Sam Hardy Movies
Robust, hearty character actor Sam Hardy made the transition from stage to films in 1915. Among Hardy's silent screen roles were Simon Legree in Uncle Tom's Cabin (1920) and Cornelius Vanderbilt in Little Old New York (1923). His deep, full-barreled voice made him an indispensable talking-picture supporting actor in such roles as crooked religious-revival promoter Bob Hornsby in Capra's The Miracle Worker (1931) and theatrical impresario Weston ("Is this the moving picture ship?") in King Kong (1933). A close friend of comedian W.C. Fields, Sam Hardy co-authored the screenplay of the 1935 Fields comedy Man on the Flying Trapeze. ~ Hal Erickson, All Movie Guide- 1915
Avery Hopwood's stage comedy Judy Forgot proved to be a great personal success for actress Marie Cahill, so it was only natural that Cahill would be summoned to Hollywood to repeat her role on the big screen. Judy, a comic-opera star, is a character based loosely on Broadway luminary Cissie Fitzgerald, who was famous for her coquettish wink. In this instance, Judy's winks cause a great deal of trouble for her husband (Sam Hardy), who isn't kindly disposed towards the many young men who are enticed by his wife's optic twitches. Judy promises her husband to stop winking at every man who crosses her path, but while enjoying a vacation in Europe, she forgets her promise all too many times. The film's plotline was loose enough to accommodate a slapstick burglary and a mistaken-identity subplot involving a much-married adventuress. ~ Hal Erickson, All Movie Guide
- 1920
This adaptation of Harriet Beecher Stowe's controversial novel Uncle Tom's Cabin had a certain degree of novelty value by virtue of the fact that its star, Marguerite Clark, was cast as both the tragic Little Eva and the mischievous African American slave child Topsy. While the brunt of the film's dramatic content fell upon Eva's shoulders, Topsy handled the comedy relief, which though regarded as hilarious in 1918 might not play quite as well in today's more racially sensitive times. The film's highlight was the death of Little Eva, which offered the curious spectacle of Marguerite Clark watching herself "expire." Unlike previous versions of Uncle Tom's Cabin, which were either studio-bound or filmed in New York, this adaptation was largely lensed on location along the Mississippi River. ~ Hal Erickson, All Movie Guide
- 1923
This charming and expensively made historical romance was one of Marion Davies' best films. She spends much of the picture disguised as a boy, something she also did effectively in several other films. A young Irish lad, Patrick O'Day (Stephen Carr), inherits a fortune, providing he travels to New York to claim it within a certain period of time. His father, John (J.M. Kerrigan), manages to scrape together the money to send himself, his son, and daughter, Patricia (Davies), across the Atlantic. But the boy is sick and dies en route to New York. In order to get the money, John convinces Patricia to disguise herself as her brother. They arrive just in time to claim the inheritance, which frustrates cousin Larry Delevan (Harrison Ford), who would have received it had Pat not shown up. Although Delevan is not thrilled with his cousin's arrival, they become fast friends anyhow, and he never suspects that Pat is really a girl. Delevan wants to invest in Robert Fulton's steamship, the Clermont, and Pat loans him the money. But Delevan then wagers on a fight between Bully Boy Brewster (Harry Watson) and the Hoboken Terror (Louis Wolheim). The match is an uneven one and it looks like Delevan will lose all his money, so Pat rings a false alarm to break up the fight. When her deed is discovered, the mob drags her out to be whipped. She takes it for a few lashes before revealing that she's really a girl. Delevan falls in love with her and they marry. Contrary to popular belief, many of Marion Davies' films made money, and Little Old New York was one of them. ~ Janiss Garza, All Movie Guide
- Starring:
- Marion Davies
- 1923
