Astor). But trouble comes to the Bradley's town when Cragg (William Nally) murders his daughter (Helenks Adamowska) and breaks into the family's home. Herbert goes for help, leaving Jim with an empty gun to protect their mother (Mary Foy) and Polly. Jim faints before Herbert returns and is considered a coward. Cragg is taken off to jail, but he escapes and returns to his home to get money. Polly has taken refuge from a storm in the house, and Cragg takes her hostage. Herbert happens on the house, not realizing what is going on inside, and flees when Cragg attacks him. Jim shows up and battles the murderer. Cragg is killed, and Jim proves that he is the braver brother after all. ~ Janiss Garza, All Movie Guide