Ken Howell Movies
Looking far younger than his true age, blonde, curly haired Ken Howell played Jack Jones in the mildly popular 20th Century Fox situation comedy series The Jones Family, which played neighborhood theaters with some regularity in the late '30s. He was later one of the Junior G-Men in the 1940 Universal serial of the same name but "old age" basically killed his screen career and he joined the U.S. Navy Medical Corps in 1942. A still very youthful-looking Howell attempted a screen comeback playing a spoiled rich kid in the 1951 Roy Rogers Western In Old Amarillo, but it remained his final film. His early death in 1966 was reportedly a suicide. ~ Hans J. Wollstein, All Movie Guide
Yet another Roy Rogers Western whose title refers to a song, In Old Amarillo actually takes place in and around Amarillo of 1951. Fired by cattleman George Hills (Minor Watson), foreman Clint Burnside (Roy Barcroft) plans to avenge himself by ruining Hills' wastrel son, Philip (Ken Howell). Along with local saloon owner Mike Carver (William Holmes), Burnside is also attempting to buy up all the area's ranches during a prolonged drought. When Roy Rogers, Hills' new foreman, suggests that the ranchers come together and use modern rainmaking equipment, including airplanes armed with dry ice, Burnside and Carver lure Philip into committing a bit of sabotage. At first Roy accuses the young man of shooting down the rainmaking aircraft but then discovers that he was forced to pilot the attacking plane by Burnside, the real killer, who is himself killed in a climactic fistfight. ~ Hans J. Wollstein, All Movie Guide
- Starring:
- Roy Rogers, Dale Evans, (more)
- 1942
In this WW II-era drama, an over-ambitious beauty contestant's single-minded pursuit of movie stardom causes her to step upon the people who love her the most. ~ Sandra Brennan, All Movie Guide
- Starring:
- Edith Fellows, June Storey, (more)
- 1942
RKO Radio's film series based on the popular radio serial Scattergood Baines rolled into 1942 with Scattergood Rides High. Guy Kibbee returns as Scattergood Baines, the grocer-sage of the small town of Coldriver. On this occasion, Baines champions the cause of orphan boy Dan Knox (Charles Lind), who has been cheated out of his family's racing stable and horse-breeding farm. Using common sense and a bit of genteel larceny, Scattergood out-slickers the crooks who've victimized Dan. He also puckishly stage-manages the romance between Dan and wealthy city gal Helen Van Pelt (Dorothy Moore). Mild comedy relief is provided by black youngsters Philip Hurlic and Paul White. ~ Hal Erickson, All Movie Guide
- Starring:
- Guy Kibbee, Jed Prouty, (more)
- 1942
Sweater Girl is an okay remake of 1935's College Scandal, and like its predecessor is that rare bird, a "musical mystery". Someone is stalking a midwestern college campus, murdering students left and right. Among the victims is campus radio personality Miles Tucker (Kenneth Howell) and aspiring composer Johnny Arnold (Johnnie Johnston). If this keeps up, there won't be anyone left to stage the annual college musical-and that would be disastrous! Without giving the game away, it can be noted that solution of the mystery is not unlike that of the first Friday the 13th film of the 1980s (minus the blood and gore, of course). Amidst all this merry mayhem, two choice Frank Loesser song hits are spotlighted: the amusingly provocative "I Said No" and the enduring standard "I Don't Want to Walk Without You." ~ Hal Erickson, All Movie Guide
- Starring:
- Eddie Bracken, June Preisser, (more)
Muggs Maloney (Leo Gorcey) is supposed to be preparing for the Golden Gloves competition but he doesn't want to train anymore in a stuffy slum building. His friend Danny (Bobby Jordan) lures him upstate to what he thinks is going to be a training camp, but instead turns out to be a Civilian Conservation Corps camp, where young men sign up to do land reclamation in exchange for support for their families -- Muggs feels cheated, but his mother can use the money and the labor is keeping him in shape, so he sticks it out, even saving the life of another boy, though his pugnacious, self-centered attitude quickly alienates most of the camp from him. When Willie (Bobby Stone), one of the few friends he has, tells Muggs that he stole $100 from the captain's office to send to his mother, Muggs decides to help him out by taking up a local fight promoter (Carleton Young) on his offer of a prize fight; he wins and tries to replace the money, but gets caught by the captain. Muggs won't squeal on Willie and is dismissed from the camp, but Danny won't let the issue go and forces Willie to confess his role in the crime. ~ Bruce Eder, All Movie Guide
