Stuart Holmes Movies
It is probably correct to assume that American actor Stuart Holmes never turned down work. In films since 1914's Life's Shop Window, Holmes showed up in roles both large and microscopic until 1962. In his early days (he entered the movie business in 1911), Holmes cut quite a villainous swath with his oily moustache and cold, baleful glare. He played Black Michael in the 1922 version of The Prisoner of Zenda and Alec D'Uberville in Tess of the D'Ubervilles (1923), and also could be seen as wicked land barons in the many westerns of the period. While firmly established in feature films, Holmes had no qualms about accepting bad-guy parts in comedy shorts, notably Stan Laurel's Should Tall Men Marry? (1926) In talkies, Holmes' non-descript voice tended to work against his demonic bearing. Had Tom Mix's My Pal the King (1932) been a silent picture, Holmes would have been ideal as one of the corrupt noblemen plotting the death of boy king Mickey Rooney; instead, Holmes was cast as Rooney's bumbling but honest chamberlain. By the mid '30s, Holmes' hair had turned white, giving him the veneer of a shopkeeper or courtroom bailiff. He signed a contract for bits and extra roles at Warner Bros, spending the next two decades popping up at odd moments in such features as Confession (1937), Each Dawn I Die (1939) and The Adventures of Mark Twain (1944), and in such short subjects as At the Stroke of Twelve (1941). Stuart Holmes remained on call at Central Casting for major films like Around the World in Eighty Days (1956) and The Man Who Shot Liberty Valance (1962) until his retirement; he died of an abdominal aortic aneurism at the age of 83. ~ Hal Erickson, All Movie Guide- 1940
As part of his new contract with Warner Bros., Edward G. Robinson agreed to appear in the gangster comedy Brother Orchid on the condition that the studio permit him to play the leading role in the lavish biopic A Dispatch from Reuters. Robinson is cast as Baron Paul Julius Reiter, who in 1833 inaugurates a "pigeon post" messenger service which is soon rendered obsolete by the invention of the telegraph. Eventually adapting to the new communications process, Reuters is able to extends his links to the major capitals of Europe, achieving success by scooping his competition with a transcription of a speech by Louis Napoleon. By 1858, Reuters has expanded his operation to the English-speaking countries, seriously over-extending himself financially. Ultimately, Reuters is rescued from bankruptcy in 1865 when he broadcasts on a worldwide basis the news of President Lincoln's assassination-even before the American ambassador in England has been informed of the tragedy. Throughout the highs and lows of his career, Reuters is encouraged by his loyal and loving wife Ida (Edna Best), who continually reminds him that he is a communicator and not a grandstander. Though not as entertaining and satisfying as Robinson's previous biographical film Dr. Ehrlich's Magic Bullet, A Dispatch from Reuters' benefits immeasurably from the almost terrifying expertise of the Warners production staff and its stellar supporting cast (Eddie Albert, Gene Lockhart, Nigel Bruce, Otto Kruger et. al.) ~ Hal Erickson, All Movie Guide
- Starring:
- Edward G. Robinson, Edna Best, (more)
- 1925
Author George Barr McCutcheon, who breathed life into many a mythical kingdom, wrote the story for this action-adventure. Although he was not yet a star, William Haines' swashbuckling performance proved that he was definitely on the rise. John Smart (Haines) is a struggling writer who inherits a fortune. He buys an old castle in the kingdom of Laupheim, and finds Countess Von Pless (Madge Bellamy) hiding there. She is trying to get away from her cruel husband, the Count (Stuart Holmes), and Smart tries to help her get out of the country. His plans, however, are exposed by a woman who had unsuccessfully tried to vamp him. The Countess manages to escape by plane anyhow, while Smart fends off the Count and his men with a sword. The authorities take away Smart's castle and he returns to America, broke. His valet, however, brings back a treasure he found in the castle, which enables Smart to wed the Countess. ~ Janiss Garza, All Movie Guide
- Starring:
- Madge Bellamy, Stuart Holmes, (more)
- 1949
