Marvin Jones Movies

Faith Domergue, the latest of Howard Hughes' protegees, made her film debut in 1950's Where Danger Lives. Domergue plays Margo Lannington the wife of Frederick Lannington (Claude Rains), an elderly millionaire possessed of a sadistic streak. Robert Mitchum co-stars as Jeff Cameron, a poor soul who falls in love with Margo without knowing that she's married. During a violent confrontation with the jealous Frederick, Cameron knocks the older man out and stumbles out of the room. Upon his return, he discovers that Frederick is dead. Margo had smothered her husband during Cameron's absence, but she insists that Cameron is the killer. The desperate lovers flee to Mexico, where Cameron at long last discovers that his travelling companion is more than a little unhinged. Masterfully directed by John Farrow, Where Danger Lives might have been one of the classic "film noirs," were it not for the acting deficiencies of Faith Domergue, who flounders in a role that Jane Greer could have played blindfolded. ~ Hal Erickson, Rovi

James Stewart and Ginger Rogers were "an item" when Vivacious Lady was filmed, and their obvious real-life affection for one another pours over onto the screen. Stewart plays Peter Morgan, a young botany professor who while on a visit to New York impulsively marries free-spirited nightclub singer Francey (Rogers). A few obstacles lie in the path of connubial bliss, however, including Peter's bitchy ex-fiancee Helen (Frances Mercer) and his stern college-dean father Peter Morgan Sr. (Charles Coburn). Hoping to break the news of his marriage gently to Helen and his father, Pete contrives to keep the union a secret, with the expected embarrassing results. Before the final fade-out, both Morgan Senior and Morgan Junior are on the outs with their respective wives, and it takes an uproariously tearful reunion on a passenger train to straighten things out. In his first outing as a producer, director George Stevens shows off his two-reel-comedy training with a number of hilarious comedy setpieces (the best is a slapsticky cat-fight between the two rivals for Pete's affections), though things tend to slow down towards the end. Stevens also finds room for several of his favorite character actors, including Grady Sutton, Franklin Pangborn and Willie Best, to do their time-honored specialties. Best of all is Beulah Bondi as James Stewart's mother (one of several such assignments), delivering a most unusual and touchingly funny performance. In short, Vivacious Lady was a guaranteed box-office smash even before the cameras began to turn. ~ Hal Erickson, Rovi

A former prison inmate finds he can't leave his violent past behind in this sequel to the cult favorite Penitentiary. After earning his parole by winning the prison boxing tournament, Martel "Too Sweet" Gordone is tired of fighting and wants to move on to a more peaceful life, but as a condition of his release, he has to work for Handler Cunningham, a boxing promoter who also runs a gym in Los Angeles. Too Short isn't interested in boxing, and would rather stay with his sister, Ellen (Peggy Blow), and her husband, Charles (Glynn Turman), both successful lawyers who support him in his desire to start his life over. But things take an unexpected turn when Half Dead (Ernie Hudson), Too Sweet's nemesis from prison, escapes with the help of his cronies Do Dirty (Cepheus Jaxon) and Simp (Marvin Jones), and they murder Clarisse (Eugenia Wright), Too Sweet's girlfriend. In order to get justice, Too Sweet returns to the ring, and with the help of a new trainer (Mr. T) and the management expertise of his brother-in-law, Too Sweet is on the road to the championship -- but can he get the big fight before Half Dead finds him? Penitentiary II features cameo appearances from boxing legend Archie Moore, Dolemite star Rudy Ray Moore, and Tony Cox. ~ Mark Deming, Rovi

In this collegiate drama, a team of college oarsmen promise their gals that they will win the big race. Unfortunately, it looks as if their victory will go to another team after their strongest rower is drafted. The sly, enterprising lads end up replacing him with a truck driver on the sly. Songs include "Look What You've Done to Me", "Sweet 16", and "Let's Do a Little Dreaming". ~ Sandra Brennan, Rovi