Walter Long Movies
Brutish-looking actor Walter Long entered films in 1909 after brief stage experience. He became a valued member of D.W. Griffith's stock company, excelling in roles calling for strong-arm villainy and glowering menace. In Griffith's The Birth of a Nation (1915), Long played Gus, the renegade Negro whose lustful pursuit of virginal Mae Marsh results in the girl's suicidal leap from a precipice; while in the same director's Intolerance, Long was "the musketeer of the slums," a gangster boss whose murder motivates the climactic race to the rescue. He persisted in villainy into the 1920s, providing a formidable foe to such silent heroes as Rudolph Valentino and William Boyd. Despite his on-screen skullduggery, Long enjoyed a reputation as a prince of a fellow; his courtesy and good manners were particularly prized by the leading ladies whom Long's screen characters frequently imperiled. In talkies, Long proved to have a low, guttural voice that matched his movie image perfectly, and he continued unabated to portray thugs, pluguglies and lowlifes. Though many of his talkie roles were bit parts, he was well served in the films of Laurel and Hardy, playing a prison cell-block leader in Pardon Us (1931), a drink-sodden prizefighter in Any Old Port (1932), a vengeful gangster ("I'll break off yer legs and wrap 'em around yer neck") in Going Bye Bye (1934), a shanghaiing sea captain in The Live Ghost (1934), and a Mexican bandido in Pick a Star (1937). During World War II, the fifty-plus Walter Long served as a lieutenant colonel in the Army; upon his discharge, he returned to the stage, where he remained active until his retirement in 1950. ~ Hal Erickson, All Movie Guide- 1917
Reportedly, director Cecil B. DeMille and leading lady Mary Pickford did not see eye to eye during the making of this lavish Western melodrama filmed on location among the giant redwoods in northern California. "Little Mary" actually plays a female her own age this time (maybe that was the trouble) as a young woman whose father is killed in an Indian raid. Pickford falls for a dashing outlaw (Elliott Dexter), whom she later frees after his inevitable capture by persuading the sheriff (Walter Long) that she is pregnant. Amazingly, the ruse works and they are allowed to plan a future together in freedom. ~ Hans J. Wollstein, All Movie Guide
- 1922
Wallace Reid starred in a legion of comedy-dramas involving speeding cars and most of them (generally written by Byron Morgan) were interchangeable -- this one is no exception. John Dent (Paramount's most dependable character actor, Theodore Roberts) manufactures solid, dependable -- and rather boring -- cars (these were a spoof on Ford's Model T's, changed around just enough to avoid a lawsuit). His son Jimmy (Reid), who works at his father's plant, has no use for these "flivvers," since he likes the bigger, flashier models made by Dent's rival, Dutton Tyler (with Walter Long in this role, it's almost guaranteed he'll turn out to be villainous). Dent orders that all his employees -- Jimmy included -- drive a Dent, but Jimmy rebels. There's a cross-country race going on, and since he has been carrying on a flirtation with Tyler's daughter Lorraine (Betty Francisco), he decides to ride with her and her father. Tyler's car holds the record, and Jimmy finds out why -- because he sabotages the competition. So Jimmy turns around and mans one of his pop's cars instead. He wins the race in the trusty Dent, and also wins a better girl (Mary MacLaren). Reid's inert performance and lack of closeups were obvious enough to be noted in trade paper Motion Picture News -- the star would die within a year of drugs and perhaps the effects of his addiction were showing. ~ Janiss Garza, All Movie Guide
- Starring:
- Wallace Reid, Mary MacLaren, (more)
- 1919
This light comedy was based on Anthony Hope's novel Captain Dieppe. Robert Warwick plays the captain, an international agent and diplomatic freelancer who is having differences with his latest employers, a small Italian principality. They refuse to pay him until he gives them a crucial report and he refuses to hand over the report until they pay him. Ultimately he leaves, and the minister sends secret service man Guillamo Sevier (Walter Long) after him. But Dieppe eludes Sevier and stays in Fieramondi, as the guest of the Count (Juan de la Cruz, otherwise known as James Cruze, who directed the picture). The Count and his wife (Winifred Greenwood) have been arguing over a certain Paul Sharp (Howard Gaye), and are currently estranged. Dieppe sees Lucia Bonavia D'Orano (Helene Chadwick), a cousin of the Count's by marriage, and believes her to be the Countess. He falls in love with her on sight, and when he finds out that the Countess owes a gambling debt to Sharp, he steals the I.O.U. He figures that this will bring the Count and Countess back together again, and that he is making a big romantic sacrifice. When he discovers the woman he loves isn't the Countess at all, he is overjoyed. He finally gets the money owed him, along with winning the girl. ~ Janiss Garza, All Movie Guide