A Kiss in the Dark opens with a shot of Jane Wyman in a two-piece bathing suit. Alas, the dictates of cinematic construction demand that some sort of plot must follow this promising beginning. Wyman plays model Polly Haines, one of several mildly eccentric tenants in an apartment building owned by neurotic concert pianist Eric Phillips (David Niven). Requiring absolute peace and quiet, Eric intends to evict his tenants and thereby have the building all to himself. Soon, however, he is won over by the apartment dwellers, who in their own various ways are as high-strung as the musician. He also falls in love with Polly, just as expected. The supporting cast of Kiss in the Dark is peopled by such expert farceurs as Victor Moore, Broderick Crawford, Wayne Morris, Joseph Buloff, and Curt Bois. Making her final screen appearance is Maria Ouspenskaya as the building's resident "earth mother." ~ Hal Erickson, All Movie Guide
- Starring:
- David Niven, Jane Wyman, (more)
Three wives, played by Jeanne Crain, Ann Sothern and Linda Darnell, are about to embark on a boat trip when each receives a letter, written by a mutual friend named Addie, informing her that Addie is about to run off with one of their husbands. In flashback, each wife wonders if it is her marriage that is in jeopardy. Deborah (Crain) recounts her fish-out-of-water relationship with her up-and-coming hubby (Jeffrey Lynn); businesswoman Rita (Sothern) asks herself if she's been too rough on her professorial spouse (Kirk Douglas); and Lora May (Darnell), a girl from (literally) the wrong side of the tracks, questions the security of her marriage to a brash business executive (Paul Douglas). The voice of Addie, who is never seen, is provided by Celeste Holm. Thelma Ritter shows up in a hilarious unbilled bit as a slatternly domestic, while an equally uncredited Carl "Alfalfa" Switzer makes a quick entrance and exit as a bellhop. Written with perception and not a little witty condescension by director Joseph L. Mankiewicz, A Letter to Three Wives won two Oscars ,both for Mankiewicz. Based on a novel by John Klempner, the property was remade for television in 1985, with Ann Sothern back again in a supporting part. ~ Hal Erickson, All Movie Guide
- Starring:
- Jeanne Crain, Linda Darnell, (more)
- 1919
WWI flying ace Lt. Bert Hall played himself in the thrill-packed wartime actioner Romance of the Air. When his plane is shot down over occupied territory, Hall disguises himself as a German soldier in hopes of making an undetected escape. Instead, he is reunited with his American sweetheart Edith Day (likewise playing herself), who was stranded in Europe when the war commenced. Hall "borrows" an enemy plane and flies back to his own lines, with Day and her best friend, the Countess of Moravia (Florence Billings). Alas, the Countess turns out to be a German spy, and Hall is accused of being in her employ. Exonerated by a military tribunal, Hall dedicates himself to smashing the Countess' network of spies. Based on Bert Hall's autobiographical novel L'Air. Romance of the Air was filmed with full cooperation of the U.S. government, which loaned out a variety of aircraft to the filmmakers. During its initial release, the film was accompanied by a "live" lecture delivered by Lt. Hall himself. Few audience members dared to question the veracity of the film in Hall's presence, but the trade paper Moving Picture World was not quite so chivalrous: "Lieutenant Hall rings true, but his story does not." ~ Hal Erickson, All Movie Guide
- 1954
- PG
The 1954 musical remake of A Star is Born could have been titled A Star is Reborn, in that it represented the triumphal return to the screen of Judy Garland after a four-year absence. The remake adheres closely to the plotline of the 1937 original: An alcoholic film star, on his last professional legs, gives a career boost to a unknown aspiring actress. The two marry, whereupon her fame and fortune rises while his spirals sharply downward. Unable to accept this, the male star crawls deeper into the bottle. The wife tearfully decides to give up her own career to care for her husband. To spare her this fate, the husband chivalrously commits suicide. His wife is inconsolable at first, but is urged to go "on with the show" in memory of her late husband. In the original, Janet Gaynor played Esther Blodgett, who with no training or contacts came to Hollywood hoping for stardom. The remake, scripted by Moss Hart, is a shade more realistic: Garland's Esther, though far removed from fame, is a working professional singer/dancer when first we meet her. Both Gaynor and Garland are transformed from "Esther Blodgett" to "Vicki Lester" after being screen-tested, though Gaynor goes on to star in fluffy costume dramas while Garland more logically headlines big-budget musicals. The 1937 Star is