Emmett C. King Movies

Ronald Colman stars in David O. Selznick's classic production of Anthony Hope's swashbuckling adventure. The film takes place in a mythical Central European kingdom with Colman in a dual role as King Rudolf V and Rudolph Rassendyl, a visitor from England who's a distant cousin to the prince. Arriving in the city of Strelsau, the inhabitants are startled by Rudolph's resemblance to the prince. Spotted by two of the prince's aides, Captain Fritz von Tarlenheim (David Niven) and Colonel Zapt (C. Aubrey Smith), the Englishman is taken to meet the prince at his hunting lodge. The two lookalikes have dinner together as the prince tells Rudolph of the preparations for his upcoming coronation as king. The next morning, Zapt wakes Rudolph and informs him the prince had been drugged the night before and is now in a coma. Because of their similar appearance, Zapt prevails upon Rudolph to impersonate the prince at the coronation, otherwise the prince's evil brother Black Michael (Raymond Massey) will be crowned in his place. With the assistant of Zapt and von Tarlenheim, Rudolph bluffs his way through the coronation, successfully fooling Michael, who is shocked to see his brother alive. Crowned king, Rudolph then meets Princess Flavia (Madeleine Carroll), the prince's fiancee. As they proceed to the reception, Princess Flavia is amazed how kindly the prince is now treating her. Rudolph is falling in love with her, but Michael suspects something foul and dispatches Rupert of Hentzau (Douglas Fairbanks Jr.) to investigate the matter further, preparing to gain control of the throne at any cost. ~ Paul Brenner, All Movie Guide

Based upon a novel anonymously written by Rex Stout, The President Vanishes has as its title character a peace-loving man with distinct anti-interventionist views. As the picture opens, President Stanley Craig (A.S. Byron) finds himself in a bit of a bind: he fervently believes that the United States should stay out of the war in Europe, but the tide of public opinion seems to be turning against him, influenced by a loud and demonstrative fascist group (the Gray Shirts), influential arms manufacturers and powerful pro-war publishers. Congress seems to be unflinchingly pro-war, and is about to meet to "discuss" whether America should get involved in the deadly conflict. Suddenly, a surprise announcement is made: the President has been kidnapped. Overnight, public opinion regarding the war reverses. The American people, knowing of the President's strong anti-war stance, believe that the pro-war forces are behind the abduction, resulting in rioting and national unrest. Eventually, after the nation comes to back the President's view, he is found -- and the audience discovers that the kidnapping was staged by the President and his advisors as a way of altering public opinion. ~ Craig Butler, All Movie Guide

Silent serial queen Ruth Roland made an unsuccessful bid at talking-picture stardom in the low-budget Reno. After six years of marriage to Alexander W. Brett (Montague Love), his wife Felicia (Roland) can stand no more of her husband's brutal bullying. She heads to Reno, establishes the standard six-week residence, and files for divorce. Nasty old Brett intends to get even by retaining custody of Felicia's beloved son Bobby (Douglas Scott), and the case drags on and on interminably. Given her previous life in action films, one wonders why Ruth Roland doesn't simply punch out her no-good husband and have done with it. Adapted from a novel by Cornelius Vanderbilt Jr., Reno was somehow picked up for distribution by Warner Bros., giving the film a wider audience than it deserved. ~ Hal Erickson, All Movie Guide

Filmed in the waning days of FBO Pictures, Woman I Love was ultimately released by FBO's successor RKO Radio. Although Robert Frazier still loves his wife Margaret Morris, he doesn't lavish attention upon her like he used to. Feeling neglected, Morris responds to her flirtatious neighbor Norman Kerry. A chance discovery of his wife's infidelity prompts Frazier to return home abruptly from a business trip, gun in hand. But when all the shooting is over, it turns out that Kerry has been laid low by a third party -- whose identity comes as quite a surprise to everyone, even the audience. ~ Hal Erickson, All Movie Guide

The subject matter to this Victor Fleming-directed drama is typically virile -- it takes place in Sacramento during the Gold Rush days of 1849. And the star who stands out the most is also the most manly: big Wallace Beery. John Joyce (William Collier Jr.) arrives in Sacramento with his sister, Martha (Claire Adams), and aunt to become the editor of a newspaper. He is determined to clear the town of the low-down mining camp types who are flaunting their freewheeling ways. When Joyce meets Faro Sampson (Pauline Starke), he falls in love, believing that she is the daughter of a minister. Actually she's the daughter of the man who runs a gambling den, "Square Deal" Sampson (Emmett C. King). Joyce tries to forget her, but he can't. Soon the same vigilante committee he has aligned himself with finds him in a compromising position with her. Joyce, Faro, and the other "undesirables" are forced onto a river boat. Ben, a fireman (Beery), takes over command, but when he tries to attack Martha, Joyce springs into action. Ben is vanquished and demoted to peeling potatoes on the ship that rescues everyone. Joyce and Faro, meanwhile, reaffirm their love for each other. ~ Janiss Garza, All Movie Guide