Just because movies before the late '20s were filmed without sound recording, it doesn't mean they were truly silent. This "heart interest" drama (an important release for First National in 1923) is a case in point -- Curtis Benton wrote the original story, inspired by the 1901 hit song "Mighty Lak' a Rose," and the tune certainly played an important part of the live score when the picture hit the theaters. Instead of the lively flappers for which she would become famous, Dorothy Mackaill plays a blind orphan, Rose Duncan, who has a special talent with the violin. Jerome Trevor, a famed pianist (Sam Hardy), hears her playing and sends her to an uncle in New York so she can become educated. But the uncle is killed in an accident on his way to meet her and she is taken in by gang leader Bull Morgan (Anders Randolph). Morgan pretends to be her uncle to elude the police, and he sees the value of keeping her around as cover. One of the crooks working under Morgan, Jimmie Harrison (James Rennie), falls in love with Rose and her beautiful music and he balks at using her to pull off a job. After a heated argument in which Rose is accidentally injured, Morgan comes under the girl's positive influence, as do the other gang members. They all decide to go straight -- even Morgan's hardened moll, Molly (Helen Montrose) -- but when they find out that Rose's blindness can be cured, they decide to pull off one last heist. Jimmie is caught and goes to prison. Trevor finally finds Rose and sends her to be trained. She is about to make her debut -- and to promise herself to Trevor -- when Jimmie shows up. Rose, who thought he was dead, is happily reunited with him. ~ Janiss Garza, All Movie Guide
- Starring:
- James Rennie, Sam Hardy, (more)
- 1925
The only truly interesting aspect of this melodrama is the spectacular fire aboard an ocean liner. The scene was shot in color, and to make it even more exciting, a leopard also breaks free on the ship. The lovely presence of Doris Kenyon also helps. Kenyon plays Poppy La Rue, an actress who winds up stranded in Singapore when her theatrical troupe goes bust. She winds up in the Red Light district where she works as a "hostess" (generally a silent film euphemism for prostitute), where she meets Philip Douglas, a down-at-the-heels Brit (Lloyd Hughes). While drunk, he kills a man in self-defense, and Poppy helps him to escape. Jardine (Sam Hardy), a plantation owner, is determined to have Poppy, and when she wants to escape from the Oriental underworld, he offers to help, provided she accompanies him to Penang. Douglas is also on board and when a fire breaks out in the hold, he rescues Poppy from Jardine's advances. They manage to get in a lifeboat just before the ship explodes, and are picked up by a passing vessel. Douglas' father (Hobart Bosworth) wants the couple to separate, but finally he accepts Poppy as his daughter-in-law. ~ Janiss Garza, All Movie Guide
- Starring:
- Doris Kenyon, Lloyd Hughes, (more)
- 1925
Love had already grown cold for Natacha Rambova and her ex-husband, Rudolph Valentino, when this film came out. Why Rambova, a talented costume and set designer, chose to act in any picture, much less this tawdry exploitation film, is a mystery; although she was hauntingly beautiful, she had neither the presence nor personality to be a film star, and since she had worked in motion pictures for eight years by 1925, she must have already known it. Margaret (Rambova) gives up her stage career to marry Jerry Benson, an ambitious but rather ineffectual businessman (a wasted Clive Brook). The plans he presents to a big oil board fail to impress, so Margaret takes matters into her own hands and convinces the board to accept them. Benson becomes a huge success and makes an immense amount of money. William Graves, the company's president (Sam Hardy), lusts after Margaret and is determined to break up her marriage. He sends Gloria Trevor (Kathryn Hill) to seduce Benson, whom he also plots to ruin in the stock market. His schemes, however, are unsuccessful and Benson and Margaret end the film united once again. The story to this picture was based on a novel by then-popular author Laura Jean Libbey. ~ Janiss Garza, All Movie Guide
- 1926
