Etta Lee Movies

Hollywood responded to the exigencies of the Depression with such glorious nonsense as International House. The plot is motivated by a revolutionary television device called the Radioscope, which its Chinese inventor (Edmund Breese) is offering to the highest bidder. All interested parties are obliged to converge at International House, an ultra-modern hotel in the bustling Chinese community of Wu Hu. Among those parties is American envoy Stu Erwin, Russian general Bela Lugosi (a hilarious, pratfalling performance), the general's ex-wife Peggy Hopkins Joyce (a much-married showgirl of the era, who like Zsa Zsa Gabor was famous for being famous), and that celebrated aviator Professor Quail, better known as W.C. Fields. The lunacy begins even before Fields arrives, thanks to the antics of the hotel's doctor George Burns and nurse Gracie Allen. When Erwin comes down with the measles (he is always struck down by a childhood disease whenever he's about to marry his fiancee Sari Maritza), the hotel is quarantined. The guests make the most of their enforced stay by watching the many variety acts broadcast over the radioscope device: Rudy Vallee, singing a love song to his megaphone; Baby Rose Marie (the same), belying her 11 years by belting forth a hotcha jazz number; radio humorists Stoopnagle and Budd, showing off their own goofy inventions; and Cab Calloway, singing a paean to marijuana titled "Reefer Man" (only in recent years has this peppy number been seen with any regularity on television). There's also an elaborate production number on the dance floor of the hotel, featuring Sterling Holloway and a bevy of beauties dressed as cups and saucers. Once Fields drops in via his art-deco autogyro, the film is firmly in his pudgy hands. Erwin outbids the others for the radioscope, while Fields escapes in his aircraft with Peggy Hopkins Joyce in tow (she keeps insisting that she's sitting on something, whereupon Fields replies "I lost mine in the stock market"). A truly unique filmgoing experience, International House is a must-see for any aficionado of 1930s musical comedies. PS: The film's now-famous "outtake," showing Fields calmly advising the cast and crew not to panic while the set is rocked by a California earthquake, was actually staged several days after the genuine quake. ~ Hal Erickson, Rovi

This was the most popular of the many silent adaptations of Alexandre Dumas' famous story of a courtesan who finds true love too late. In this version, a man who has been suffering from a bout of depression buys a painting of a beautiful women and discovers that her diary is included in the deal. As he reads her words, the ghost of the woman, who is named Camille (Norma Talmadge), appears before him to tell her sad story. Camille began her life under poor circumstances, but with determination she went from a humble shop girl to the most elegant and wealthy courtesan in Paris. However, selling her affections has not brought her real love. She meets a student named Armand (Gilbert Roland), who soon falls in love with the mysterious beauty. However, even though Camille has fallen in love with him, she resists his advances; Armand's father (Maurice Costello) has learned of his son's desire for her, and he has begged her to stay away from Armand, as an affair between them would bring scandal and shame to the young man. Before long, Camille contracts tuberculosis, and Armand encounters his would-be love as she bravely tries to hide her soon-to-be fatal condition from him. This is thought to be the ninth film based on the Dumas story (including adaptations under other names), and like several others, this film is currently lost, barring a future discovery of a print by film scholars. ~ Mark Deming, Rovi

Former Mack Sennett comedian Ford Sterling practically steals this show in this Malcolm St. Clair-directed picture, which Moving Picture World called, "As spicy as a French domestic farce and yet as clean as a hound's tooth." William Hyatt (Tom Moore) runs an exclusive shoe store, and his happy marriage to Grace (Florence Vidor) is nearly derailed by his well-meaning, but hopelessly gauche pal, Al Hennessy (Sterling). Dagmar, a Parisian shoe designer (Esther Ralston) has come to town to meet with Hyatt and Hennessy, and Hennessy describes the situation to Grace in the worst possible manner, convincing her that her husband is having an affair. The more information Hennessy offers, the more incensed Grace becomes until she and Hyatt decide to take a break from each other. Hyatt goes to a summer hotel, and the suspicious Grace follows after him, expecting to catch him in the midst of a torrid romance. Instead, she finds that Hennessy has married Dagmar, who was an innocent party this whole time. As a result, Hyatt and Grace quickly reconcile. ~ Janiss Garza, Rovi

The now-forgotten Gladys Walton played ingenues for a while in the early '20s for Universal. She was a mediocre talent who was at her best playing shopgirls and waitresses. In this cheaply made program drama Walton has a dual role, which is clearly beyond her histrionic scope. Joy Fielding (Walton) is a charming young girl who is betrothed to Chester Castle, an architect (Malcolm McGregor). After helping out the victim of a car wreck, Joy's behavior changes and she becomes Edna, a vicious and cruel virago who torments those around her. Castle finally figures out what has happened to his sweetheart: she has fallen under the evil hypnotic influence of Dr. Copin (John Sainpolis). Not only has he created a totally separate personality for the girl, he has married her while she was under hypnosis. As Joy, she doesn't remember anything she has done while she was Edna. To save her, Castle marries Joy and then does battle with Copin. Ah Moy, Joy's Chinese maid (Etta Lee), unleashes a pair of hounds who kill the doctor. Joy is finally released from Copin's spell and settles down with Castle. ~ Janiss Garza, Rovi