Robert Greig Movies

Stranded in Shanghai, orphaned Ching-Ching (Shirley Temple), the ward of Chinese missionaries, is rescued from harm by playboy Tommy Randall (Robert Young). Through a series of unbelievable but entertaining circumstances, Ching-Ching inadvertently stows away on a boat bound for San Francisco, which happens to include Tommy on the passenger list. During the long voyage, our heroine plays little-miss-fixit for the shipboard romance between Tommy and Susan Parker (Alice Faye). The two marry to give Ching-Ching a proper home, but their clashing personalities lead inexorably to the divorce court. Once again, however, Ching-Ching saves the day, this time with the assistance of twinkly-eyed Judge Booth (J. Edward Bromberg). Stowaway is the one in which Shirley dispenses oriental aphorisms a la Charlie Chan, speaks Chinese, and offers imitations of Eddie Cantor, Al Jolson and Fred Astaire. ~ Hal Erickson, All Movie Guide

In this comedy, Uncle Rodney, the host of a kiddie show, finds himself assuming guardianship of a bratty lad at the behest of his radio station, which thinks it would boost ratings. The host is also to become trustee of the boy's estate. When the host meets the boys lovely big sister, he is elated. His mood crashes when he discovers that both urchins are broke. He dutifully supports them and keeps the mansion going. Uncle Rodney's good deeds soon land him a sponsor and a new love. ~ Sandra Brennan, All Movie Guide

In this four-hanky drama, a young wife is desperate to save her foundering marriage and so takes in two adorable foundlings, a boy and his paralyzed sister. The woman arranges for the poor little girl to have an operation. At first, the woman only does this to sway the judge in her favor, but in time, she comes to truly love the kids. In the end, she keeps them both and her husband. ~ Sandra Brennan, All Movie Guide

Francis Lederer stars as the prince of a mythical European kingdom. To mingle with the "common folk" while on a visit to New York, he takes a job as a hotel doorman. In this capacity he meets Frances Dee, a small-town secretary who has likewise come to Manhattan to put a little variety in her life. Gay Deception is an enjoyable trifle put expertly through its paces by William Wyler, a director just on the verge of bigger assignments. It was one of the last Fox Studios films to be released before Fox's merger with Twentieth Century Pictures. ~ Hal Erickson, All Movie Guide

Three former POWs return home and find that they have been listed among the dead. This comedy follows their attempts to prove themselves among the living. ~ Sandra Brennan, All Movie Guide

This French-language version of the 1935 Hollywood musical Folies Bergere retains the original star (Maurice Chevalier) and director (Roy Del Ruth) and Busby Berkeley's big-scale production numbers. It also follows substantially the same plot: A nightclub entertainer (Chevalier), is hired to pose as his look-alike (also Chevalier), a prominent aviation tycoon. The masquerade causes consternation for the entertainer's girlfriend, who of course has no idea what's going on, and for the tycoon's wife, who can't understand why her cold-fish husband has suddenly become so warm and demonstrative. Beyond the obvious language change, the major differences between the two Folies Bergeres are found in their supporting casts: for example, Natalie Paley plays the tycoon's spouse role originally essayed by Merle Oberon, while Sim Viva, as the girlfriend, fills the dancing shoes of the English-language version's Ann Sothern. Folies Bergere served as the basis for two future 20th Century-Fox musicals, That Night in Rio and On the Riviera, neither of which were released in French versions. ~ Hal Erickson, All Movie Guide

