Russell Gleason Movies

Margaret O'Brien, MGM's newest child sensation, was given her first starring vehicle with Lost Angel. O'Brien plays Alpha, who has been groomed to be a genius by a trio of well-meaning but misguided professors (Philip Merivale, Henry O'Neill and Donald Meek). Taking pity on the reluctant prodigy, police reporter Mike Regan (James Craig) takes it upon himself to "deprogram" Alpha and transform her into a normal, healthy child. In an effort to inflate this B picture into "A" proportions by increasing the running time, the scriptwriters contrive a silly subplot involving a gang of Runyonesque gangsters (headed by the ineluctable Keenan Wynn). Margaret O'Brien's appeal may be elusive to modern viewers, but she was a proven audience favorite back in 1944. ~ Hal Erickson, All Movie Guide

In this wartime comedy drama an ultra-macho but aging Marine sergeant does all he can to keep his men intimidated and towing the line while they are stationed in the Philippines at the beginning of WW II. The tough-as-nails jarhead does have a terrible secret though--he has never been involved in actual combat. When his unit heads out for battle in China, the sarge is humiliated because he has not been granted permission to go. He begins drowning his sorrows in a bottle and later gets into a fight with some merchant sailors. As a result he is tossed into the brig until his wife urges him to retire. He reluctantly agrees and tries his hand at civilian life. Later when the Japanese invade the islands, it is the old sergeant who helps the civilian's safely withdraw; unfortunately he dies in the process. His wife also dies. Later their daughter, once a devout pacifist and now a uniformed member of the armed forces, accepts a medal of honor for her courageous father. ~ Sandra Brennan, All Movie Guide

The 43-minute Hal Roach "streamliner" Dudes are Pretty People was one of three films teaming Jimmy Rogers (son of Will) with Noah Beery Jr. (son of Noah Sr.) Our heroes play Jimmy and Pidge (Beery's real-life nickname), a pair of cowhands who work near a posh dude ranch. A bit slow on the uptake, Pidge is easily taken in by the amorous machinations of fickle blonde tourist Marcia (Marjorie Woodworth). Jimmy tries to break up this romance by pretending that Pidge is already married, and when this fails he stages a phony holdup. Neither of these strategies does much to liven up the picture, which would remain one of the dullest of the Roach efforts of the 1940s. For TV, Dudes Are Pretty People has been combined with another Rogers-Beery streamliner, the 46-minute Calaboose. ~ Hal Erickson, All Movie Guide

From first frame to last, foxy Charles Coburn thoroughly dominates the proceedings in the bubbly RKO Radio comedy Unexpected Uncle. Living in retirement in Florida, ex-tycoon Seton (Charles Coburn) gets bored with sitting around doing nothing, and decides to extend himself to others for the first time in his life. Deftly pulling strings behind the scenes, Seton manipulates the budding romance between lingerie saleswoman Kathleen (Anne Shirley) and young millionaire Johnny (James Craig). Figuring that Kathleen will be a more desirable bride if Johnny's family thinks that she's rich herself, Seton poses as the girl's uncle, a guise that leads to all sorts of hilarity, including a chucklesome drunk scene. Ernest Truex tries to steal a scene or two as Johnny's manservant, but it's Charles Coburn's show all the way. ~ Hal Erickson, All Movie Guide

This domestic comedy is the final episode of the 17-film "Jones Family" series. The story begins as restless Father decides to leave the simplicity of small-town life for the sophistication and excitement of the city, so he sells the family drugstore and moves his family to the Big Apple. Soon they find themselves surrounded by con men, and sleazy women trying to steal everything they own. Mayhem ensues until they decide they've had enough and hightail it for the safety of home. ~ Sandra Brennan, All Movie Guide

In this episode of the Higgins Family series, pandemonium ensues when Ma enters a dog biscuit contest. The prize is a whopping $50,000. Unfortunately, the company is represented by Pa's ad agency and his wife cannot legally enter. The trouble is, to win, Ma purchased every dog biscuit in town. ~ Sandra Brennan, All Movie Guide

Newspaper editor Steve Drum (Preston Foster) is willing to pull any dirty trick in the book to boost his rag's circulation. Drums's latest escapade is to blame a former criminal, now a respected politician, for a series of murders. Once the damage has been done, Drum puts on his "crusader" hat and stirs up enough public sympathy to save the politician from the electric chair. Only he's been forced to eat a few heaping helpings of humble pie does Drum redeem himself in the eyes of his long-suffering star reporter Maxine Thomas (Lynn Bari). Real-life newspapermen were mildly amused with the liberties taken in this fanciful "stop the presses" seriocomedy. ~ Hal Erickson, All Movie Guide

This comedy chronicles the further exploits of the hilarious "Higgins Family." In this entry, the father eagerly awaits a promotion. Unfortunately, he is temporarily derailed when his wife accidentally reveals a business secret concerning an upcoming merger. This results in the wife taking over her husband's position while he tries to manage the home front. Predictably funny mayhem ensues. ~ Sandra Brennan, All Movie Guide