- Starring:
- Leo Gorcey, Bobby Jordan, (more)
- 1941
Henry Aldrich for President was the second of Paramount's "Henry Aldrich" series to star Jimmy Lydon in the teenaged title role. This time Henry is pitted against an arrogant jock for the presidency of the Centerville High School student council. Henry's chances don't seem bright, especially since a pompous teacher (Lucien Littlefield) is writing the opponent's speeches for him. As often happens in these films, a misunderstanding threatens not only to lose Henry the election but to get him expelled from school as well. Somehow the plot is resolved by a wild climactic airplane ride, with hapless Henry at the controls. ~ Hal Erickson, All Movie Guide
- Starring:
- Charles Smith, June Preisser, (more)
- 1941
In this drama, two childhood sweethearts endure the first pains of adult love. The young lady is beginning to feel frustrated because her beau has been spending too much time building gliders. When his uncle is visited by a cute, and flirtatious older friend, the precocious lass begins dating him. She is soon to discover that the sophisticated gent has much more than the innocent pleasures of dating upon his mind. Oh my! ~ Sandra Brennan, All Movie Guide
- Starring:
- Jackie Cooper, Jane Withers, (more)
- 1941
Ball of Fire is a delightful retelling (by Billy Wilder and Charles Brackett) of the "Snow White and the Seven Dwarfs" legend -- though strictly for grownups. Gary Cooper is the youngest of eight bookish professors authoring an encyclopedia. They find a perfect "research associate" in the curvaceous form of stripteaser Barbara Stanwyck, who (chastely) hides on the professors' domicile to escape her gangster boyfriend (Dana Andrews). As Stanwyck interprets various slang expression, she and the professors grow quite fond of one another; she brings out their sentimental sides, while they revive her essential decency. Naturally, Cooper is the one most smitten, though he hides his true feelings until the inevitable clinch. When gangster Andrews and his torpedo Dan Duryea show up to claim Stanwyck (Andrews wants to marry her so she can't testify against him), the professors save the day and it is Cooper who ends up with the beautiful Stanwyck. For the record, two of the "ancient" professors are Richard Haydn and O.Z. Whitehead, still in their mid-thirties (the others are S.Z. Sakall, Tully Marshall, Oscar Homolka, Leonid Kinskey and Aubrey Mather). Producer Sam Goldwyn later remade Ball of Fire as a Danny Kaye musical, A Song is Born (1948). ~ Hal Erickson, All Movie Guide
- Starring:
- Gary Cooper, Barbara Stanwyck, (more)
- 1941
In this comedy, the marital conflicts between a meek banker and his nagging wife are chronicled. First they fight over their daughter's future. His snooty, domineering wife wants her to marry a wealthy man, but he, realizing that she really loves the humble delivery boy for the bakery encourages he to follow her heart. Meanwhile, the wife tries to browbeat her husband into attending a posh mountain resort with her. He weasels out by claiming that he must journey to Washington to meet with the vice president. He does not mention that it is Washington, Oklahoma where he plans to do a little fishing. Upon his return he is shocked to discover that the whole town, believing that he has really important political connections, has come out to welcome him home. Not wanting to lose his credibility, the banker uses a variety of convoluted techniques to maintain the illusion until the real Vice President appears and helps him out. ~ Sandra Brennan, All Movie Guide
- Starring:
- Leon Errol, Mildred Coles, (more)
- 1940
The Dead End Kids fight alongside the government to find a famed scientist who has been abducted by wartime traitors. ~ Jason Ankeny, All Movie Guide
- 1940