- 1932
Stan Laurel and Oliver Hardy have just returned from a whaling trek. They check into a run-down hotel, the Mariner's Rest, whose owner, Mugsy Long (the intimidating Walter Long), is forcing a girl (Jacqueline Wells) into marriage. The girl manages to reveal her dilemma to Stan and Ollie before being locked in a closet. They try to intervene, and when the justice of the peace (Bobby Burns) comes by to perform the ceremony, they refuse to act as witnesses. There is a fracas over the closet key, but Stan manages to get it and release the girl. The chase continues, however, until Long is dumped in the water. Stan and Ollie now have a dilemma of their own -- they left their money in their hotel room. They are saved when an old friend (Harry Bernard sees them and, as a boxing promoter, offers Ollie fifty dollars to fight that evening. Ollie accepts the money and the gig -- as Stan's manager. When they get to the ring, Stan is his usual inept self, but what's worse for him is that his opponent is Mugsy Long! Long grimly insists that his assistant add some weight to his glove. In the course of the fight, "Battling" Laurel somehow manages to get his hands on (or in) Long's loaded glove and when Long tries to get it back, he is knocked cold. Ollie tells Stan he had a bet going -- against him. Stan goes to punch Ollie, but knocks out a boxing official instead, and the boys are on the run again. ~ Janiss Garza, All Movie Guide
- 1927
The frequently filmed James Oliver Curwood yarn Back to God's Country was given reverential treatment in this impressive Universal production. Captain Blake (Walter Long), skipper of a trading vessel, makes his semi-annual trek to a northern seaport in the company of his roughneck crew. Taking a fancy to Renee Debois (Renee Adoree), the daughter of trapper Jean Debois (Mitchell Lewis), the lustful Blake vows to make the girl his bride. He forces Jean to consent to the marriage by threatening to turn the trapper over to the authorities on a murder charge. Renee is temporarily rescued by handsome engineer Bob Stanton (Robert Frazer), though it's clear we haven't seen the last of Blake. The rivalry between the two men over Renee's affections is resolved in a rugged dog-sled race through a blinding blizzard, with Blake pulling every underhanded trick in the book to incapacitate -- or terminate -- his young opponent. ~ Hal Erickson, All Movie Guide
- Starring:
- Renée Adorée, Robert W. Frazer, (more)
- 1938
Bar 20 Justice is the 16th entry in the durable "Hopalong Cassidy" western series. As ever, William Boyd stars as Hoppy, this time teamed with Windy Halliday (Gabby Hayes) and Lucky Jenkins (Russell Hayden). On this occasion, our heroes take on a bunch of crooks who've taken over a mining concern. In order to capture the criminal responsible for murdering the husband of heroine Ann Dennis (Gwen Gaze), Hoppy is obliged to head deep, deep, deep into a forbidding mineshaft. The excitement level of the closing scenes is enhanced by an intricate musical score. The bad-guy lineup on this occasion includes the swarthy Walter Long and the outwardly respectable Pat O'Brien. Bar 20 Justice was directed by Lesley Selander, who would eventually helm 27 of the 66 "Cassidy" films. ~ Hal Erickson, All Movie Guide
- Starring:
- William "Hopalong" Boyd, George "Gabby" Hayes, (more)
- 1930
Latin Lover Rod LaRocque starred as a Mexican Robin Hood in this tepid Western melodrama directed by Lambert Hillyer. With a price on his head, LaRocque's gay desperado comes to the assistance of a fair damsel-in-distress (Doris Kenyon), who is suffering unwanted attention from unscrupulous banker Charles Middleton. Kenyon, however, loves poor but honorable George Duryea and the banker offers LaRocque $1,250 to kill the kid. "The story of the Robin Hood variety of lawbreakers has been told so often that one has a right to expect a better version of the tale," the New York Times complained. Villain Middleton, of course, later played the quintessential serial villain, Ming the Merciless, in the Flash Gordon cliffhangers from Universal. Juvenile lead George Duryea changed his name to Tom Keene and enjoyed some success as a B-Western lead. He later played villains as Richard Powers. ~ Hans J. Wollstein, All Movie Guide