This playful spoof on the film business featured several stars including Ben Lyon, Lois Wilson, and Blanche Sweet. John Hart (Lyon) is a bank teller who gets fired after a shortage is found in his account. Desperate for work, he lands a job as a movie extra for famed director B.C. Duval (Dan Pennell, who looks and acts quite a bit like real-life director Cecil B. DeMille). Duval, with his retinue of "yes men," sees potential in young Hart and decides to make him over into a Latin lover. After they go to work on him, Hart is introduced to the press as ladykiller Don Juan Hartez. In order to promote his brand new reputation as a great lover, the press agent insists that he marry and divorce seven women in succession. After the sixth one, however, Hart gets fed up and runs off to marry his real sweetheart, Mary Kelly (Wilson), a modest little diner cook. ~ Janiss Garza, All Movie Guide
- Starring:
- Ben Lyon, Lois Wilson, (more)
- 1926
Prince of Tempters was adapted from The Ex-Duke a story by prolific author E. Phillips Oppenheim. The story focuses on two Benedictine monks, the virtuous Francis (Ben Lyon) and the wavering Mario (Ian Keith). With papal dispensation, Francis is voluntarily released from his vows to assume the responsibilities of an inherited earldom. Meanwhile, Mario rejects his vows without permission, hoping to lay claim to Francis' title and wealth. The drama reaches its peak when Mario enlists the aid of the beautiful Dolores (Lya de Putti) to discredit Francis in the eyes of his sweetheart Monica (Lois Moran). ~ Hal Erickson, All Movie Guide
- Starring:
- Lois Moran, Ben Lyon, (more)
- 1926
The Great Deception is set during WWI. Educated in Germany, British youth Cyril Mansfield (Ben Lyon) is seemingly uncertain of his loyalties when the War breaks out. Refusing to enlist in the British army, Cyril is accused of being a slacker and a coward. He then commits the ultimate betrayal by selling his services to the Germans. What none of Cyril's friends know is that he is secretly in the employ of British intelligence, pretending to be a spy for the Kaiser in order to get his hands on the enemy's secret war plans. His true purpose is revealed when his girlfriend Lois (Aileen Pringle) is kidnapped by German agent Von Markow (Lucien Prival). ~ Hal Erickson, All Movie Guide
- Starring:
- Ben Lyon, Aileen Pringle, (more)
- 1927
Amateur thespians Fannie (Lois Wilson) and Johnny (Sam Hardy) team up to form a vaudeville act. Along the way, they decide to get married, if only to save on expenses. Things don't go well on "the road" for Fannie and Johnny, and before long Johnny is spending more time shooting craps than trodding the boards. Weary of her husband's improvidence, Fannie strikes out on her own, and in record time becomes a top Broadway star. Though she is ardently pursued by producer Baron (Louis John Bartels), Fannie can't seem to get over Johnnie. Inevitably, Fannie is reunited with her husband, who has given up gambling to become a successful composer. ~ Hal Erickson, All Movie Guide
- Starring:
- Lois Wilson, Sam Hardy, (more)
- 1927
Busy character actor Sam Hardy was afforded a rare starring role when he played the title character in High Hat. Despite his ritzy nickname, High Hat is a mere movie dress extra at First National Pictures (where the film was shot). Even so, he regards himself as the studio pundit, dispensing romantic and financial advice to such stars as John Barrymore and Pola Negri. The plot proper has something to do with a studio seamstress named Millie (Mary Brian), who after losing a string of pearls entrusted in her care vows to work overtime until she can make up their cost. High Hat comes to the girl's rescue, recovers the diamonds, and returns to his full-time "job" as First National's resident sage. ~ Hal Erickson, All Movie Guide
- Starring:
- Sam Hardy, Mary Brian, (more)
- 1927
George Sidney and Charles Murray, the combative co-stars of the Cohens and Kellys series, do their usual in the First National comedy The Life of Riley. Riley (Murray) is the local fire chief and general-store proprietor; Meyer (Sidney) is the police chief and rival store-owner. Both Riley and Meyer vie for the attentions of the Widow Jones (Myrtle Steadman), who is partial to both men. The plot centers upon a revolutionary fire extinguisher invented by Riley, an essential factor in the outcome of the romantic rivalry. Life of Riley was partially remade (and considerably abbreviated) as the 1936 Andy Clyde 2-reeler Love Comes to Mooneyville. ~ Hal Erickson, All Movie Guide
- Starring:
- George Sidney, Charlie Murray, (more)
- 1927
