Ena Gregory Movies
A former child actress from Australia, hazel-eyed Ena Gregory would later claim to have appeared in 200 two-reel comedies for producer Hal Roach, a somewhat unlikely number. Leaving Roach, Gregory would make her fair share of B-Westerns, including Blazing Days (1927) with Fred Humes, directed by a very young William Wyler. In the late '20s, Gregory changed her name to Marian Douglas in a futile attempt to escape low-budget action melodramas, but she would continue to appear only in routine films, including the low-budget Aloha (1931) starring Ben Lyon and directed by her husband, Al Rogell. An especially acrimonious divorce from Rogell followed three years later and Gregory left show business entirely after marrying a Hollywood physician in 1937. She later became a real estate dealer in the posh coastal community of Laguna Beach. ~ Hans J. Wollstein, All Movie Guide- 1937
Starving artist Robert Montgomery could care less if his paintings sell, so long as he's happy. Montgomery falls in love with Rosalind Russell, an heiress who's gone "slumming" in Greenwich Village. Russell becomes Montgomery's patroness as well as his wife, urging him to make his paintings more commercial. He becomes a success following her advice, but popularity goes to his head and soon Russell realizes she's created a monster. She walks out, he gets his act together, she comes back, and they return to their blissful hand-to-mouth existence. Live, Love and Learn scores its biggest laughs unintentionally with MGM's prettified concept of what a "run down" Greenwich village apartment looks like. ~ Hal Erickson, All Movie Guide
- Starring:
- Robert Montgomery, Rosalind Russell, (more)
- 1927
The Romantic Rogue is handsome Reed Howes, the scion of a disreputable family of peddlers. In the tradition of his forebears, Howes sets up shop in a small town to sell his family's line of patent medicine. But whereas the previous members of Howes' brood knew that their snake oil is bogus, our hero genuinely believes in the stuff -- and his faith in the medicine is contagious, resulting in "miracle cures" that are more due to self-determination and optimism than anything else. In the end, Howes realizes that his wares are worthless, but it hardly matters, since his goodwill-spreading has won him the heart of heroine Ena Gregory. James Bradbury and Syd Crossley co-star as a pair of Mutt-and-Jeff comic sidekicks. ~ Hal Erickson, All Movie Guide
- Starring:
- Reed Howes, Ena Gregory, (more)
- 1927
Returning to the family ranch after a spell as a circus performer, Art Hayes (Art Acord) finds that a crooked ranch foreman (Albert J. Smith) has forced his father into bankruptcy. Hayes, however, unravels a cattle-rustling scheme, forces the villain to show his hand, and romances the neighbor's daughter (Ena Gregory AKA Marian Douglas). Veteran cowboy star Acord had an on-again, off-again relationship with Universal in the 1920s. An excessive drinker, the star was showing clear signs of deterioration by 1927, the beginning of a downhill slide that would end with his mysterious death (suicide? murder?) in Chihuahua, Mexico, January 4, 1931. ~ Hans J. Wollstein, All Movie Guide
- Starring:
- Art Acord, Ena Gregory, (more)
- 1927
This typical Universal "Blue Streak Western" starred the studio's popular Jack Hoxie as a cowboy named Ned Raleigh, who fancies himself as a descendant of Sir Walter Raleigh. Ridiculed for his chivalry towards ladies in general and lovely Beth Stone in particular, Raleigh finally gets to show what he's really made of when a crooked neighbor, Manning (William A. Steele), attempts to take over the Stone spread. In order to save her family ranch, Beth agrees to marry Manning but is saved in the nick of time by Ned and his horse Scout. Leading lady Ena Gregory, an Australian, was also known under the name Marion Douglas. Hoxie's wife, Marin Sais, appeared in a supporting role. ~ Hans J. Wollstein, All Movie Guide
- 1927
Cowboy star Jack Hoxie is definitely a "man of daring," but just how daring he really can be isn't demonstrated until the final reel. The story is set in the Black Hills of South Dakota circa 1876. While making their way through the Badlands, a religious cult is terrorized by a bandit known only as Black Roger. Wagon-train scout Jack Taylor (Jack Hoxie) vows to protect the cultists after their leader is killed by person or persons unknown. Before the inevitable unmasking of the villain as the Least Likely Suspect, Jack has fallen in love with the pious heroine (Ena Gregory). And, oh yes -- there is at least one Indian attack, just to keep the audience awake. ~ Hal Erickson, All Movie Guide
