Robert Armstrong Movies
Forever remembered by film buffs as the man who brought King Kong to New York, American actor Robert Armstrong was a law student at the University of Washington in Seattle when he dropped out in favor of a vaudeville tour. Learning by doing, Armstrong worked his way up to "leading man" roles in a New York stock company run by veteran character man Jimmy Gleason. Gleason's play Iz Zat So? led to a film contract for Armstrong, whose first picture was The Main Event (1927). The actor's stage training served him well during Hollywood's switchover to sound, and he appeared with frequency in the early talkie years, at one point costarring with Broadway legend Fanny Brice in My Man (1930). An expert at playing sports and showbiz promoters, Armstrong was a natural for the role of the enthusiastic but foolhardy Carl Denham in King Kong (1933). Armstrong enjoyed some of the best dialogue of his career as he coerced erstwhile actress Fay Wray to go with him to Skull Island to seek out "money, adventure, the thrill of a lifetime", and as he egged on his crew to explore the domain of 50-foot ape Kong. And of course, Armstrong was allowed to speak the final lines of this imperishable classic: "It wasn't the planes...It was beauty killed the beast." Armstrong played Carl Denham again in a sequel, Son of Kong (1933), and later played Denham in everything but name as a shoestring theatrical promoter in Mighty Joe Young (1949), wherein he brought a nice giant gorilla into civilization. Always in demand as a character actor, Armstrong continued to make films in the 1940s; he had the rare distinction of playing an American military officer in Around the World (1943), a Nazi agent in My Favorite Spy (1942), and a Japanese general in Blood on the Sun (1945)! In the 1950s and 1960s, Armstrong was a fixture on TV cop and adventure programs. Perhaps the most characteristic moment in Armstrong's TV career was during a sketch on The Red Skelton Show, in which Red took one look at Armstrong and ad-libbed "Say, did you ever get that monkey off that building?" ~ Hal Erickson, All Movie Guide
This homey little comedy is predicated on the notion that bucolic country boy Morgan (Richard Cromwell) is the son of a notorious Roaring-Twenties racketeer. Morgan Senior's former gang, pining for their glory days, appoint "Baby Face" Morgan as their leader and resume their criminal activities. Their strategy is sublime: with the FBI busily beating the bushes for Nazi spies, who's going to pay attention to a bunch of middle-aged Prohibition gangsters? Unaware that he's being used as a figurehead, Morgan gets mixed up in a crooked insurance scheme, but by film's end he's figured out a way to clear himself and the mob, with everyone learning a lesson in the process. Reviewers in 1942 were amused by Baby Face Morgan but deplored its threadbare production values, noting that at one point the klieg lights could be seen reflecting on the bald dome of supporting player Vince Barnett! ~ Hal Erickson, All Movie Guide
- Starring:
- Mary Carlisle, Richard Cromwell, (more)
Set soon after the Japanese attack on Pearl Harbor, Let's Get Tough! opens with the East Side Kids -- Leo Gorcey, Huntz Hall, Bobby Jordan, David Gorcey, Sammy "Sunshine" Morrison, and Bobby Stone -- trying to enlist in the armed forces and getting turned down because they're not yet 18 years old. Eager to contribute and frustrated at not being allowed to help out in the national emergency, they decide to take action on their own when they see an argument between Kino, a Japanese dealer in antiques, and a local boy named Fritz Heinbach (Gabriel Dell). They try to run Kino out of his own store but instead, the shopkeeper runs them off, and the boys get a warning from "Pop" Stevens (Robert Armstrong), the local cop on the beat, to stay out of trouble. That night, however, they return intent on trashing Kino's store, only to find the man at his desk, stabbed to death. When they're pulled in by the police, the boys find out that Kino was a Chinese agent impersonating a Japanese, and trying to uncover a cell of saboteurs. The boys decide to investigate on their own after they hear rumors that Bill (Tom Brown), the brother of one of them, has been thrown out of the army for his un-American beliefs and has been seen hanging around Matsui, who is considered a potential suspect. They end up infiltrating a meeting of Japanese saboteurs and spies, and find an alliance between them and German immigrant Fritz Heinbach; Bill turns out to be an American agent working the same case as Kino, but they're all trapped, until one of the gang escapes to summon the police. ~ Bruce Eder, All Movie Guide