Though Will Rogers was still packing 'em in on Broadway, he was considered a Hollywood has-been when he starred in the independently produced A Texas Steer. Rogers also wrote the screenplay of this "topical comedy," in which he plays Texas rancher Maverick Brander, who is maneuvered into politics by his status-seeking wife Ma (Louise Fazenda). Unfortunately, Maverick finds himself at the mercy of a trio of corrupt political hacks who want our hero to use his influence to push through a piece of questionable legislation. The opponents of the bill contrive to abduct Maverick, but he escapes in time to strike a blow for honesty in Washington. The level of humor in the film can be gauged by such character names as "Bossy Brander," "Dixie Style" and "Fairleigh Bright." A Texas Steer had its moments, but Will Rogers would have to wait until talkies arrived to fully blossom as a film star. ~ Hal Erickson, All Movie Guide
- Starring:
- Will Rogers, Louise Fazenda, (more)
- 1927
One of the most accessible of the Colleen Moore silent vehicles, Orchids and Ermine also happens to be among Moore's best and most representative films. The star is cast as Pink Watson, whose craving for such luxuries as orchids and ermine lead her to take a job as a telephone receptionist in a hotel catering to wealthy men. In the course of her many subsequent adventures, she meets a millionaire named Richard Tabor (Jack Mulhall), who to avoid predatory females has switched identities with his faithful valet Hanks (Sam Hardy). After making a half-hearted play for Hanks, Pink falls in love with Tabor, deciding that money doesn't mean anything after all -- and is she surprised when she learns Tabor's true identity. One of the highlights of Orchids and Ermine is a brief scene involving a flirtatious, cigar-smoking midget, played by 6-year-old Joe Yule Jr. -- who of course "grew up" to become Mickey Rooney. ~ Hal Erickson, All Movie Guide
- Starring:
- Colleen Moore, Jack Mulhall, (more)
- 1927
The Perfect Sap was based on Not Herbert, a popular stage farce of the period. Ben Lyon stars as Herbert Alden, a wealthy but hopelessly nerdish would-be detective. Herbert gets his chance to prove his deductive skills when a robbery is committed at a costume party. His pursuit of the crooks leads Herbert and his sweetheart Polly Stoddard (Pauline Starke) too a crumbling old mansion, where the villains do their best to convince the couple that the joint is haunted. Featured in the cast were two long-time cronies of W.C. Fields, character actors Sam Hardy and Tammany Young. ~ Hal Erickson, All Movie Guide
- Starring:
- Ben Lyon, Pauline Starke, (more)
- 1928
German actress Lena Malena starred in this lavishly budgeted and potentially intriguing melodrama about the influence of a valuable gem on its owners. In South Africa, a miner (Charles Stevens) loses his life after stealing a valuable diamond. Before he expires, he gives the stone to Musa (Malena), a girl from the village. Now known as the Shah Diamond, the gem turns up in New York City, where it is admired by Cecile (Gwen Lee), a socialite. When Cecile's lover Jerry (John Roche) buys her the stone, her husband John (Conrad Nagel) leaves in a fit of jealousy. Cecile, however, mistakes the gem for a valueless glass trinket and gives it to her maid, Musa. Next, the diamond turns up in a speakeasy, where it is admired by Tillie (Eleanor Boardman), the owner's girlfriend who is suffering from tuberculosis. An admirer, Larry (Lawrence Gray), secretly gives the girl money for treatment, but she instead buys the diamond. There is a police raid and Musa, now a dancing girl, is shot attempting to retrieve the diamond. Diamond Handcuffs was produced by Cosmopolitan Productions, an organization founded by newspaper mogul William Randolph Hearst. ~ Hans J. Wollstein, All Movie Guide
- Starring:
- Lena Malena, Conrad Nagel, (more)
- 1928
