Howard Ellis Smith Movies
- 1937
Think Fast, Mr. Moto was the first of 20th Century-Fox's movie series based on the wily Japanese sleuth created by J. P. Marquand. Moto (Peter Lorre) seems to be a criminal this time around, involved with a gang of international smugglers. Virginia Field is a White Russian expatriate who likewise appears to be an agent of the criminals. The adventure takes Moto, Ms. Field and the son of a legitimate gem dealer (Thomas Beck) from San Francisco to Shanghai. During the inevitable showdown with the head of the smugglers (Sig Rumann), Virginia turns out to be an unwilling pawn of the crooks, while the inscrutable Mr. Moto reveals himself to be a special agent of the International Police. ~ Hal Erickson, All Movie Guide
- Starring:
- Peter Lorre, Virginia Field, (more)
- 1936
Italian immigrant George Raft uses his wits and his fists to rise to prominence in a local political machine. He falls in love with Rosalind Russell, the wife of a prominent banker, but discreetly hides his feelings even as he and Russell are thrust together by social circumstances. The banker turns out to be an embezzler, but Raft comes to the rescue by replacing the stolen funds. Accused of conspiring with the banker because he'd failed to make the original embezzlement public, Raft is grilled by a grand jury. Once cleared, Raft is finally able to wed the divorced banker's wife, who it turns out had always had a crush on him. It Had to Happen is most entertaining in its early scenes wherein we see George Raft strongarming his way to success. ~ Hal Erickson, All Movie Guide
- Starring:
- George Raft, Rosalind Russell, (more)
- 1936
Adventurer-for-hire Victor McLaglen is hired by a political faction in a mythical European kingdom. McLaglen's job is to kidnap the young prince (Freddie Bartholomew) so that his employers can take over the government. The prince enjoys the experience because it releases him from the confines of protocol. When the prince is reluctantly rescued, McLaglen is thrown in prison. He escapes upon the realization that the political party he'd been working for actually plans to kill the prince and set up a dictatorship. McLaglen rescues the prince and preserves the Status Quo--and his blossoming friendship with the affable young monarch. Curiously enough, Professional Soldier is based on a story by Damon Runyon, taking a break from his "Guys and Dolls" chronicles. ~ Hal Erickson, All Movie Guide
- Starring:
- Victor McLaglen, Freddie Bartholomew, (more)
- 1936
Warner Baxter and Myrna Loy star as a husband and wife who've been married ten years...but they might not make it to eleven. The husband is a businessman who has rebuilt his fortune after the 1929 crash. The wife has stood by her man through thick and thin, rich and poor. Now it's 1935, and the husband has changed due to success; he's grasping, selfish and increasingly neglectful. The wife plans to divorce him and marry their best friend Ian Hunter, but the friend, despite his own affection for the woman, engineers the couple's reunion. Based on a nostalgic novel by Richard Sherman, To Mary--with Love is another choice example of the multiple-flashback technique being utilized long before it was "discovered" for Citizen Kane. ~ Hal Erickson, All Movie Guide
- Starring:
- Warner Baxter, Myrna Loy, (more)
- 1935
The old British musical-hall ditty "The Man Who Broke the Bank at Monte Carlo" provides the title for this lightweight Ronald Colman vehicle. Colman, playing a refugee Russian prince, is the "man" in question, and the owners of the "broken bank"--that is, the proprietors of the Monte Carlo casino where Colman scored the big win--are anxious to get their money back. They dispatch the beautiful Joan Bennett to lure Colman back into the casino. He falls for her and loses his winnings in the process, but she has pangs of remorse when she learns that Colman had been gambling on behalf of his impoverished countrymen. Bennett joins Colman as he merrily heads off to chase another rainbow. ~ Hal Erickson, All Movie Guide
- Starring:
- Ronald Colman, Joan Bennett, (more)
- 1928
Land of the Silver Fox was one of the last silent starring vehicles for celebrated canine star Rin Tin Tin. In this one, Rinty heads to the Canadian Northwest, where he befriends likeable fox trapper Carroll Nye. The "human" hero is in love with Leila Hyams, the ward of duplicitous trading-camp operator John Miljan. In league with all-around bad guy Tom Santschi, Miljan tries to dispose of Nye so that he can have Hyams all to himself. But the villains haven't reckoned with Rin Tin Tin, who can be a mighty tough customer when he's got his fur up. ~ Hal Erickson, All Movie Guide
- Starring:
- Leila Hyams, John Miljan, (more)
- 1927
The Silver Slave is Bernice Randall (Irene Rich), who marries for money rather than love. This she has done for the sake of her daughter Janet (Audrey Ferris), who nonetheless grows up despising her mother. As an act of defiance, Janet becomes engaged to Philip Caldwell (John Miljan), a no-good scoundrel. In the tradition of Lady Windemere's Fan, Bernice exposes Caldwell as a cad by making love to her himself. Her sacrifice is rewarded when Janet settles for true romance in the form of good-hearted Larry Martin (Carroll Nye). ~ Hal Erickson, All Movie Guide
- Starring:
- Irene Rich, Audrey Ferris, (more)