- Starring:
- Jack Hoxie, Ena Gregory, (more)
- 1927
This minor racetrack drama was directed by King Baggot, at one time a prominent silent-film leading man. Robert Agnew stars as Marty Kruger, a jockey who is forced to starve himself to qualify weight-wise for the Big Race. This Kruger does at the behest of his nasty trainer Devlin (Lincoln Plummer), who cares only about winning, and hang the consequences. Winning the big race, Marty passes out from malnutrition, and in so doing reveals Devlin to be a no-good rat. As compensation, our hero is comforted by heroine Katie Kelly (Marion Nixon), who has long held a torch for him. ~ Hal Erickson, All Movie Guide
- Starring:
- Marian Nixon, Jack Daugherty, (more)
- 1927
Nearing the end of his long, profitable association with Universal Westerns, stout cowboy hero Jack Hoxie played "Grinner" Martin, a returning war veteran hired to fill in for the editor (George K. French) of a local newspaper in a town terrorized by a gang of bandits. Deciding to clean up the town, "Grinner" exposes one member in each issue until the leader, Harvey Purcell (Arthur Morrison), is unmasked. Purcell attempts to burn down the newspaper in retaliation but succeeds only in getting caught by the alert "Grinner." As his reward, the crusading newspaperman wins the love of the editor's daughter (Ena Gregory aka Marian Douglas). Hoxie starred in two additional Westerns before tearing up a new contract after an argument with studio boss Carl Laemmle. No actor in any real sense of the word but also not the illiterate moron some sources suggest, Hoxie appeared in a series of very low-budget oaters for poverty row company Majestic before leaving films altogether in favor of touring with various Wild West shows and a stint as a rancher. ~ Hans J. Wollstein, All Movie Guide
- 1927
Not surprisingly, Rose of Kildare begins in Ireland, where Rose (Helene Chadwick) and Barry (Pat O'Malley) fall in love. Alas, hero and heroine are separated by a combination of Cruel Fate and False Pride. Emigrating to America, Rose becomes a successful nightclub owner, but she never gets over her lost love. Twenty-five years pass before the aging sweethearts are finally reunited, and then only because Rose's daughter Elsie (Ena Gregory) has fallen for Barry's son Barry Jr. (Carroll Nye). As a bit of dramatic irony, Barry Jr. has grown up to be a New York district attorney, determined to close down Rose's "scandalous" cabaret. ~ Hal Erickson, All Movie Guide
- Starring:
- Pat O'Malley, Helene Chadwick, (more)
- 1927
William Wyler, a distant relative of Universal's founder Carl Laemmle, directed this routine western about a cowboy, "Smilin'" Sam (Fred Humes), who mistakes lovely Milly (Ena Gregory) and her brother (Churchill Ross) for a couple of outlaws. Everything is quickly sorted out, however, and Humes can search for the real villain. Director Wyler later recalled that moving from the Ted Wells unit to that of Fred Humes was considered quite a step up in prestige at Universal. ~ Hans J. Wollstein, All Movie Guide
- Starring:
- Fred Humes, Ena Gregory, (more)
- 1926
A low-budget outfit calling itself Hollywood Producers' Finance Association bought an old Buck Jones Western from Fox, put Monte Montague in clothes resembling Jones', hired leading lady Ena Gregory for a scene or two, re-edited the old footage with the new and presto! A brand new Western entitled One Man Trail could be delivered to small-town theaters whose audiences would presumably be none the wiser. Not one of the more scintillating of actors, Western or otherwise, Monte Montague was a former Ringling Brothers acrobat who had doubled Elmo Lincoln in The Adventures of Tarzan (1921). Usually playing a mere member of the posse or providing some inept "comedy relief," Montague would continue to appear in B-Westerns until the early 1950s. ~ Hans J. Wollstein, All Movie Guide
- Starring:
- Monte Montague, Ena Gregory, (more)
- 1926