Richard Dix plays the title-role, of a dashing highwayman and bandit in 1870's Australia, in this strangely delightful mix of swashbuckler and musical. But the real star is Irene Dunne as Hilda Bouverie, an impoverished serving girl who wants to sing. Left orphaned and homeless by the deaths of her parents, Hilda is now a servant in the home of the Clarksons, the wealthiest family in the province. Hilda is glad to have a roof over her head and three meals a day, but won't really be happy unless she gets a chance to sing, and she has the voice to match her aspirations. Mr. Clarkson (Henry Stephenson) is kind and encouraging enough to her, but his wife (Mary Boland) is a harridan who treats Hilda and her other maid Annie (Una O'Connor) as little better than slaves; and Mrs. Clarkson is especially jealous of Hilda, as she also aspires to a singing career (but is sorely lacking a voice), and is eagerly awaiting a visit by London-based composer and impressario Sir Julian Kent (Conway Tearle). And then in rides Stingaree (Richard Dix), a highwayman new to the province, who is already a legend elsewhere in Australia. The authorities, led by the boorish Inspector Radford (George Barraud), know he is there and are set to catch him, but he's smarter than they are and faster on his feet, and outwits them. Stingaree kidnaps Sir Julian and, learning of the Clarksons and their wealth, plans to rob them masquerading as Sir Julian. But when he chances to hear Hilda singing, and gets to meet her, he abandons his plan and, instead, decides to help her -- his ruse is uncovered, however, and he is forced to flee, and takes the unwilling girl with him. Together in his lair in the forest, Hilda discovers that Stingaree truly does love her -- he is a man who takes whatever he wants and wants everything, but, as he tells her, "You are as safe here as you wish to be." Stingaree arranges a daring raid on the Clarkson home that allows Hilda's singing to be heard by Sir Julian -- the impressario offers her the chance to go to London, and at a career as an opera singer. She's reluctant to accept because Stingaree has been captured, but the highwayman insists that she do it, telling her that he happily gave up his freedom to give Hilda hers. And she conquers the operatic stages of Europe, in a career that takes her to Berlin, the Paris Opera, La Scala, and London's Covent Garden, and leading roles in Trovatore, Martha, and the rest of the major operatic repertory of the period. But she can't forget the sacrifice that Stingaree made for her, or the love they share for each other, and decides that even if it means giving up everything, she must return to Australia to find him. ~ Bruce Eder, All Movie Guide

A woman may be forced back into a dangerous relationship in order to save her good name in this drama from director James Whale. Lady Clare Corven (Diana Wynyard) is the wife of Sir Gerald Corven (Colin Clive), and by all appearances they're a happy upper-class British couple. But Lady Clare is anything but happy; Sir Gerald is physically and emotionally abusive toward her, and one day she decides she can take no more and leaves him behind. Lady Clare books passage on a ship, where she is befriended by a kind and handsome young man named Tony Croom (Frank Lawton). Though their relationship remains strictly platonic, Tony obviously has strong feelings for Lady Clare, which does not go unnoticed by the private detective hired by Sir Gerald to keep tabs on his wife. Sir Gerald threatens to paint Lady Clare's relationship with Tony in an unflattering light in court, this at a time when divorce was still considered a scandalous act, especially among England's "privileged" classes. One More River also includes several members of James Whale's stock company, including Lionel Atwill, E.E. Clive, and C. Aubrey Smith. ~ Mark Deming, All Movie Guide

Nils Asther stars as Dr. Callendar, a modern-day Svengali who hypnotizes women to do his eeeevil bidding. Callendar is particularly fond of preying upon married or engaged women, taking fiendish delight in stealing them away from their husbands and sweethearts. Dr. Norman Ware (Paul Kelly) begins to suspect something when his intended Alice Trask (Gloria Stuart) starts walking around in a trance, but he can prove nothing. Ultimately, however, Callendar is undone when he makes the tactical error of hypnotizing two ladies at once. This leads to a spectacular climax, in which vengeful lawyer Roger Loft (Alan Dinehart) tricks Callendar into putting him under a spell, thereby giving Loft a perfect "couldn't help himself" alibi when he shoots the caddish mesmerist in full view of an astonished theater audience. ~ Hal Erickson, All Movie Guide

In this family drama, a happy marriage is threatened by suspicion and jealousy, and illicit affairs. The trouble begins when the wife catches her husband in the arms of a family friend. The wife exacts her revenge claiming that she had an affair with the other woman's husband. This is a lie. They begin fighting. The arguments cease when their daughter tells them that she is going to run off with her boyfriend. ~ Sandra Brennan, All Movie Guide

A remarried war widow's attempts to raise her son to be a pacifist are thwarted when a second world war (this film was made well before the real WWII) erupts. Up until then, her new husband, the Secretary of State, supported his wife's crusade, but with a war on, he becomes a strong supporter in the fight that culminates in the exciting bombing of the Empire State Building. ~ Sandra Brennan, All Movie Guide

In this comedy a maid and a butler work for a very rich man. The trouble begins when their employer dies and leaves his estate to them. Once he is gone, they are free to finally marry. Unfortunately, they do not enjoy being wealthy, and they must lose everything and break up before they get back together and have a happy life. ~ Sandra Brennan, All Movie Guide