Orson Welles wasn't the first one to bring The Magnificent Ambersons to the screen. Vitagraph produced Booth Tarkington's Pulitzer Prize-winning novel during the silent era and slapped on the very 1920s title Pampered Youth. The Ambersons are the wealthiest family of a small Midwestern town. Isabel (Alice Calhoun), the daughter of Major Amberson (Emmett King), loves Eugene Morgan (Allan Forrest), but he disgraces himself in a drunken spree and leaves town. So Isabel marries Wilbur Minfer (Wallace McDonald), even though she doesn't really love him. She lavishes all her affection on her son, George (Ben Alexander), who, as a result, grows up into a spoiled young man (Cullen Landis). George's careless extravagance uses up the Amberson fortune. After Minfer dies, Morgan, now a successful automobile manufacturer, returns and takes up with Isabel once again. George resents the relationship and believes that Morgan is beneath him, even though he loves his daughter, Lucy (Charlotte Merriam). When Major Amberson dies, George is forced to go to work, and he learns to respect his fellow man. Morgan, meanwhile, saves Isabel when her home catches fire, thus cementing their romance. ~ Janiss Garza, All Movie Guide

The story to this romantic satire was penned by William Elwell Oliver, the winner of a writing contest that Universal Studios held for college students. Not surprisingly, it opens up on campus, where Bill Pendleton (Pat O'Malley) has made a bet with his fraternity brothers -- he will propose to any girl they select. The chosen young lady is Mary Brainerd (Mary Astor), an old-fashioned coed whose father is a missionary. Although she is secretly in love with Bill, Mary is insulted at being the subject of a bet and decides to go to her father in China. Meanwhile, Bill is expelled from school and his father disowns him, so he stows away on the same ship that Mary is taking to China. Fu Shing (Warner Oland), a revolutionary, kidnaps Mary, and Bill has to figure out how to save her. He enlists the help of friend Danny Daynes (Raymond Hatton), an alcoholic war veteran who is now an alcoholic general in the Chinese army. With the use of a couple of airplanes, the two rescue Mary in a thrilling climax. ~ Janiss Garza, All Movie Guide

Lighthouse keeper Jeremiah Judkins (Hobart Bosworth) rescues a little girl (Baby Peggy) from a storm. The girl, called Captain January, unabashedly adores her adopted father and loves her life at the lighthouse. Judkins prevents the villagers from taking her away from him, but he can't stop her aunt, Isabelle Morton (Irene Rich). Isabelle shows up one night when a vessel she is on becomes grounded. She makes her way over to the lighthouse and recognizes the little girl as the daughter of her dead sister. Captain January goes to live at the Morton's lavish home, but she longs for Judkins and her old life. She is able to sneak off and see him, and the Mortons realize that she and Judkins should be together. They make room for Judkins in their home, and the little girl is happy. This film was remade in 1936 as a vehicle for Shirley Temple. ~ Janiss Garza, All Movie Guide

Although John Greenleaf Whittier wrote the poem Barbara Frietchie, it was actually the Clyde Fitch play that served as inspiration for both this and the 1915 film by the same name. In the days before the Civil War, southerner Barbara Frietchie (Florence Vidor) falls in love with Captain Trumbull (Edmund Lowe), a northern friend of her brother, Arthur (Charles Delaney). But when the war between the states breaks out, Trumbull must fight for the North. His troops take over Frederickstown, where the Frietchies live, and Barbara discovers her love for him overrides her feelings for the Confederacy. The couple goes to Hagerstown to marry, but a Confederate advance prevents the wedding. Arthur Frietchie wounds Trumbull and takes him into his own home. Because she believes her sweetheart is dying, Barbara hangs the stars and stripes out the window as the Confederates march by. The crowd is furious, but Stonewall Jackson, impressed by her courage, announces that anyone who harms her is to be shot. One man, Trumbull's rival, Jack Negly (Joe Bennett), ignores the order and shoots Barbara. She is not seriously wounded, and she then discovers that Trumbull is still alive. She nurses him back to health, and after the war they are finally married. ~ Janiss Garza, All Movie Guide

This drama was an early starring vehicle for fledgling star (Eleanor Boardman), and it was given a haunting directoral approach by Tod Browning, who hadn't yet devoted himself completely to horror films. After the death of philanthropist Blank Hendricks (Winter Hall), Jane Maynard (Boardman) devotes her life to his institution, which helps the needy with the philosophy, "Thy neighbor as thyself." John Anstell (Wallace MacDonald), whose father, Michael (Tyrone Power Sr.), is a formidable financial force, falls in love with Jane. Michael, who does not approve of the relationship, tries to ruin the Foundation by discrediting it in the press, and when that doesn't work, he attempts to use his financial power to destroy it. The many who have been helped by the Foundation retaliate by killing John. The grieving Anstell comes to realize that Jane really is doing good work and he reforms. Jane, meanwhile, finds happiness with Tom Barnett (Raymond Griffith). ~ Janiss Garza, All Movie Guide

This horse-racing melodrama was Reginald Denny's first starring feature, after making a strong impression in a series of shorts called The Leather Pushers. Denny is Donald Gordon, the son of Colonel Moncrief Gordon, a Kentucky gentleman (Emmett King). Colonel Gordon makes a ten-thousand-dollar bet with his neighbor, Colon Home Woolrich (Lionel Belmore), that his horse, Duke Charles, can beat Woolrich's thoroughbred, Twilight, once they are mature enough to race. Donald incurs his father's wrath by marrying Alice Brown (Lillian Rich), the stableman's daughter. After he is sent away from his home, he goes to New York, where he is shanghaied by Captain Wolff (Wilfred Lucas). He is a prisoner on Wolff's ship for three years. Back home, Donald's cousin, Ralph (Walter McGrail), has stolen money from Colonel Gordon and claimed that Donald is the culprit. He plots to make a killing in the upcoming horse race by making sure that Twilight wins. Donald manages to return home in time to stop Ralph's plan from going through, and rides Duke Charles to victory. This film was adapted from the stage play The Suburban by Charles T. Dazey. ~ Janiss Garza, All Movie Guide