One of Universal's better Blue Streak Westerns, Red Hot Leather starred the company's number two cowboy hero at the time, Jack Hoxie. (The lackadaisical Hoot Gibson was Universal's premiere Western star of the 1920s.) Unlike Gibson, Hoxie was not much of an actor but looked good on a horse, which was all this story of a rancher who discovers an oil deposit on his land called for. Returning from the East where he has tried in vain to borrow money to save his father's ranch, Hoxie's Jack Lane meets nurse Ellen Rand (Ena Gregory), herself en route to care for the elder Lane (William Malan). A neighbor, Morton Kane (William H. Turner), meanwhile, has discovered oil on the Lane property, a fact he attempts to keep to himself. When Jack enters the rodeo hoping to earn enough money to save the ranch, Kane has him abducted. The intrepid cowboy escapes in Kane's car, wins the rodeo, saves the ranch, and marries his father's nurse. Leading lady Ena Gregory, an Australian, appeared in four Westerns opposite Hoxie, married his director, Albert S. Rogell, and changed her name briefly to Marian Douglas. ~ Hans J. Wollstein, All Movie Guide
- Starring:
- Jack Hoxie, Ena Gregory, (more)
- 1926
Who better to star in Doubling with Danger than one of Hollywood's premiere stunt doubles, Richard Talmadge? "The Prince of Pep" (as he was billed by his studio) stars as a devil-may-care aviator, working on a government project. A gang of unpatriotic criminals intends to steal the plans for a revolutionary "silent airplane." But with Talmadge on the scene, the crooks haven't got a chance. Doubling with Danger was directed by Scott R. Dunlap, who as a Monogram producer was later responsible for such popular film series as "The Cisco Kid" and "Charlie Chan." ~ Hal Erickson, All Movie Guide
- Starring:
- Richard Talmadge, Ena Gregory, (more)
- 1925
Although this Stan Laurel two-reeler -- a parody of 1923's Rupert of Hentzau -- was handsomely produced, the jokes were slapstick at their crudest. There's a lot of kicking rear ends and slipping on banana peels. The King (Laurel) is constantly drunk, much to the disgust of the princess (Ena Gregory), who decides to have him overthrown. Traveling salesman Rudolph Razz (also Laurel) shows up at the palace and turns out to be the exact double of the King. It's an easy enough task to get the King away from the palace and put Razz in his place. Unfortunately the traveling salesman has no idea of court protocol and one of the irked men (the always-irked James Finlayson) challenges Razz to a sword fight. The battle is interrupted when the real King shows up, and he defeats his double and returns to his throne. Laurel's common-law wife, Mae Laurel, plays the Queen, and Sammy "Sunshine" Morrison -- one of the best child actors of the silent era -- has a small part, as do a couple other members of the Our Gang team. ~ Janiss Garza, All Movie Guide
- Starring:
- Stan Laurel
- 1925
Proving once and for all that Western filmmaking was treacherous work even for the greatest of stars, Colleen Moore broke her neck in a fall from a moving handcar during the making of this rousing sagebrush melodrama. The pert Moore, an idol of her generation, quickly regained her mobility but was reportedly forced to sleep in a leather neck support for nearly ten years. She had insisted on a departure from her usual flapper roles and screenwriter June Mathis had crafted this quaint melodrama of a mining camp girl who reforms a young derelict addicted to drink (Lloyd Hughes). Escaping her violent stepfather Mike Dyer (Frank Brownlee), Maggie Fortune (Moore) takes up residence in the rough mining town of Bullfrog. She falls in love with handsome Rance Conway (Hughes) and he with her, but Rance can't keep away from the bottle. While Conway is away grubstaking, Dyer turns up in Bullfrog, only to be killed by an unknown assailant. When both Rance and Maggie confess to the killing, a confused sheriff files the death away as a suicide. Revealed to be a wealthy young scion, a sober Rance proposes marriage, and Maggie accepts. A blandly handsome leading man from Arizona, dark-haired Lloyd Hughes was at his best when playing opposite strong female stars such as Mary Pickford (The of the Storm Country, 1922), Moore (five films including this one), and Mary Astor (eight times). His sound films were mostly in the "B" category. ~ Hans J. Wollstein, All Movie Guide
- Starring:
- Colleen Moore, Lloyd Hughes, (more)
- 1924