- 1941
Citadel of Crime was the original title of the Republic John Wayne vehicle which eventually emerged as A Man Betrayed (TV title: Wheel of Fortune). Never a studio to let anything go to waste, Republic redirected the cognomen Citadel of Crime to one of their minor but entertaining crime melodramas its original title was Ten Nights in Barroom). Don Ryan's well-honed screenplay unfolds the tale of a gang of mobsters trying to take over the various moonshine operations in the hills of West Virginia. To gain the confidence of the local hillbillies, the crooks send out Cal Fullerton (Robert Armstrong), a former moonshiner who's spent several years in "the rackets," as their advance man. The villains' plans are foiled by handsome revenuer Jim Rogers (Frank Albertson), likewise a true son of the Hills. Slickly produced, Citadel of Crime packs plenty of action in its brief 58 minutes. ~ Hal Erickson, All Movie Guide
- Starring:
- Robert Armstrong, Frank Albertson, (more)
Lieutenant Commander Joe Blake (Fred MacMurray), Lt. Tim Griffin (Regis Toomey), and Lt. Swede Larson (Louis Jean Heydt) are longtime US Navy flying buddies, about to be transferred to different posts when Larson suffers a blackout during high-altitude maneuvers and cracks up. Navy doctor Douglas Lee (Errol Flynn) insists on trying to save him with an immediate operation, and the mortally injured pilot dies on the table. This sets the stage for a long, lingering, and bitter hatred between Blake and Lee -- which is only exacerbated when Lee chooses to become a flight surgeon so he can help to find a solution to the problem of high altitude blackout. Lee is assigned to medical research with Lt. Cdr. Lance Rogers (Ralph Bellamy), a flight surgeon whose dedication to high-altitude research has left him unfit for further flying. Their work proceeds through small triumphs and terrible tragedy, and Lee and Blake keep crossing paths, unwillingly -- they not only don't like each other personally, but end up competing for the attentions of the same woman (Alexis Smith) at one point. But they're forced to work together for the good of the service, even after Lee grounds Tim Griffin as medically unfit to keep flying. A fresh tragedy shows Blake that Lee has always been looking out for the best interests of the pilots, and they begin working together in earnest, at last. Blake pushes his piloting skills to their limit and beyond, and he soon finds a purpose and dedication that he's never known before -- and then he learns that he may have to be grounded because of his own deteriorating medical condition. While Lee frets over having to give the news to his friend, the only question for Blake is whether he will be able to see the final test of Lee's high-altitude pressure suit through to the end. ~ Bruce Eder, All Movie Guide
- Starring:
- Errol Flynn, Fred MacMurray, (more)
Universal catered to the young fans of aviation with this airborne serial, which featured a plucky kid -- "Bowery Boy" Billy Halop -- and plenty of "sky riders." Famous aviator Bob Dayton (Donald Woods) hires a bright member of the Air Youth of America, Tim (Halop), to help him finalize a hush-hush project: a new type of fighter plane and bombsight. This being 1941, plenty of enemy agents are after the invention, including the nefarious Felix Lynx (Eduardo Cianelli). It takes Dayton, Tim, and the co-owner of Sky Raiders, Inc., Lieutenant Ed Carey (Robert Armstrong) 12 breathless chapters before they are able to defeat the enemy. The final installment was quite appropriately entitled "Winning Warriors." ~ Hans J. Wollstein, All Movie Guide
- 1941