- Starring:
- Rod La Rocque, Mitchell Lewis, (more)
Both animal and human nostrils flare, and passion reigns in this classic romantic tragedy with Rudolph Valentino. Valentino is Juan Gallarde, an aspiring bullfighter, married to his loving childhood sweetheart Carmen (Lila Lee). But as his fame rises as a matador, so does his hot Spanish blood, and he succumbs to the passionate embraces of the sultry Doña Sol (Nita Naldi). When Juan is gored by a bull, his bullfighting fame is cut short, and Carmen returns to his side to nurse him back to health, and, as he struggles to regain his strength and make a comeback in the bullring, Carmen is there for him. At last he returns to the bullring, but in the stands, Juan sees Doña Sol with another lover. His attention distracted, a furious bull charges him and he is killed, dying in the arms of Carmen. ~ Paul Brenner, All Movie Guide
- Starring:
- Rudolph Valentino, Lila Lee, (more)
- 1925
This mystery was based on a novel written by 20 popular authors, each of whom contributed a chapter. The point of each chapter was to put the characters in such a tight predicament that the next writer would have to be exceptionally clever to get them out of it. As can be imagined, the film that resulted from the book was fast-paced and had almost constant action. Connemara Moore (Marie Prevost) has two suitors, one who likes bobbed hair and the other who doesn't. Both have proposed and she promises to reveal which one she has accepted by either bobbing her hair or not bobbing. In reality, she can't decide between them, so she accepts a ride with a stranger, David Lacy (Kenneth Harlan, at the time Prevost's real-life husband). The ride leads her to all sorts of adventures involving bootleggers, a fight on a private yacht, an attack by hijackers, and other tense situations. Connemara is rescued by Lacy, who turns out to be a government agent, and when she shows up with only half her hair bobbed, it's an indication that she has chosen him as her husband-to-be. ~ Janiss Garza, All Movie Guide
- Starring:
- Marie Prevost, Kenneth Harlan, (more)
- 1944
The plot of the overinflated MGM musical Broadway Rhythm can be summed up briefly: Musical comedy producer Jonnie Demming (George Murphy) dismisses his vaudevillian dad Sam Demming (Charles Winninger) as old-fashioned. Jonnie signs Hollywood star Helen Hoyt (Ginny Simms) to a Broadway show, but she turns it down. Sam saves the day by dredging up an old script he'd done in summer stock-which, of course, Helen agrees to play. All of this can be forgotten, and in fact will be forgotten, once the film's parade of "guest stars" gets under way. Such stage and screen luminaries as Lena Horne, Ben Blue, Nancy Walker, Eddie "Rochester" Anderson, Hazel Scott and Tommy Dorsey & His Orchestra make up for the narrative banalities with such musical numbers as Gershwin's "Somebody Loves Me" and Jerome Kern's "All the Things You Are." ~ Hal Erickson, All Movie Guide
- Starring:
- George Murphy, Ginny Simms, (more)
- 1923
This was Miriam Cooper's last film, and in her autobiography, Dark Lady of the Silents, she claimed "It was not only the worst movie I'd ever been in, it was the worst movie I'd ever seen." She was probably exaggerating a bit, because reviews of the day indicate that it was somewhat better than mediocre. Philip Marvin (Kenneth Harlan) is flying cross-country in hopes of setting a new record, but his plane goes down during a storm, and crashes through the roof of a ranch on the Mexican border. Inez Villera (Cooper), the foster daughter of the owner, has been praying for a husband and she believes that Marvin's sudden appearance is a message from God. Marvin, meanwhile, has lost his memory, but he likes Inez, who eagerly cares for him. But a certain Captain Santos (Walter Long) wants Inez for himself, and he causes trouble by asking Marvin's relatives for a huge ransom. The secret service foils the plan, and when Marvin's memory returns, he and Inez wed. This comedy-drama based on the play by Paul Dickey and Charles W. Stoddard was filmed again in 1932, with Lupe Velez and Melvyn Douglas starring. ~ Janiss Garza, All Movie Guide
- Starring:
- Kenneth Harlan, Miriam Cooper, (more)
- 1916