Taking a break from Republic's "Higgins Family" series, Russell Gleason plays the title character in Monogram's Undercover Agent. A humble railroad postal clerk, young Bill Trent (Gleason) aspires to be an inspector. To this end, he carries a gun "just for emergencies", a fact that eventually gets him into trouble with his authorities. Hoping to redeem himself, Bill offers to help the Feds round up a gang of sweepstakes-ticket counterfeiters. Those grand old barnstormers J. M. Kerrigan and Maude Eburne steal the show as, respectively, a boozy ham actor and a neighborhood harridan. Shirley Deane, then Mrs. Russell Gleason, fulfills the film's leading-lady responsibilities. ~ Hal Erickson, All Movie Guide

Based upon Arthur Kober’s play (which was subsequently musicalized onstage as Wish You Were Here, Having Wonderful Time stars Ginger Rogers as Teddy Shaw, a typist who goes to a summer camp for a little rest and relaxation. She’s also getting away from Emil (Jack Carson), whose interest in Teddy is no longer returned. Arriving at Camp Kare-Free, she’s offered a ride by Chick (Douglas Fairbanks, Jr.), who works at the camp as a waiter. Unfortunately, they get off to a bumpy start when Chick spills her suitcase and an argument ensues. Once at camp, she makes friends with Fay (Peggy Conklin), Miriam (Lucille Ball) and Henrietta(Eve Arden). Chick apologizes to Teddy, and over the next six days their relationship blossoms, concurrently with that of Miriam and another guest, Buzzy. However, when Chick makes an improper advance during her last night at the camp, Teddy gets angry and leaves him. She dances with Buzzy to make Chick jealous and makes sure she is seen entering Buzzy’s cabin. She takes steps to see that nothing happens and leaves unscathed the next morning, but not before causing trouble between Buzzy and Miriam. Emil has arrived and plans to bring her home after breakfast. While they are eating, Emil proposes to Teddy. Both Chick and Miriam overhear this proposal, after which Miriam loudly comments that Teddy stayed overnight with Buzzy. In the ensuing confusion, Chick decks both Buzzy and Emil, and offers his own proposal to Teddy – which she happily accepts. ~ Craig Butler, All Movie Guide

The Jones Family is at it again in Everybody's Baby, their first 1939 release (previewed in 1938). This time, the Joneses' lives are turned inside-out by the arrival in town of Dr. Pilicoff (Reginald Denny), a famous child-rearing expert. In attempting to put Pilicoff's theories into practice, the townsfolk begin to quarrel over the proper way to raise their children. The limit comes when Herbert Thompson (Russell Gleason), husband of the eldest Jones daughter Bonnie (Shirley Deane), tries to rescue his own baby from the well-intentioned but idiotic ministrations of Pilicoff's disciples-whereupon poor Herbert is arrested for kidnapping. Everything is straightened out when Pa Jones (Jed Prouty) and his pals discover that Pilicoff is a phony, leading to a most satisfying retribution. ~ Hal Erickson, All Movie Guide

With The Higgins Family, Republic Pictures launched its own economical variation on MGM's popular "Andy Hardy" series. The gimmick here was that three of the members of the Higgins clan-dad Joe, mom Lillian, grown son Sidney-were played by real-life husband and wife James and Lucile Gleason and their son Russell (daughter Marian was portrayed by Lynne Roberts, while crusty old Grandpop was essayed by Harry Davenport). In this initial entry, Joe Higgins' future at the advertising agency where he works is jeopardized by the radio popularity of wife Lillian. Pretty soon the Higgins kids are taking to the airwaves, leading inexorably to a serious conflict of interests and a divorce-court showdown. In the course of the hearing, Joe and Lillian tearfully admit that they're still in love with one another, and everybody lives happily ever after-until the next "Higgins Family" entry, that is. The film was produced by Sol C. Siegel, who went on to such loftier projects as The African Queen and Lawrence of Arabia. ~ Hal Erickson, All Movie Guide

20th Century-Fox's first "Jones Family" series entry for 1938 was the six-reel Love on a Budget. Back in their usual screen roles are Jed Prouty (Pa Jones), Spring Byington (Ma Jones) and Florence Roberts (Granny Jones), together with Shirley Deane as the Jones' eldest daughter Bonnie, and Deane's real-life husband Russell Gleason as Bonnie's screen hubby Herbert. This time, the Joneses are suckered in by the get-rich-quick schemes of ne'er-do-well Uncle Charlie (Alan Dinehart). Meanwhile, newlyweds Bonnie and Herbert try to make do on Herbert's parsimonious salary. Nearly ruined by Uncle Charlie's latest "brilliant" investment, Bonnie and Herbert are saved by one of those last-minute financial turnarounds so common to the Jones Family saga. ~ Hal Erickson, All Movie Guide