Lyle Moraine Movies

A sequel to Bob Hope's 1948 box-office success The Paleface, 1952's Son of Paleface is a superior product in every way, thanks largely to the spirited, creative direction of Frank Tashlin. Hope is cast as Junior Potter, a Harvard-educated dude who heads West to claim the inheritance left him by his gunslinger father. Much to his chagrin, Junior discovers that his dad has left him nothing but debts. To stave off Potter Sr.'s angry creditors, Junior pretends that his father has salted away a fortune somewhere in the hills. This arouses the attention of curvaceous saloon owner Mike (Jane Russell), who doubles as a mysterious masked bandit known as The Torch. Meanwhile, Roy Rogers (playing a federal agent named Roy Rogers) keeps tabs on Junior, hoping that he'll lead him to The Torch and her gang. True to form, ex-cartoonist Tashlin fills the screen with a wealth of inventive sight gags and inside jokes: Cecil B. DeMille shows up as a photographer in one scene, while in another, Hope, about to embark on the film's wild climactic chase sequence, shoos away a couple of vultures wearing bibs, warning them that "You'll make the whole thing look impossible." Our favorite scenes: Hope's Wile E. Coyote-like reaction to a particularly potent drink, and his bedroom scene with Roy Rogers' wonder horse Trigger. And don't forget the film's slightly risque punch line "Let's see them top that on television," (you have to be there). Songs in Son of Paleface include "You Are My Valley of Sunshine," "Four-Legged Friend," "Wing Ding Tonight," "What A Dirty Shame," and a reprise of The Paleface's Oscar-winning "Buttons and Bows," performed by Hope, Russell and Rogers. ~ Hal Erickson, All Movie Guide

Tough reporter Ed Adams (Alan Ladd) wants to get the full story behind the apparent suicide of a young woman. It seems that the girl left behind a notebook with a list of seemingly unrelated names. Adams tracks down each one of the persons cited in the notebook, slowly but surely putting the pieces together. Once the basic mystery is solved, however, there's one surprising loose end left to be tied up. June Havoc co-stars as Leona, self-styled best friend of the decedent, who helps Adams in his quest. As the victim, Donna Reed appears exclusively in flashbacks. Based on a story by veteran suspense scrivener Tiffany Thayer (of Thirteen Women fame), Chicago Deadline was remade for television in 1966 as Fame is the Name of the Game. ~ Hal Erickson, All Movie Guide

Less lurid than its title, Port of Missing Grils was one of several directorial efforts by screenwriter/cinematographer Karl Brown. After being framed for murder, heroine Della (Judith Allen) eludes both the police and the reel killer by stowing away on the freighter skippered by tough-but-kindly Captain Storm (Harry Carey). One she's discovered, Della falls in love with the vessel's wireless operator Jim (Milburn Stone). All three protagonists experience a series of hairbreadth adventures in Shanghai before word comes in from San Francisco that Della's been cleared of all charges. This Monogram low-budgeter is fun to watch but a bit hard to follow. ~ Hal Erickson, All Movie Guide

District attorney Victor Shanley (John Litel) is forced out of his job through the machinations of gang boss Al Kruger (William B. Davidson). Thirsting for revenge against the legal system that apparently failed to back him up, Shanley goes to the "other side," becoming a defense lawyer on Kruger's payroll. This distresses his ex-wife Carol (Ann Dvorak), but Shanley cares only for the money he's raking in. At long last, however, Shanley's conscience is reawakened by Bob Terrell (Carlyle Moore Jr.), a mob functionary who elects to "go straight" and suffers mightily as a consequence. Midnight Court was co-scripted by Don Ryan, a Los Angeles reporter specializing in the night-court beat. ~ Hal Erickson, All Movie Guide

For a change of pace, Warner Bros. contract tenor James Melton sings no opera in Sing Me A Love Song -- nor does he sing anything particularly memorable, either. Melton stars as Jerry Haines, a young man-about-town who takes an entry-level job in his dad's department store. Jerry wants no special favors, so he works under an assumed name, a fact that will lead to complications in due time. Music-counter clerk Jean Martin (Patricia Ellis) is attracted to Jerry, especially when he helps her out by singing the latest tunes for her customers. As their off-and-on romance plays itself out, the film's comedy subplot is carried by Hugh Herbert as zany kleptomaniac Siegfried Hammerschlag, ZaSu Pitts is would-be hillbilly crooner Gwen, and Walter Catlett as a stupidly obsequious floorwalker. In fact, there's so much comedy in Sing Me a Love Song that there's hardly any time to sing that love song! ~ Hal Erickson, All Movie Guide