Earl Haley Movies
- 1940
Monogram hoped that The Gentleman From Arizona would be their "prestige" release for 1940, and to that end the film was lensed in Cinecolor. The "gentleman" is played by John King, but the star of the show is J. Farrell McDonald, cast as a chronic gambler named Coburn. When the old man loses every penny he has, wandering cowboy Pokey (King) comes to the rescue by grooming a wild stallion for a successful racetrack career. Everything comes to a head during the climactic Big Race, with the expected (but still satisyfing) results. Ruth Reece and Joan Barclay share the leading-lady responsibilities, while the villainy is in the capable hands of Monogram's ace utility actor Craig Reynolds. ~ Hal Erickson, Rovi
- Starring:
- John Farrell MacDonald
- 1937
Nancy Steele was the baby daughter of a munitions tycoon who was kidnapped by an antiwar activist who did it to protest the magnate's support of WW I. This drama provides a sympathetic portrait of the kidnapper who leaves the baby with two close friend who assume it's his and raise her. The activist later gets arrested during a fight and sentenced to two years in prison that become a life sentence after he is framed during a failed escape. One night, he sleeps in his cell when his cellmate overhears the sleeping protestor talking about the notorious kidnapping. When the protestor if finally released, he immediately visits the girl, whom he regards as his daughter. She thinks he is her father too. Together, the two go to New York, where he gets a job working as a gardener for her real father. Trouble comes in the form of his blackmailing cellmate and in the end, the protestor must make a difficult decision involving the fate of his daughter and himself. ~ Sandra Brennan, Rovi
- Starring:
- Victor McLaglen, Walter Connolly, (more)
- 1937
Based on fact, this turn-of-the-century crime drama stars Robert Taylor and Barbara Stanwyck (husband and wife at the time). Taylor plays a seemingly disreputable young man who joins a gang of murderous bank robbers, headed by Victor McLaglen. Stanwyck is a beer-hall entertainer, who disapproves of Taylor's activities and tries to reform him. She needn't bother: Taylor is in reality an undercover detective, on a top secret mission for President William McKinley. So anxious is Taylor to bring McLaglen to justice that he allows himself to be convicted of murder. The agent is confident that the president will keep him from hanging--but McKinley is assassinated before he can intervene. Stanwyck rescues Taylor by pleading his case with McKinley's successor, Teddy Roosevelt (Sidney Blackmer). The plot of This is My Affair was impressive enough to inspire at least one imitation: Night Riders, a 1939 Republic western wherein the martyred president who shares the hero's secret is James A. Garfield. ~ Hal Erickson, Rovi
- Starring:
- Robert Taylor, Barbara Stanwyck, (more)
- 1934
Columbia's King of the Wild Horses is a remake of the silent Hal Roach western feature of the same name -- and with the same "star," Rex the Wonder Horse, in the lead. Most of the story involves the romantic triangle between rogue stallion Rex, the gorgeous mare Lady, and villainous black steed Marquis. Red Wolf (William Janney), the film's human hero, manages to tame Rex and earn the horse's undying devotion, but not before bad guy Clint Bolling (Wallace MacDonald) does his best to "break" Rex, in every sense of the word. Future Columbia 2-reel comedy stalwarts Dorothy Appleby and Harry Semels play major roles in this offbeat western. ~ Hal Erickson, Rovi
- Starring:
- Rex the Wonder Horse, Lady, (more)
- 1926
A typically streamlined silent action melodrama from poverty row company FBO, The Cowboy Cop starred Tom Tyler and a very young Jean Arthur. Tyler played Jerry McGill, an Arizona cowpuncher joining the Los Angeles police force. In his capacity as an officer of the law, McGill comes to the aid of pretty Virginia Selby (Arthur), who has been kidnapped by would-be robber Count Mirski (Irvin Renard). With assistance from newsboy Frankie (Frankie Darro) and Beans the dog, McGill takes up the pursuit, rescuing the damsel from her vile abductor in the nick of time. ~ Hans J. Wollstein, Rovi
Rating Systems
Blockbuster
BLOCKBUSTER name, design and related marks are trademarks of Blockbuster L.L.C.
2013 Blockbuster L.L.C. All rights reserved.
Portions of Content Provided by Rovi Corporation. 2013 Rovi Corporation.