Comic Chester Conklin stars in this sparkling comedy directed by Allan Dwan. John Sloval (Conklin), a New York City transit security officer, would love to see his daughter Sophie (Alice White) marry Philip Hurd (Sam Hardy), who works at a Coney Island concession stand. But Sophie is in love with Bill Hedges (Jack Egan), the son of an upstate New York dairy farmer. Sloval makes a deal for Philip to marry Sophie in exchange for a percentage of Philip's Coney Island concession-stand take. But then Sloval falls off a subway platform and is nearly killed. Sloval's money-making scheme is forgotten as a local newspaper and a political candidate make hay of Sloval's plight in order to push for subway reform. By the time Sloval realizes that he is being exploited by the newspaper for political ends, Sophie and Bill have married. Dejected, Sloval goes to visit them, hoping that they will forgive him. ~ Paul Brenner, All Movie Guide
- Starring:
- Chester Conklin, Alice White, (more)
- 1928
Warner Bros. contractees Myrna Loy and Walter Pidgeon were "borrowed" by low-budget Lumas pictures for the 1928 military drama Turn Back the Hours. Based on the venerable stage play by Edward E. Rose, the film stars Pidgeon as a Naval officer who is dishonorably discharged for cowardice. While being transported home to England, Pidgeon is caught in the middle of a shipwreck, from which he is rescued by passenger Loy. Recuperating in the Caribbean home of Loy's wealthy father, our hero returns the favor by rescuing the heroine and her daddy from a gang of bandits. In so doing, Pidgeon regains his courage and self-respect -- not to mention the love of the grateful Loy. Elements of Turn Back the Hours later resurfaced in the 1942 Humphrey Bogart vehicle Across the Pacific. ~ Hal Erickson, All Movie Guide
- Starring:
- Myrna Loy, Walter Pidgeon, (more)
- 1928
Burning Up Broadway contains no burning and precious little Broadway. Small-town hero Ernest Hilliard decides to take in the floor show at a speakeasy owned by rumrunner Robert Frazier. When Hilliard takes one look at chorus girl Helene Costello, he immediately falls in love. Frazier doesn't cotton to this and pops Hilliard one in the nose. But this is hardly the end of the story: Soon afterward, Hilliard is blamed for a holdup masterminded by the crooks. It is at this point that heroine Costello steps forward, reveals herself to be a U.S. revenue agent, and takes charge of the case. Even less believable than this plot development is the last-minute revelation that Frazier is likewise a government operative who has been working with Costello all along! ~ Hal Erickson, All Movie Guide
- Starring:
- Robert W. Frazer, Ernest Hilliard, (more)
- 1928
Corinne Griffith stars in this 1928 remake of the 1922 melodrama Outcast. Both films were based on a play by Hubert Henry Davies, originally written as a vehicle for Elsie Ferguson (who starred in the 1922 version). Worn-out prostitute Miriam (Griffith) links up with dissolute playboy Geoffrey (Edmund Lowe). Their relationship has a positive, redemptive effect on both hero and heroine. Miriam forsakes her sinful ways, promising to dedicate her life to Geoffrey's health and happiness. Alas, his fickle ex-fiancee Valentine (Kathryn Carver), who callously dumped him to marry another, now wants Geoffrey back. But Miriam outfoxes the fox by proving that she herself is far more virtuous than the "respectable" Valentine. ~ Hal Erickson, All Movie Guide
- Starring:
- Corinne Griffith, James Ford, (more)
- 1929
In this drama, a singer finds himself stuck with his best friend's newly orphaned son. Now he must juggle both parenthood and his growing career. Fortunately he falls in love with an inkeeper's daughter whom he discovers is the boy's aunt on his mother's side. Songs include: "Little Pal," "Rainbow Man" (Dowling, James Hanley), "Sleepy Valley" (Andrew B. Sterling, Hanley). ~ Sandra Brennan, All Movie Guide
- Starring:
- Eddie Dowling, Marian Nixon, (more)
- 1929
Gangster boss Egan (Sam Hardy) manages to beat a murder rap by framing his mistress Marion (Margaret Livingston) for the crime. After eight years in stir, Marian is released on good behavior. She seeks out Egan and tries to persuade him to confess his crime, but he is unmoved. But when his life is saved by Marian's sweetheart Dr. Bradford (Lloyd Hughes), Egan magnanimously turns himself in. In the course of the film, ratchet-voiced Sam Hardy sings the Irving Berlin standard What'll I Do, which was at least good for laughs (whenever he hears or sings the song, the sentimental gangster decides not to kill his latest victim!) ~ Hal Erickson, All Movie Guide
- Starring:
- Lloyd Hughes, Margaret Livingston, (more)
