Newton House Movies
The son of stunt man Jack House, American trick rider and junior star Newton House began his screen career playing Hoot Gibson as a child in The Riding Kid From Powder River (1924). Universal remembered the fresh-faced, freckled youngster when they decided to compete with rival studio FBO's popular Buzz Barton Westerns. Young House was advertised as the "Champion Boy Rider" and put through the paces in 13 Western two-reelers directed by studio hacks Josef Levigard, Walter Fabian, and Lewis Collins. Although popular with kids and rural audiences, House's career collapsed completely after the advent of sound and he spent the remainder of his career in bit parts. Giving up acting in 1940, House became a makeup artist and later founded his own grain business. Long in retirement, Newton House died of a heart ailment; he was survived by siblings Donald, Dorothy (the widow of actor Andy Devine), and Jimmy, all of whom had appeared in films in the late '20s. ~ Hans J. Wollstein, All Movie Guide- 1935
Warner Bros.' Devil Dogs of the Air is very much a "formula" picture -- but what a wonderful formula it is! James Cagney plays reckless stunt flyer Tommy O'Toole, who is encouraged to join the Marine Flying Corps by his old Brooklyn buddy Lt. William Brannigan (Pat O'Brien). An undeniably talented flyboy, Tommy is also brash, obnoxious and pugnacious, quickly earning the enmity of his fellow trainees. He even falls out with Brannigan over the affections of pretty waitress Betty Roberts (Margaret Lindsay). Very nearly "washing out" of the service, Tommy is eventually brought into line by the combined efforts of Brannigan, Betty, and the rest of the "devil dogs." After earning oodles of money for Warners during its first release, Devil Dogs of the Air proved equally as successful when it was reissued six years later, just before America's entry into WW II. ~ Hal Erickson, All Movie Guide
- Starring:
- James Cagney, Pat O'Brien, (more)
We Live Again was based on Tolstoy's Resurrection; the title was changed upon producer Sam Goldwyn's theory that it meant the same thing as Resurrection and was easier to understand. The film was meant as an introductory showcase for Goldwyn's latest discovery, Russian actress Anna Sten. The story, much laundered from the Tolstoy original, depicts the downfall of a peasant girl who is seduced by a Russian prince (Fredric March). The once-callous nobleman tries to make amends for the hurt he has inflicted on the girl, who has wound up in prison for solicitation. The first American version of Resurrection, directed by D. W. Griffith, was made in 1909 and lasted ten minutes. ~ Hal Erickson, All Movie Guide
- Starring:
- Anna Sten, Fredric March, (more)
- 1930
In this, its third cinema incarnation, David Belasco's hoary old Girl of the Golden West received the full swagger treatment from the otherwise lady-like Ann Harding as the gun-toting saloon belle who falls for a handsome outlaw (James Rennie). Again, the story's climax is the dramatic poker game between Harding and Sheriff Jack Rance, the stakes of which is the outlaw's freedom. Unfortunately, Miss Harding insisted that her husband, phlegmatic stage actor Harry Bannister, play the sheriff, a casting decision that somewhat upset the story's apple cart. A Broadway veteran but a cinematic novice, Bannister reportedly insisted on lecturing director John Francis Dillon on the finer aspects of art in general and film-making in particular. Needless to say, Mr. Bannister's screen career, like his marriage to Ann Harding, proved short-lived. The "Girl" herself, however, enjoyed incredible stamina and would experience two subsequent remakes: a lavish 1938 musical version starring (of course) Jeanette MacDonald and Nelson Eddy (with Walter Pidgeon as Rance) and a 1942 war-time Italian production featuring Isa Pola, Michel Simon and Rossano Brazzi as the leads. ~ Hans J. Wollstein, All Movie Guide
- Starring:
- Ann Harding, James Rennie, (more)
- 1928
Universal's "Champion Boy Rider," toothy Newton House, starred in this 12-chapter Western serial set among gold prospectors Down Under. House played Ruben Whitney, who, along with his older sister (Louise Lorraine), travels to Australia to join Papa Whitney in his search for gold. The older Whitney is found murdered, and with the help of the handsome Captain Wilson (Buffalo Bill Jr.), Ruben goes in search of the killer, a despicable villain known as Black Jack (Edmund Cobb). Universal's many Western heroes apparently engaged elsewhere, the studio borrowed Buffalo Bill Jr. (aka Jay Wilsey) from Poverty Row company Rayart for this exciting serial, which was directed by action specialist Ray Taylor. ~ Hans J. Wollstein, All Movie Guide
- 1926
Universal's humorously sloppy western hero Hoot Gibson starred in this average silent oater about a rugged ranch foreman who must prove his true worth in order to marry a banker's daughter (Ethel Shannon). As usual, Gibson played his character for laughs, and this film only added to his popularity. Buckaroo Kid was also an early showcase for freckled child actor Newton House, the star of the studio's popular "Champion Boy Rider" two-reel westerns 1927-1928. ~ Hans J. Wollstein, All Movie Guide
- Starring:
- Burr McIntosh, Newton House, (more)
- 1925
This independently made melodrama was a decent programmer, even though it suffered from a hackneyed plot. When John Trent (Willis Marks) walks out on his wife, Mumsie (Ethel Wales), he takes their young son with him. The train they are on wrecks, and John and the boy are separated. John goes on to Alaska, where he makes a fortune, while after three years Mumsie adopts the boy. He grows up as Donald Trent (Robert Gordon), and only after he reaches adulthood does he find out he has been adopted. Meanwhile, Spencer Foulkes, a crooked lawyer (Bernard Randall), schemes to have Red Myers (Eddie Phillips) pose as the "real" son. Foulkes also kidnaps John in hopes that Red will get his fortune. With the help of his friend, Chick Connors (Newton House), Donald uncovers the plot and finds out his true identity. He is reunited with his parents and marries his sweetheart, Sally Barker (Edith Roberts). ~ Janiss Garza, All Movie Guide