In this crime drama set on the seedy waterfront of San Francisco, a longshoreman studies in his spare time to become an aircraft mechanic. He is also in love with a barmaid who works at her father's saloon. One day at the bar, the longshoreman gets into a fight with a man who is later found dead. Naturally, the longshoreman becomes the prime suspect and is arrested. There are two men who can prove him innocent, but they are in league with the real killer, a fugitive from Alcatraz. Meanwhile, a priest, a drunk, and the girl's father try to prove that the longshoreman is innocent by finding the fugitive's wife. The barmaid and the trampy wife then get in a big fight. In the end, the priest and the fugitive wrestle it out and the thief gets his just desserts. ~ Sandra Brennan, All Movie Guide
- Starring:
- Burgess Meredith, Irene Hervey, (more)
- 1941
Lloyd Nolan is thoroughly convincing as a big-league baseball pitcher in Mr. Dynamite--and never mind that the film never shows the inside of a ballpark! On the eve of the World Series, Tommy Thornton (Nolan), known to one and all as Mr. Dynamite, decides to spend some time at a New York amusement center. Here he meets and falls for Vicki Martin (Irene Hervey), the girl in charge of the ball-tossing concession. When a murder occurs, Vicki is fingered as the most likely suspect. Tommy helps her elude the law, then in the course of a single night tries to subdue the gang of Nazi saboteurs responsible for the killing. Without giving anything away, it's worth noting that J. Carroll Naish (who played every nationality except Antarctican during his long screen career) plays the highly suspicious proprietor of a mind-reading booth. ~ Hal Erickson, All Movie Guide
- Starring:
- Lloyd Nolan, Irene Hervey, (more)
- 1940
As suggested by its title, Behind the News was a "stop the presses!" yarn set in a big-city newsroom. Lloyd Nolan is top-billed as a cynical reporter with a penchant for sticking his neck out too far. Frank Albertson costars as a cub reporter fresh out of journalism school, whose presence is resented by Nolan and his fellow workers. But it is Albertson who, after running afoul of the law, is instrumental in breaking up a ring of racketeers. Behind the News was remade by Republic as Headline Hunters (55). ~ Hal Erickson, All Movie Guide
- Starring:
- Lloyd Nolan, Doris Davenport, (more)
- 1940
The physically challenged bride of the title is played by Lynne Roberts, but it's reporter Ted North who's the film's true central character. Low man on the newspaper totem pole, North gets a chance to scoop everyone in town when he witnesses a bank robbery. Rather than file his story, North tracks down the crooks himself, infiltrates their gang, and helps deliver them to the cops. The whole megillah is over in a brisk 55 minutes. Incidentally, Lynne Roberts has two perfectly good legs (does she ever!) during most of the proceedings, despite the title. ~ Hal Erickson, All Movie Guide
- Starring:
- Lynne Roberts, Ted North, (more)
- 1940
An innocent young woman is accused of murder by her wicked stepmother. The poor lass ends up in prison. Fortunately, a reporter sets out to prove that she is not guilty and brings the real culprit to justice. Meanwhile the murderous step-mom plots the hapless girl's demise. ~ Sandra Brennan, All Movie Guide
- 1940
In this espionage adventure, a courageous millworker must prove himself innocent of treason charges after the title spies purloin valuable blueprints from his plant. He also tries to bring the spies to justice, but soon finds himself in deep trouble. Fortunately, the good-guy spies show up at the crucial moment and justice is served. ~ Sandra Brennan, All Movie Guide
- Starring:
- Richard Cromwell, Helen Vinson, (more)
- 1940
Reporter Albertson works to solve a murder case in order to clear his name and get a great story for his paper. ~ All Movie Guide
- Starring:
- Frank Albertson, Constance Moore, (more)
- 1939
Man of Conquest was the first "super production" from Republic Pictures, a studio not known for its lavish budgets. This time, however, no expense was spared in recreating the career of Texas empire-builder Sam Houston. Richard Dix portrayed Houston, heading a gigantic cast of character players impersonating such historical figures as Jim Bowie, Andrew Jackson, Davy Crockett and General Santa Ana (who is depicted as a Hitler-like oppressor!). The film's two major highlights are the Battle of San Jacinto and the siege of the Alamo, both featuring the remarkable stuntwork of Yakima Canutt. Though often juggling facts to make a better story, Man of Conquest is an impressive achievement for so small a studio as Republic. Stock footage from the production would show up for years in the studio's more economical westerns and serials. ~ Hal Erickson, All Movie Guide
