Evelyn Eaton Movies
- 1955
Director Harold D. Schuster, heretofore more at home with "outdoor" fare, does a nice job with the film noir trappings of Finger Man. Frank Lovejoy plays the title character, a career criminal named Casey Martin. In exchange for immunity from prosecution, Martin agrees to help the Feds net a larger fish--namely, big-time mobster Dutch Becker (Forrest Tucker). Torn between the two men is good-time girl Gladys Baker (Peggie Castle). The moment she casts her lot with Martin, Gladys seals both her doom and Becker's. Finger Man is stolen hands-down by the saturnine Timothy Carey as Becker's wacko triggerman (reportedly, Carey was nearly punched out by Frank Lovejoy when the latter caught on he was being upstaged). ~ Hal Erickson, Rovi
- Starring:
- Frank Lovejoy, Forrest Tucker, (more)
- 1949
Clifton Webb recreates his Sitting Pretty role as Mr. Lynn Belvedere, the World's Greatest Genius. Belvedere discovers that he is ineligible for an honorary award because he never attended college. So he enrolls as a freshman in a major university, becoming the target for "hazing" from obnoxious upper classman Alan Young. The middle-aged Belvedere rapidly builds himself into Big Man on Campus, which complicates his intention of remaining incognito while attending college. Journalism major Shirley Temple likewise threatens to blow Belvedere's cover by writing an article about him for a major magazine. Before earning his college degree (four years' worth of study in six months!), Belvedere plays Cupid for Temple and her estranged boyfriend Tom Drake. Mr. Belvedere Goes to College proved successful enough for a follow-up film, 1951's Mr. Belvedere Rings the Bell. ~ Hal Erickson, Rovi
- Starring:
- Clifton Webb, Shirley Temple, (more)
- 1949
In this entry in the long running comedy-drama series, the boys get into the world of prizefighting. When one of Slip's pals is killed in the ring, he and the boys plot their revenge against the gangster responsible. They enlist the aid of the late fighter's boozy brother, who was also a fighter. They convince him into entering the ring one last time. He does so despite the gangster's efforts to stop the boys. The fighter wins and his brother's death is avenged. ~ Sandra Brennan, Rovi
- Starring:
- Leo Gorcey, Huntz Hall, (more)
Bearing little relation to the 1946 MGM production Gallant Bess, The Adventures of Gallant Bess is a heartwarming low-budgeter from Eagle-Lion. Cameron Mitchell tops the cast as itinerant rodeo rider Ted Daniels, whose best "friend" is his trained horse Gallant Bess. When Ted falls in love with pretty Peggy Gray (Audrey Long), he is forced to choose between the girl and the horse. This being a formula picture, he manages to end up with both. Fuzzy Knight provides gentle comedy relief, while Gallant Bess herself steals every scene she's in, as animal stars are wont to do. ~ Hal Erickson, Rovi
- Starring:
- Cameron Mitchell, Audrey Long, (more)
- 1945
In this comedy, a PR man saves a struggling radio station from ruin. Songs include: "Slap Polka", "Walk A Little Faster", "Moonlight Fiesta", and "Where The Prairie Meets The Sky". ~ Sandra Brennan, Rovi
- 1945
In this crime drama a young woman leaves her unhappy life at home to become a sophisticated night club singer. Her first job is nearly fatal when she entangles herself with the mobsters who own the joint and learns too much about their operation. Her boss decides to kill her and make it look like suicide. An intrepid reporter disbelieves the report and exposes the truth to the public. ~ Sandra Brennan, Rovi
- Starring:
- Sheldon Leonard, Pamela Blake, (more)
- 1944
The Utah Kid was a late entry in Monogram's "Trail Blazers" series. These low-budget westerns usually featured three cowboy stars; this time, however, there are only two, Bob Steele and Hoot Gibson. Though neither star is a spring chicken, Steele is the younger of the two, so he's the "Utah Kid" by default. The plot, involving a gang of crooks who go around fixing rodeo results, was designed to accommodate yards and yards of stock footage. Onetime D.W. Griffith heavy Ralph Lewis plays a supporting role in this 55-minute sagebrusher. ~ Hal Erickson, Rovi
- 1943
This socially conscious drama examines the causes of juvenile delinquency and centers on one girl who joins a gang of punks and ends up involved in a murder. She is jailed. Later her old friend returns from the Navy and convinces the courts that she wasn't really part of the killing. The chastened young woman is released. ~ Sandra Brennan, Rovi
- Starring:
- Jackie Cooper, Gale Storm, (more)
- 1943
In her final film appearance, Kay Francis plays Sheila, the slinky, seductive mastermind of a marriage racket preying on ex-servicemen. Sheila's stable of "brides" marry homecoming GIs for their military allotment pay, then dump their hubbies and abscond with the dough. Trouble brews when Sheila's grown daughter Connie (Teala Loring), unaware of her mother's criminal activities, pays a visit. Justice triumphs in the end, though Sheila is afforded a terrific exit line before receiving her comeuppance. Filmed with full cooperation of the Office of Dependency Benefits, Allotment Wives Inc (retitled Allotment Wives for TV) was coproduced by Kay Francis and released by Monogram. ~ Hal Erickson, Rovi
- Starring:
- Kay Francis, Paul Kelly, (more)