This is one of the more well-known Stan Laurel solo comedies, but in truncated form -- much of the Army footage is usually left out. It actually begins with Smithy (Laurel) as a private, making life miserable for his irascible sergeant (James Finlayson, who had a special talent for irascibility). When he finally enters civilian life, he has a hard time finding a job but finally lands work on a construction crew. But Smithy is no better at building a house than he was in the army -- he can barely get a roll of tar paper up to the roof. To make matters even more interesting, his old sergeant winds up being one of the workers, too, and once again he finds himself at the mercy of Smithy's eternal ineptitude. The owner of the firm decides to promote a certain Smith (Glenn Tryon) to foreman, but the secretary (Ena Gregory) thinks he means Smithy, and hands him the letter containing the promotion. Smithy has a field day with his new title, and immediately fires his old sergeant. The freshly built house keels over into a heap and Smithy (along with his old sergeant) both rejoin the service. Some of the jokes in this two-reeler wound up in the Laurel and Hardy silent, The Finishing Touch. ~ Janiss Garza, All Movie Guide
- Starring:
- Stan Laurel
- 1923
Monty Banks plays a romantic florist in this comedy short. Unfortunately, his girl (Ena Gregory) has a father who would rather see her married to a manly sea captain (William Blaisdell). The captain is determined to get the girl by any means possible and forges a "Dear John" letter for Banks to find. Heartbroken, he tries to drown himself at the pier but instead winds up on the captain's ship as it's about to take off. This is potentially even more fatal, since the captain has him thrown into an angry gorilla's cage. But Banks makes friends with the beast by teaching it to play craps. Eventually the ship returns to port and Banks gets a note from his sweetie -- her father is going to see her married to the captain unless Banks can make it to the ceremony before two o' clock. The captain locks him up, but with the gorilla's help, he makes it to his girl just in the nick of time. This short is a good example of why Monty Banks is little remembered today -- while some of his gags are no less funny than those of other, more famous silent clowns, he lacks a memorable screen presence and just barely carries the two reels it takes to tell this story. ~ Janiss Garza, All Movie Guide
- 1923
This film is based on the novel by F. Marion Crawford, and involves the court of King Philip II of Spain. Philip is jealous of his powerful and popular brother, Don John (Edmund Lowe), so he sends him to fight in the Moors, hoping that he will not return. John leaves behind the woman he loves, Dolores Mendoza (Blance Sweet). Dolores' father, General Mendoza (Hobart Bosworth), believes that John is playing with his daughter's heart and disapproves of the match. John returns victorious from the Moors and continues to push his suit. Meanwhile, Princess Eboli, the king's favorite (Aileen Pringle), is in charge of a plot to depose Philip and put John on the throne. The two royal brothers have a heated argument, and Philip leaves John for dead. To save the king, Mendoza claims responsibility. But Dolores knows the truth and threatens to tell all unless the king pardons her father. The king agrees, and when it turns out that John has only been wounded, Philip also consents to his wedding to Dolores. ~ Janiss Garza, All Movie Guide
- Starring:
- Blanche Sweet, Edmund Lowe, (more)
- 1923
Famed cinematic stuntman Eddie Polo stars in this uneven rural adventure drama with Ena Gregory and James McElhern. Society dandy John Pendleton Smythe (Polo) plans to kill himself when his girl runs off with a feuding hillbilly family. The loss makes John mad enough to battle the town bully and he earns the respect of his many detractors. ~ Dan Pavlides, All Movie Guide
- Starring:
- Ena Gregory, Eddie Polo, (more)
- 1921
Seventeen-year-old flapper Natalie Smith (Gladys Walton) is fed up with being treated like a child, so she flirts with an older man, Lance Christie (Jack Mower). Unfortunately, Natalie's mother is working for -- and engaged to -- Wallace Brewster (Edward Martindel), who is running for mayor, and Christie's brother, Woodward (William Welsh) is his opponent. Lance isn't really interested in her -- he's just using her to get information on Brewster. Natalie naively steals some papers for Lance before discovering that he's already married and being sued for divorce. Brewster, meanwhile, had the real papers that the Christies wanted all along. Eventually Natalie is forgiven for her rash behavior. ~ Janiss Garza, All Movie Guide