Born costarred Fredric March as Norman Maine, Esther/Vicki's sponsor-cum-spouse. March patterned his performance after the tragic John Barrymore, reining in his emotions in favor of pure technique; James Mason's interpretation is more original, more emotional, and far more effective (who can forget the scene where Norman sobbingly overhears Vicki planning to give up her career for his sake?) As the studio's long-suffering publicist, the 1937 version's Lionel Stander is more abrasive and unpleasant than the 1954 version's introspective, intellectual Jack Carson; on the other hand, Adolphe Menjou and Charles Bickford are fairly evenly matched in the role of the studio head. Several important omissions are made in the remake. The 1937 Star is Born included Esther's indomitable old grandma (May Robson), a helpful assistant director (Andy Devine) and a soft-hearted landlord (Edgar Kennedy); all three characters are missing from the 1954 version, though elements of each can be found in the "best friend/severest critic" character played by Tommy Noonan. Wisely, both versions end with the grieving Vicki Lester coming out of her shell at a public gathering, greeting the audience with a proud, defiant "Good evening, everybody. This is Mrs. Norman Maine". Though directors William Wellman (1937 version) and George Cukor (1954 version) handle this finale in their own distinctive manners, the end result is equally effective emotionally. What truly sets the 1954 A Star is Born apart from other films of its ilk is its magnificent musical score by Harold Arlen and Ira Gershwin. The songs include The Man Who Got Away (brilliantly performed by Garland in one long take, sans dubbing), It's a New World, Somewhere There's a Someone, I Was Born in a Trunk, Lose That Long Face and Gotta Have Me Go With You. When originally previewed in 1954, the film ran well over three hours, thanks to the lengthy-and thoroughly disposable-Born in a Trunk number, added to the film as an afterthought without the approval or participation of director George Cukor. The Warner Bros. executives trimmed the film to 154 minutes, eliminating three top-rank musical numbers and several crucial expository sequences (including Norman's proposal to Vicki). At the instigation of the late film historian Ronald Haver, the full version was painstakingly restored in 1983, with outtakes and still photos bridging the "lost" footage. Though nominated in several categories, A Star is Born was left empty-handed at Academy Award time, an oversight that caused outrage then and still rankles Judy Garland fans to this day (Footnote: Judy Garland had previously played Vicki Lester in a 1942 Lux Radio Theatre adaptation of the original A Star is Born). ~ Hal Erickson, All Movie Guide
- Starring:
- Judy Garland, James Mason, (more)
- 1938
Ronald Reagan is his usual sprightly self as ambitious insurance claims adjuster Eric Gregg. While diligently investigating a phony insurance racket, Gregg remains blissfully unaware that his own wife Nona (Sheila Bromley) has become deeply indebted to the crooks. Once this fact surfaces, Gregg loses both Nona and his job. Picking up the pieces is friendly cigar-stand clerk Patricia Carmody (Gloria Blondell), who ends up helping Gregg round up the villains. At the time Accidents Will Happen was released in 1938, the newspapers were jam-packed with stories about big-money insurance frauds; though the film lacks this timeliness when seen today, it remains an enjoyable trifle thanks to the always-dependable Reagan. ~ Hal Erickson, All Movie Guide
- Starring:
- Ronald Reagan, Gloria Blondell, (more)
- 1921
Wife May Collins is convinced by a homewrecking female (Marcia Manon) that her husband Richard Dix is unfaithful. Upon learning that she's been hoodwinked, Collins decides to use a few underhanded feminine wiles herself. By proving herself the equal of the woman who broke up her home, wifey wins back hubby. This is what people used to do before talk radio, we suppose. All's Fair in Love was based on The Bridal Path, a play by Thompson Buchanan. ~ Hal Erickson, All Movie Guide
- 1934
