Lillian Leighton Movies

The title doesn't refer to mosquitoes but to the amount of money that could be earned in the radio business of the 1930s. Samuel S. Hinds plays a Major Bowes-type entrepreneur who sponsors a weekly radio amateur contest. Hinds' daughter Wendy Barrie has show-biz aspirations, but dad won't hear of it. She enters his contest under an assumed name, winning not only the prize but the heart of a the program's emcee (John Howard). Millions in the Air is one of the few feature films costarring Broadway comedian Willie Howard, whose Jewish characterization and "blue" humor made him difficult to cast in most Hollywood productions. ~ Hal Erickson, Rovi

A brutal murder has been committed, and an eyewitness has placed wealthy philanthropist Jerome Breen (Lionel Atwill) at the scene of the crime. The prosecution's case hinges on the witness's insistence that Breen approached him and asked for the correct time. But the defense proves beyond a shadow of a doubt that Breen could not have spoken to anyone: Not only has the man been a mute since birth, but his vocal chords have been severed! When several more murders occur, reporter Jack Burton (Theodore Newton) begins to get suspicious, but his sob-sister sweetheart Jerry Crane (Sheila Terry) believes in Breen's innocence and even starts dating the charming, nonverbal millionaire. Only at the end of the film is Breen's horrible secret revealed -- and this could mean curtains for our heroine, who while idly playing Breen's piano has stumbled onto the most damning piece of evidence against her host. Once one of the rarest of the early-talkie "B" melodramas, The Sphinx was happily rediscovered in the mid-1970s. While the director creaks a bit, and though the romantic leads are dull as dishwater, the picture is a gem, with Lionel Atwill at the height of his villainous powers. The film was remade in 1941 as The Phantom Killer, with John Hamilton ("Perry White" on TV's Superman) inadequately cast in the Atwill role. ~ Hal Erickson, Rovi

The Bitter Tea of General Yen is the oddest, least characteristic talkie effort of director Frank Capra. Barbara Stanwyck stars as the intended of an American missionary (Gavin Gordon) who is sent to spread the good word in China. During a military revolution, Stanwyck and her fiance inadvertently wander into forbidden territory while trying to help a group of orphans escape. The couple is forcibly detained by elegant warlord General Yen (played by Swedish actor Nils Ashter), who relies upon the financial advice of drunken American expatriate Walter Connolly. Yen is overcome with desire at the sight of Stanwyck; at first repulsed by his attentions, Stanwyck finds herself strangely drawn in by his charisma. When everyone but Connolly deserts Yen when he needs them most, Stanwyck offers to stay behind with the General. Fearing that he will never be able to truly attain the woman he so loves, the honorable General Yen commits suicide by drinking poisoned tea rather than put her in harm's way. The one scene that everyone remembers takes place during one of Stanwyck's fevered dreams, in which she imagines Yen as a Fu Manchu-type rapist, who then melts into a gentle, courtly suitor. Directed with the exotic aplomb of a Josef von Sternberg by the usually down-to-earth Frank Capra, The Bitter Tea of General Yen was unfortunately a box office failure, due in great part to its miscegenation theme (this was still 1933). Even so, the film was chosen as the first attraction at the new Radio City Music Hall. ~ Hal Erickson, Rovi

Buck Jones falls in love with the sister of the outlaw he has just killed in this superior B-Western from independent producer Sol Lesser. Jones plays Bob Terry, the sheriff of Red River, a town bedeviled by a series of holdups. Bob suspects that the local saloon proprietor, Flash Halloway (Robert Ellis), is behind the crimes but doesn't have enough evidence to arrest him. Instead, he corners gang member Jack Smight (Paul Fix) in a shootout, but Smight dies before he can reveal the identity of his boss. Jack's sister Mary (Loretta Sayers) arrives the very next day and Bob immediately falls in love with the pretty girl, who is unaware of her brother's criminal lifestyle. When circumstantial evidence found at yet another holdup implicates Flash, the latter tells Mary that Bob killed her brother. Angered at this betrayal, Mary agrees to marry the smooth-talking saloon owner. In retaliation, the fiery Tiana (Nena Quartero), Flash's former girlfriend, informs Bob of a scheme to steal a shipment of gold bullion and after hunting down Flash and his gang, Bob finally tells Mary the truth about her brother and they embrace. ~ Hans J. Wollstein, Rovi

Adapted from a play by Eva Kay Flint and Martha Madison, Subway Express takes place entirely on a single subway car. When a murder is committed, the passengers are ordered to stay put while police inspector Killian (Jack Holt) investigates. From all appearances, it would seem that the victim was shot, but the coroner declares that the wound was administered after the man was dead. Piecing the clues together, Killian concludes that the killer used an electrical shock to dispatch the victim -- and after administering a psychological third degree, he extracts a confession from the guilty party. The supporting cast is comprised of the usual stereotypes, including the inevitable dumb flatfoot played by the inevitable Fred Kelsey. ~ Hal Erickson, Rovi