- Starring:
- Richard Dix, Gail Patrick, (more)
- 1939
It matters not at all that the famed "wrong way" flight of aviator Douglas Corrigan, who in 1938 tried to fly from New York to California by way of Ireland, was probably a carefully calculated publicity stunt. The end result was that Corrigan became a household name, and as such was an ideal candidate for film stardom. RKO Radio shelled out a considerable amount of money to purchase "Wrong Way" Corrigan's life story, enhancing the publicity value of the resultant The Flying Irishman by casting Corrigan himself in the leading role. It's too bad that the same amount of effort wasn't lavished on the film itself, which is a ponderous, perfunctory tale of a barnstorming flyer who, unable to get a legitmate pilot's job because he never went to college, resorts to a variety of colorful methods to make a living. Like many other non-showbiz celebrities, Corrigan was constitutionally unable to play himself convincingly, so it's up to such supporting actors as Eddie Quillan, Paul Kelly, Robert Armstrong, Donald MacBride and Joyce Compton to take up the slack. ~ Hal Erickson, All Movie Guide
- Starring:
- Douglas Corrigan, Paul Kelly, (more)
- 1939
In this sentimental drama, a washed-up boxer falls for a nightclub owner whose business has nearly been ruined by Prohibition. Both of them are fairly depressed by their lives and end up living together in the home of the fighter's recently murdered manager. The deceased's young son comes home from school and the couple offers to care for him. They put him through high school and then college, all the while preparing him to become a prizefighter. ~ Sandra Brennan, All Movie Guide
- Starring:
- Helen Twelvetrees, Buck Jones, (more)
- 1939
In this high-flying drama, a foolhardy, free-spirited pilot throws his responsibilities as a mail pilot to the wind when he begins aggressively courting a beautiful flight attendant. Unfortunately, he pays so much attention to her, that he neglects his plane, resulting in the senseless death of his friend, a mechanic. Suddenly he becomes a pariah in the airline industry and no one will help him until the end of the film when he proves himself to be selfless and brave. ~ Sandra Brennan, All Movie Guide
- Starring:
- Phil Regan, Jean Parker, (more)
- 1939
Call a Messenger is the second entry in Universal's "Dead End Kids/Little Tough Guys" series. In this one, the Little Tough Guys (Hally Chester, Harris Berger, David Gorcey) cede most of the screen time to Dead Enders Billy Halop (as Jimmy Hogan) and Huntz Hall (as Pig). When he and his pals are caught robbing their local branch of the Postal Union, Jimmy valiantly takes the blame for his friends' action. Given a choice between going to reform school and taking an honest job as a messenger boy, Jimmy opts for the latter-and before long, all of his buddies are wearing messenger uniforms. With the help of his Postal Union confreres, Jimmy manages to thwart the criminal activities of his ex-con brother Ed (Victor Jory) and Ed's gangster partner Chuck Walsh (Larry "Buster" Crabbe). Billy Benedict makes his first appearance as a Dead End Kid/East Side Kid/Bowery Boy in Call a Messenger, while comedy relief is provided by veteran funster El Brendel. ~ Hal Erickson, All Movie Guide
- Starring:
- Billy Halop, Huntz Hall, (more)
- 1939
This romance is set during the Dartmouth College Winter Carnival and follows the exploits of a woman recently divorced from a count who has returned to her alma mater for the annual carnival. A former carnival queen, she watches as her lovely little sister vies for the title. She also flirts with her stodgy old boy friend, a professor. Romance blooms amid the din and colorful activities. ~ Sandra Brennan, All Movie Guide
- Starring:
- Ann Sheridan, Richard Carlson, (more)
- 1938