This "Jones Family" entry does without the services of Pa Jones, inasmuch as actor Jed Prouty was having contract problems with 20th Century-Fox. When Mr. Jones is hospitalized by a heart attack, the rest of the Jones clan must figure out a way to pay the ever-mounting medical bills. They head to California, where they open up a bungalow court. Hoping to improve their business (which is virtually nonexistent), the Joneses open their doors to families with children and pets. As a result, a rival landlord sues the family for "noise pollution", leading to a raucous courtroom finale. On Their Own was the last screen appearance for Florence Roberts (Grandma Jones), who passed away two days after the film's release. ~ Hal Erickson, All Movie Guide
- Starring:
- Spring Byington, Ken Howell, (more)
- 1940
This domestic comedy is the final episode of the 17-film "Jones Family" series. The story begins as restless Father decides to leave the simplicity of small-town life for the sophistication and excitement of the city, so he sells the family drugstore and moves his family to the Big Apple. Soon they find themselves surrounded by con men, and sleazy women trying to steal everything they own. Mayhem ensues until they decide they've had enough and hightail it for the safety of home. ~ Sandra Brennan, All Movie Guide
- Starring:
- Jed Prouty, Spring Byington, (more)
- 1939
Too Busy to Work is not a remake of the 1932 Will Rogers film of the same name-but it is a partial remake of Rogers' 1935 vehicle Doubting Thomas. This standard entry in the "Jones Family" series finds the Jones women trying to convince Pa Jones (Jed Prouty) that he's spending too much time at work and too little time at home. When Pa decides to run for mayor, the girls have had enough and vow to teach him a lesson. They involve themselves in a little-theater group, neglecting their household duties and forcing Pa and the other Jones menfolk to fend for themselves. "Guest star" Joan Davis provides a welcome jolt of fresh comic energy to the usual Jones Family shenanigans. Too Busy to Work was based on two stage plays, George Kelly's The Torch Bearers and Howard Lindsay and Bertrand Robinson's Your Uncle Dudley (previously filmed in 1935 with Edward Everett Horton). ~ Hal Erickson, All Movie Guide
- Starring:
- Jed Prouty, Spring Byington, (more)
- 1939
In this entry in the "Jones Family" comedy series, the Jones have just arrived from a Hollywood vacation when they receive a telegram informing them that a recently deceased and very wealthy uncle has left them a gold mine near the Grand Canyon. Happily the family packs up and heads for Arizona; there, they contract a guide who takes them high up a mountain to an isolated cabin, which turns out to be a robbers' lair. Mayhem ensues until the children catch the crooks and collect a handsome reward. The film was written by former silent film great Buster Keaton. ~ Sandra Brennan, All Movie Guide
- Starring:
- Jed Prouty, Spring Byington, (more)
- 1939
The Jones family goes to Tinseltown in this entry in the series. They go so Father can attend an American Legion meeting. While there, the daughter has a terrible screen test. Later the family visits a movie studio and chaos ensues. ~ Sandra Brennan, All Movie Guide
- 1938
20th Century-Fox's first "Jones Family" series entry for 1938 was the six-reel Love on a Budget. Back in their usual screen roles are Jed Prouty (Pa Jones), Spring Byington (Ma Jones) and Florence Roberts (Granny Jones), together with Shirley Deane as the Jones' eldest daughter Bonnie, and Deane's real-life husband Russell Gleason as Bonnie's screen hubby Herbert. This time, the Joneses are suckered in by the get-rich-quick schemes of ne'er-do-well Uncle Charlie (Alan Dinehart). Meanwhile, newlyweds Bonnie and Herbert try to make do on Herbert's parsimonious salary. Nearly ruined by Uncle Charlie's latest "brilliant" investment, Bonnie and Herbert are saved by one of those last-minute financial turnarounds so common to the Jones Family saga. ~ Hal Erickson, All Movie Guide
- Starring:
- Jed Prouty, Shirley Deane, (more)
- 1938
The Jones Family heads to Gay Paree in celebration of the 25th wedding anniversary of Pa (Jed Prouty) and Ma (Spring Byington). It doesn't take long for the Joneses to be victimized by clever Parisian con artists. Nor do Jones kids Jack (Ken Howell) and Lucy (June Carlson) have time to unpack before they're both pursued by amorous predators. Somehow or other, everyone gets involved in an espionage plot, much to the dismay of apoplectic hotel detective Emile (Leonid Kinskey). All things considered, the Joneses' married daughter Bonnie (Shirley Deane) is probably grateful that she elected to stay home with her husband Herb (Russell Gleason). ~ Hal Erickson, All Movie Guide
- Starring:
- Jed Prouty, Shirley Deane, (more)
- 1938
The Jones Family is at it again in Everybody's Baby, their first 1939 release (previewed in 1938). This time, the Joneses' lives are turned inside-out by the arrival in town of Dr. Pilicoff (Reginald Denny), a famous child-rearing expert. In attempting to put Pilicoff's theories into practice, the townsfolk begin to quarrel over the proper way to raise their children. The limit comes when Herbert Thompson (Russell Gleason), husband of the eldest Jones daughter Bonnie (Shirley Deane), tries to rescue his own baby from the well-intentioned but idiotic ministrations of Pilicoff's disciples-whereupon poor Herbert is arrested for kidnapping. Everything is straightened out when Pa Jones (Jed Prouty) and his pals discover that Pilicoff is a phony, leading to a most satisfying retribution. ~ Hal Erickson, All Movie Guide
- Starring:
- Jed Prouty, Shirley Deane, (more)
- 1938
In this entry in the Jones Family series of domestic comedies, the trouble begins when con artists attempt to convince Mayor Jones that the local swamp is chock full of valuable minerals. Mayhem ensues, and just as the crooks think they will be able to pull off their scam, some of Jones' children fall into the muck and the truth is revealed. ~ Sandra Brennan, All Movie Guide
- Starring:
- Jed Prouty, Shirley Deane, (more)
- 1938
In this comedy, wealthy girls attend boarding school to learn proper etiquette. The well-mannered character of the class is disrupted when one of the proper young women plans to elope with a handsome young simpleton. Unfortunately she is outfoxed by a young teacher who elopes with the boy before she can. ~ Sandra Brennan, All Movie Guide
- Starring:
- Anne Shirley, Nan Grey, (more)
- 1938
Down on the Farm was yet another entry in the seemingly endless saga of the Jones Family. The plot is set in motion when the Joneses' Aunt Ida (Louise Fazenda) invites the family to spend the summer on her farm while their house is undergoing repairs (thanks to an unfortunate encouter with a fire hose). Patriarch John Jones wins a cornhusking contest, whereupon he is invited to run for a local political office. The usual complications ensue, culminating in a ribtickling "drunk" scene and the ultimate exposure of the community's crooked politicians. Many of the biggest laughs are provided by Eddie Collins as Aunt Ida's moon-faced husband. Elements of several earlier Will Rogers vehicles managed to work their way into the screenplay of Down on the Farm. ~ Hal Erickson, All Movie Guide
- Starring:
- Jed Prouty, Spring Byington, (more)
- 1937
The saga of the Jones Family continues in 1937's Borrowing Trouble. When Pa Jones's drugstore is robbed, the evidence points to orphan kid Tommy Stevens (Marvin Stephens). This comes as quite a disappointment for Pa (Jed Prouty) and Ma (Spring Byington), who'd welcomed poor Tommy into their home, treating him as one of their own children. As it happens, however, Tommy is merely shielding the actual culprit -- his older brother Lester (Gregory Walcott). Thank heaven for Granny Jones (Florence Roberts), who never fails to cut through all the pathos and bathos with her cynical put-downs. ~ Hal Erickson, All Movie Guide
- Starring:
- Jed Prouty, Shirley Deane, (more)
- 1937
In this entry in the Jones family series, the father decides to run for mayor. Unfortunately, his own son gets his campaign off to a bad start when he prints a newspaper article quoting his father's nasty comments about the opponent word for word. This naturally causes political chaos on the home front and helps the rival candidate immensely. Eventually the mess is straightened out and the Jones family wins in the end. ~ Sandra Brennan, All Movie Guide
- Starring:
- Jed Prouty, Shirley Deane, (more)
- 1937
Not a remake of the classic Laurel and Hardy 2-reel silent of the same name, Big Business was an early entry in 20th Century-Fox's Jones Family series. Mr. Jones (Jed Prouty) invests his life savings in an oil business, at the behest of football star Allan Lane. Neither Jones nor Lane are aware that the oil stock is worthless, and that their money has ended up in the pockets of racketeers. Awareness dawns when the oil wells yield only muddy water. Jones' oldest son (Kenny Howell) comes to the rescue of the hapless investors, while Mrs. Jones (Spring Byington) dispenses the "I told you so"s. ~ Hal Erickson, All Movie Guide
- Starring:
- Jed Prouty, Shirley Deane, (more)