No one suffered more magnificently in the early-talkie era than the inimitable Helen Twelvetrees. In Grand Parade, the actress is cast as Molly, the sweetheart of minstrel-show performer Jack Kelly (Fred Scott). Rising to the top of his profession, Kelly plummets to the bottom thanks to his fondness for intoxicating beverages. Molly nurses and coddles Kelly back to health, giving nary a thought for her own comfort or happiness. Our hero finally makes a spectacular comeback -- but will he cast off Molly in favor of seductive burlesque queen Polly (Marie Astaire)? In the typical fashion of early talkies, The Grand Parade contains way too many musical numbers, though the title tune is rather pleasant. ~ Hal Erickson, Rovi

By Whose Hand? is a swift little thriller expertly assembled by up-and-coming Columbia Pictures. Ricardo Cortez stars as a society swell who, unbeknownst to all but insurance investigator J. Thornton Baston, is actually the daring Agent X-9. More troubleshooter than spy, Cortez is assigned to solve a baffling jewel theft. All the evidence points to Cortez' sweetheart Eugenie Gilbert, and even he is convinced for a while that she's guilty. The actual miscreant is nearly as clever and resourceful as Cortez-but only nearly. Art director Robert E. Lee does wonders convincing us that Columbia's decidedly economical sets are actually a lavish night club and a huge mansion. ~ Hal Erickson, Rovi

Colonel Tim McCoy's third western for MGM starred the former Indian sign language interpreter as an army captain facing demotion until successfully defeating a gang of Mexican cutthroats. Set in old California, the film depicted several real-life American heroes, including Kit Carson (Fred Warren) and Brig. Gen. Stephen Kearney (played by Romaine Fielding who, for now obscure reasons, billed himself Edwin Terry). The only series western star MGM ever had, McCoy enjoyed five releases in 1927 alone. ~ Hans J. Wollstein, Rovi

In the spirit of female stars both before and after her, 30-year-old Marion Davies plays a girl a decade younger than herself (actually the men are guilty of this too -- both Buster Keaton and Harold Lloyd played college students while in their early 30s). Davies, fortunately, was athletic enough to pull off the part of a college basketball star -- plus she had the comedic talents to make this film both a critical and commercial success. This picture also won a long-term MGM contract for its co-star, ex-football player Johnny Mack Brown. Marion (Davies) doesn't want to go to Bingham college -- that is, until she meets Dixon (Brown), who is working his way through school by coaching the girl's basketball team. She eagerly joins the team and becomes their star player. Things seem to be going well between Marion and Dixon, but when they have a misunderstanding, she huffily misses a big game, which her team loses. As a result, she is ostracized by her fellow students. Finally, a burst of college spirit inspires her to enter the crucial game, which she wins for Bingham in the last seconds. She also wins back her popularity and Dixon. ~ Janiss Garza, Rovi

Pert and pretty Sandy McNeill (Madge Bellamy) is strong-armed by her parents into marrying wealthy Ben Murillo (Bardson Bard). Ben turns out to be a sadistic wife-beater whose cruel excesses lead to the death of Sandy's baby. Fleeing this abusive environment, Sandy falls in love with handsome architect Ramon Worth (played by the "original" Harrison Ford). Her happiness proves short-lived when Ramon's former sweetheart Judith (Gloria Hope) arrives on the scene. Sadly, Sandy moves in with her cousin Isabel (Lillian Leighton) -- whereupon she promptly falls for Isabel's boyfriend Douglas Keith (Leslie Fenton). When Ramon finds out about this, he shoots Sandy and kills himself. To avoid scandal, Douglas valiantly takes responsibility for Ramon's death, but Sandy steps forward to exonerate him in court. ~ Hal Erickson, Rovi

Zane Grey's 1925 story of the great Buffalo hunts became a sprawling silent Western produced by Paramount and starring the studio's stalwart Jack Holt as a trader who uncovers a scheme to blame the Indians for a Buffalo massacre. The film's highlight, a breathtaking shot of wagons careening across a frozen lake, was used again in the studio's equally fine 1933 remake. To match the old footage, director Henry Hathaway employed some of the same actors and stunt performers. The original Thundering Herd has gained the reputation, along with the same year's Wild Horse Mesa (also starring Holt), as the finest Grey adaptation ever produced. Both Tim McCoy and Gary Cooper earned bit parts in this epic Western filmed on locations at Lone Pine, California. ~ Hans J. Wollstein, Rovi

Lois Wilson stars in this drama, which was based on the novel by Clarence Buddington Kelland. Schoolteacher Carmel Lee (Wilson) inherits a run-down country newspaper from her uncle. With the help of eccentric Professor Pell (Raymond McKee) and Jed Tubal, an old printer (Luke Cosgrave), she starts bringing it back to life. When she decides to rid the town of a gang of bootleggers, she runs into trouble. The reformers are on her side but the bad guys are determined to stop them. Sheriff Churchill (Charles Ogle) has disappeared and she suspects foul play. Pell proves that the sheriff has been murdered, and that Abner Fownes (Edwards Davis) is the leader of the bootleggers. Deputy Sheriff Jenney (a well-cast Noah Beery) is Fownes' equally villainous assistant. Carmel gathers up the reformers of the town and leads them to the bootleggers' lair. Their game is uncovered and they're run out of town. ~ Janiss Garza, Rovi