In this action-packed crime drama, an ace reporter declares war on the mobsters that killed his best friend, helps a disenchanted hit man steal back his brother's iron lung from gangsters by hiding inside it during transport, busts up two other gangs, discovers a whiskey-smuggling ring, almost gets steamed to death, gets his girlfriend's house shot up by mobsters, and upsets his editor when a rival paper gets the story of his engagement first. ~ Steve Huey, All Movie Guide
- Starring:
- Robert Livingston, June Travis, (more)
- 1938
Heiress Virginia Bruce tries to prove her worth by taking a job as a shopgirl in the store owned by her family. The pampered young lady is given a crash course in pragmatism by her worldly roommates Patsy Kelly and Nancy Carroll. Reporter Fredric March learns of Bruce's ruse and plans to tell all in his newspaper. Thrown together by circumstances, the reporter and the heiress are shipwrecked and end up on a small island. They continue to bicker with one another until the "deus ex machina" arrival of a kindly minister (played by former silent comedy star Harry Langdon) convinces March and Bruce that they truly love one another. More than a little inspired by It Happened One Night, There Goes My Heart is an uneven but pleasant romantic comedy. It was the first Hal Roach Studios production to be released by United Artists. ~ Hal Erickson, All Movie Guide
- Starring:
- Fredric March, Virginia Bruce, (more)
- 1937
In the tradition of such earlier Universal serials as Flash Gordon and Jungle Jim, the 12-chapter Radio Patrol was based on a popular comic strip, this one created by Eddie Sullivan and Charlie Schmidt. Grant Withers heads the cast as "radio cop" Pat O'Hara, at present the protector of young Pinky Adams (Mickey Rentschler). Pinky's father, the inventor of a new bulletproof steel, has been murdered, and the villains intend to kidnap the boy and force him to reveal his dad's secret formula. With the help of Molly Selkirk (Katherine Hughes), Pat prevents the bad guys from getting their slimy hands on Pinky. He also proves that the mastermind behind the crooks is the highly respected owner of a huge steel factory. Featured prominently in the cast is the talented German shepherd Silver Wolf, here cast as "Irish." ~ Hal Erickson, All Movie Guide
- Starring:
- Grant Withers, Catherine Hughes, (more)
- 1937
Three former stalwarts of producer Hal Roach's two-reel comedies, actresses Patsy Kelly and Lyda Roberti and director Gus Meins, combine their talents in the Roach feature film Nobody's Baby. Kelly and Roberti play nurses-in-training Kitty and Lena, who reluctantly come into possession of a cute baby. The kid's mother, nightclub dancer Yvonne (Rosina Lawrence), doesn't want her public to know that she's married to her partner Cortez (Don Alvarado), so she prevails upon our heroines to take care of the baby "temporarily." Naturally, the presence of a squawling infant in the apartment of two bachelor girls results in all sorts of gossip and innuendo -- and this being a Hal Roach picture, situation comedy gives way to farce, gives way to slapstick. Sadly, Nobody's Baby was among the last of Lyda Roberti's screen appearances: she died the following year of an acute heart condition at the age of 29. ~ Hal Erickson, All Movie Guide
- Starring:
- Patsy Kelly, Lyda Roberti, (more)
- 1937
Theatrical agents Russ Matthews (Ralph Bellamy) and Al Tinker (Robert Armstrong) try to make a quick buck by promoting bibuolous vaudeville fortune-teller Dr. Fothergill (Raymond Walburn) as a genuine prophet. Amazingly, Fothergill's predictions come true, and soon his advice is being solicited by such shady types as gangster boss Cronin (Ed Pawley). This not only threatens the future existence of Matthews and Tinker, but also puts a crimp in Matthews' romance with girl reporter Carol Wilson (Betty Furness). The vaudeville and radio background of It Can't Last Forever affords several opportunities to inject specialty acts into the storyline. Among these is a personable trio of juvenile singers called the Dandridge Sisters, featuring 14-year-old Dorothy Dandridge in one of her first screen roles. ~ Hal Erickson, All Movie Guide
- Starring:
- Ralph Bellamy, Betty Furness, (more)