Silent-film director Edwin Carewe hoped to stage a talkie comeback with his self-produced Are We Civilized? Set in a fictional European country, the story concerns the rise to power of a Hitler-like despot. A courageous newspaper publisher (William Farnum) challenges the new dictator's oppressive reign of terror, and the resultant brouhaha nearly leads to a Second World War. Overladen with symbolism, Are We Civilized? invokes the ghosts of such past movers and shakers as Abraham Lincoln, Moses, Buddha, Confucius, Julias Caesar, Christopher Columbus, George Washington, Napoleon Bonaparte and even Jesus Christ to hammer home its pacifistic message (the film wants to be both anti-war and anti-dictators, which history has proven to be an oxymoronic set of circumstances). Director Carewe fleshes out his film with generous stock footage from silent Cecil B. DeMille, D. W. Griffith and Thomas Ince historical epics. ~ Hal Erickson, All Movie Guide
- Starring:
- William Farnum, Anita Louise, (more)
- 1934
Originally titled It Ain't No Sin until the censors prevailed, then St. Louis Woman and Belle of New Orleans, until complaints were registered from those two communities, Belle of the Nineties was Mae West's first post-Production Code film. West is cast as cabaret entertainer Ruby Carter, plying her trade along the Mississippi. Having no trouble surviving on her own terms in a man's world, Ruby fends off the unwarranted attentions of a steady stream of libidinous males, reserving her affections for a muscular boxer called The Tiger Kid (Roger Pryor). In keeping with the star's casual liberality, a number of black entertainers and athletes are given ample opportunities in this film, notably Duke Ellington and His Orchestra. The surest sign that the Code had "tamed" West a bit is the fact that she actually marries the hero at film's end. The musical highlights include West's unforgettable rendition of "My Old Flame". ~ Hal Erickson, All Movie Guide
- Starring:
- Mae West, Roger Pryor, (more)
- 1924
English-born character star Victor McLaglen made his Hollywood debut in this highly successful Western melodrama about brothers, separated in early childhood, who wound up as opponents in a side-show wrestling match. There is a dance-hall girl (Marguerite de la Motte) and the usual Western trappings but the film's true highlight is the climactic wrestling match between McLaglen and co-star William Russell, a battle that reminded several reviewers of the legendary slugfest in the first version of The Spoilers (1914). The Beloved Brute was directed with a great deal of verve by J. Stuart Blackton, one of the founders of the Vitagraph Company. ~ Hans J. Wollstein, All Movie Guide
- Starring:
- Marguerite de la Motte, William Russell, (more)
- 1924
Based on a 1914 novel by Robert William Chambers, this silent melodrama from the pioneering Vitagraph Company starred one of the era's great matinee-idols, the Dutch-born Lou Tellegen. Tellegen, who had been a leading man to stage diva Sarah Bernhardt, played David Drene, whose supposedly docile wife Jessica (Anna Q. Nilsson) suddenly elopes with her husband's best friend Jack (Norman Kerry). Jessica's guilt drives her to suicide, and the affair goes unnoticed for years, until the day David announces his engagement to Cecile (Alice Calhoun) and is contacted by a jealous rival, Quair (Stuart Holmes). The evil Quair obligingly tells David of Jack's treachery, and the latter proposes to kill himself. But David, using telepathic powers, prevents the tragedy and forgives him. Between Friends was directed by Vitagraph's founder J. Stuart Blackton. ~ Hans J. Wollstein, All Movie Guide
- Starring:
- Lou Tellegen, Anna Q. Nilsson, (more)
Though set during WW1, British Intelligence was obviously thrown together to capitalize on the outbreak of WW2. A remake of the 1930 espionager Three Faces East, the film stars Boris Karloff as Valder, the sinister butler of a British cabinet minister. It is quite possible that Valder is a German spy, and equally likely that the mysterious Helene von Lorbeer (Margaret Lindsay) is likewise working for the enemy. In fact, the audience is never quite certain who the good guys and bad guys really are until the climax, which takes place during a German zeppelin raid of London. As a balm to 1940 audiences, the film includes an early comedy scene in which German military protocol is upset by a clumsy corporal (Willy Kaufman) who bears a startling resemblance to a certain Nazi dictator. ~ Hal Erickson, All Movie Guide
- Starring:
- Boris Karloff, Margaret Lindsay, (more)
- 1926
Warner Brothers' Broken Hearts of Hollywood is still another of the "mother love" dramas that festooned the silent era. Louise Dresser plays a selfish woman who deserts her child in pursuit of movie stardom. The years pass, and the girl grows up to be Patsy Ruth Miller. With no mother to guide her, Patsy falls in with the wrong crowd and gets mixed up in a murder. Louise nobly takes the blame for the killing, facing execution on behalf of the daughter who doesn't even know her. Featured in the cast is 18-year-old Douglas Fairbanks Jr., as well as two "regular" cast members of the films of Douglas Fairbanks Sr: Anders Randolf and Sam DeGrasse, cast respectively as the prosecuting and defense attorney. ~ Hal Erickson, All Movie Guide
- Starring:
- Patsy Ruth Miller, Louise Dresser, (more)
- 1930
This French epic chronicles the French Revolution as seen by Rouget de Lisle, the man who composed the French national anthem. In addition to many scenes of angry peasants, the film also feature's many songs by Lisle. The film makes no claim for historical accuracy. Songs include: "Song of the Guard," "Maids on Parade", "For You," "Can It Be?" "It's a Sword," "You, You Alone," and "La Marseillaise." ~ Sandra Brennan, All Movie Guide
- Starring:
- John Boles, Sam de Grasse, (more)
Carrie is based on Sister Carrie, a novel by Theodore Dreiser. Dreiser's clumsy, unwieldy prose is streamlined into a neat and precise screenplay by Ruth and Augustus Goetz. Jennifer Jones stars as Carrie, who leaves her go-nowhere small town for the wicked metropolis of Chicago. Here she becomes the mistress of brash traveling salesman Charles Drouet (Eddie Albert), then throws him over in favor of erudite restaurant manager George Hurstwood (Laurence Olivier). Obsessed by Carrie, George steals money from his boss to support her in the manner to which he thinks she is accustomed. Left broke and disgraced by the ensuing scandal, Carrie deserts George to become an actress. Years later, the conscience-stricken Carrie tries to regenerate George, who has fallen into bum-hood. If Laurence Olivier seems a surprising casting choice in Carrie, try to imagine what the film would have been like had Cary Grant, Paramount's first choice, accepted the role. ~ Hal Erickson, All Movie Guide
- Starring:
- Laurence Olivier, Jennifer Jones, (more)
- 1939
Code of the Secret Service was the second of Warner Bros. "Brass Bancroft" series, starring Ronald Reagan as troubleshooting federal operative Bancroft. This time, Brass and his wisecracking partner Gabby (Eddie Foy Jr., brother of producer Bryan Foy) take on a particularly vicious gang of counterfeiters. Our heroes end up in Mexico, where they undergo a series of wild and wooly adventures the like of which were seldom seen outside of the Republic serials. According to Reagan, he was obliged to do his own stunts in the film because the budget couldn't afford a double; it certainly looks that way. Entertaining in its own dizzy fashion. Code of the Secret Service is proof positive that Reagan could carry a film with the right material. ~ Hal Erickson, All Movie Guide
- Starring:
- Ronald Reagan, Rosella Towne, (more)
- 1949
This modern-day "Faust" variation benefits from a superb cast. Thomas Mitchell plays Joseph Foster, an honest judge who wants to become governor. Blocked by corrupt political forces, Foster would practically have to make a deal with the Devil to reach his goal. Enter Nick Beal (Ray Milland), a diabolically handsome gent with a slick line of patter and a smooth, infallible method of getting things done. Failing to recognize his benefactor's true identity (after all, Nick has no horns or cloven hooves) Foster agrees to the deal when Nick assures him that the end result is for the good of the people. To bind the bargain, Nick sends out one of his most trusted associates, Donna Allen (Audrey Totter), to keep Foster in line. When Foster finally realizes that he's sold his soul, there seems to be no way out..but that's when the forces of Good, represented by Foster's wife Martha (Geraldine Wall) and his clergyman friend Thomas Gaylord (George Macready), switch into high gear. ~ Hal Erickson, All Movie Guide
- Starring:
- Ray Milland, Audrey Totter, (more)
Set just after the close of the Civil War, a former Confederate officer (Ray Milland) joins a vaudeville target-shooting show to avoid detection by the Union army. Working his way West, he falls in league with a group of Southern copper-miners being harassed as they try to make a living. ~ John Bush, All Movie Guide
- Starring:
- Ray Milland, Hedy Lamarr, (more)
- 1939
- NR
Bette Davis earned an Oscar nomination for her role in this classic four-hanky tearjerker. Judith Traherne (Bette Davis) is a very wealthy Long Island heiress whose life is a constant whirl of cocktails, parties, and wild living. Despite her hedonistic lifestyle, Judith derives little pleasure from life except for her horses, cared for by stable master Michael O'Leary (Humphrey Bogart). When Judith begins suffering from headaches and dizzy spells, Dr. Frederick Steele (George Brent) gives her the bad news: she has a brain tumor that could threaten her life if not treated immediately. Judith consents to surgery, and Frederick informs her that the operation was a success. A grateful Judith quickly falls in love with Frederick, and they plan to marry. However, the tumor returns, and when Judith discovers that she has only a few months to live, she calls off the wedding, convinced that Frederick is marrying her only as an act of pity for a dying woman. A major success and perennial favorite, Dark Victory was later remade as Stolen Hours with Susan Hayward and as a TV movie starring Elizabeth Montgomery. ~ Mark Deming, All Movie Guide
- Starring:
- Bette Davis, George Brent, (more)
- 1916
It is nothing short of tragic that none of the elaborate Annette Kellerman vehicles directed by Herbert Brenon exists today. In addition to her legendary swimming skills, Kellerman was a charming and captivating actress, and as a bonus she looked sensational in the revealing costumes chosen for her by the box-office savvy Brenon. Like Kellerman's previous Neptune's Daughter, the "million dollar" Fox production Daughter of the Gods was a lavish fairy tale, set long long ago in a land far far away. The setting was an Atlantis-like kingdom, where the heroine was forced to contend sword-and-sorcery style with various and sundry ghoulies, ghosties and goblins -- as well as a few human villains -- before achieving true happiness with her Prince Charming. Stills exist of Daughter of the Gods showing the shapely Kellerman clad in little more than her long, flowing hair; for this reason alone, moviegoers should mourn the loss of this undoubtedly fascinating film. ~ Hal Erickson, All Movie Guide
- 1940
Veteran movie heavy Boris Karloff plays a sympathetic role in Devil's Island. Karloff portrays a humanitarian physician, arrested for treating the wounds of a treasonous fugitive. Sent to the Devil's Island penal colony, Dr. Karloff runs afoul of sadistic commandant James Stephenson, who seems obsessed by the guillotine (an execution sequence is one of the film's longest scenes). Stephenson's wife Nedda Harrigan, fed up with her husband's cruelties, aids Karloff in turning the tables on the commandant. Participating in an escape, Karloff makes his way to freedom and clears his name. Devil's Island runs a scant 60 minutes, due to editing demands made by the French consulate in Washington, who felt that the film was detrimental to Franco-American relations. ~ Hal Erickson, All Movie Guide
- Starring:
- Boris Karloff, Nedda Harrigan, (more)
- 1926
Stuart Holmes spent much of the 1920s playing villains. He even played them in comedy two-reelers for Hal Roach. Here, he gives funnyman Charley Chase a hard time. Chase has been afraid of dogs ever since he was a little boy, and this causes him no amount of trouble. He is chased into a phone booth where Holmes, as a phony Duke, was making a call. The phone has been left off its receiver, and Charley winds up talking to the girl at the other end of the line -- it's Mildred June, who desperately doesn't want to marry the Duke. Charley decides to help her out and gets a job as a butler in her home. One of his first duties is to wash the dog, which happens to be named Duke. Charley grabs Duke the human, instead of Duke the dog, and mayhem ensues. Eventually the human Duke is revealed to be bogus, and Charley wins Mildred. ~ Janiss Garza, All Movie Guide
- Starring:
- Charley Chase
- 1940
Edward G. Robinson portrays real-life German medical researcher Paul Erlich, the man who discovered and perfected "Formula 606," the cure for syphilis. The world at large would prefer to treat the disease as though it does not exist, so Erlich spends most of his life underfunded and frustrated. A no-nonsense dowager (Maria Ouspenskaya) has faith in Erlich, however, and thus provides the necessary funds to develop Formula 606. Once the serum is released to the public, Erlich's reputation is threatened when a handful of syphilitics die, ostensibly as a result of the "cure." Brought up on criminal charges, Erlich is exonerated by his old colleague Dr. Von Behring (Otto Kruger). Considered daring in its time for its exploration of a "taboo" subject, Dr. Erlich's Magic Bullet holds up as one of Warner Bros.' most solid biopics, with a convincing performance from a nearly unrecognizable Edward G. Robinson. ~ Hal Erickson, All Movie Guide
- Starring:
- Edward G. Robinson, Ruth Gordon, (more)