Instead of marrying her childhood sweetheart, Charles Brown (William Hinckley), Cora (Norma Talmadge) has married the more well-heeled Arthur Vincent (Eugene Pallette). But Vincent, the son of a bank president, neglects Cora and their two children in favor of dancer Jane Courtenay (Jewel Carmen). Cora spends a lot of time with her sister and her sister's husband (who happens to be Charles' brother) and wishes she had chosen a better spouse. Meanwhile, Vincent goes from bad to worse -- Jane convinces him to team up with some of her friends and rob his father's bank. The crooks get away with this only temporarily -- eventually they are discovered, and most of them, including Vincent and Jane, are killed in the ensuing chase. So finally Cora is free to wed the man she should have married in the first place. ~ Janiss Garza, All Movie Guide
- Starring:
- Norma Talmadge, Eugene Pallette, (more)
A girl reporter discovers that her own father runs a shady "school of fine arts" (read brothel) in this independently made potboiler directed by former silent screen actor Elmer Clifton. When several naive young girls turned "nightclub entertainers" end up dead, snoop sister Nora Page (Astrid Allwyn) enrolls herself in the Crescent School of Fine Arts, a recruiting center for King Peterson's (Philip Van Zandt) notorious nitery. Things get a bit dicey when Nora's ally, a young district attorney (John Archer), is found in a compromising situation with one of the girls (Patricia Knox) but Nora, with the assistance of Police Captain McVeigh (H. B. Warner), follows a different trail, a trail that leads directly to her own father, a supposedly upstanding theatrical agent (Boyd Irwin). ~ Hans J. Wollstein, All Movie Guide
- Starring:
- H.B. Warner, Astrid Allwyn, (more)
- 1930
The "conspiracy" of the title refers not only to a deadly narcotics ring, but also the combined efforts by the good guys to capture the villains. Margaret Holt (Bessie Love) and her brother Victor (Bert Morehouse) team up to destroy the drug peddlers responsible for their father's death. They are aided in this endeavor by cub reporter John Howell (Hugh Trevor), and by sourpuss mystery writer Winthrop Clavering (Ned Sparks). In the film's tension-packed climax, avenging-angel Margaret slowly sneaks up on gang leader James Morton (Otto Matiesen), dagger in hand. A remake of a Paramount silent film, Conspiracy barely made back its cost, precluding any future remakes. ~ Hal Erickson, All Movie Guide
- Starring:
- Bessie Love, Ned Sparks, (more)
- 1932
Not the best of Tim McCoy's 16 Westerns for Columbia (1931-1932), Cornered, directed by action specialist B. Reeves Eason, was also far from the worst, with plenty of fast riding and shooting to please the small fry. McCoy played Sheriff Tim Laramie whose best friend, Moody Pearson (Niles Welch), is accused of killing the father of his girlfriend, Jane Herrick (Shirley Grey). Tim staunchly proclaims his friend innocent until proven guilty but when Moody escapes, the townsfolk fire him. Tim and Moody join a gang of outlaws headed by Red Slaven (Noah Beery), whom the latter believes killed old man Herrick. When cornered, Slavens freely admits to the murder, but then orders his men to kill Tim. The ranchers, aroused earlier by Tim, arrive in the nick of time and, having cleared his name, Moody begins preparations to marry Jane. As always, this McCoy-Columbia Western was cast with seasoned veterans such as the always hissable Beery and Walter Long. Raymond Hatton played McCoy's comic sidekick and Walter Brennan and silent Western star Edmund Cobb appeared in unbilled bits as a court clerk and ranch hand, respectively. ~ Hans J. Wollstein, All Movie Guide
- 1916
Lillian Gish shows almost as much spunk in this picture as her hoydenish sister Dorothy Gish usually did. Daphne La Tour (Gish), is the daughter of a destitute French nobleman in the early 18th century. Because he is the favorite at the king's court, Philip de Mornay (Elliot Dexter) can probably have any woman he wants, but he likes Daphne's audacity. So he orders his men to kidnap her and take her to the home of Franchette, a popular madam (Lucile Young). But before he can fetch her, he is forced to flee and is captured by pirates. Meanwhile, Franchette's place is overtaken by soldiers who are rounding up women to send to Louisiana, where wives are sorely needed. Daphne is among the young ladies captured, but the ship they are on is attacked by the pirates. Daphne helps save the day for the Frenchmen, and as a result, she saves Philip's life. Although she has been sold to Jamie D'Arcy (Walter Long), she nevertheless manages to marry Philip when they reach Louisiana. ~ Janiss Garza, All Movie Guide
- 1924
This society drama is told in a rather interesting manner, opening with a senator telling the story of a man who came back from the depths. Lawyer John Steadman (Huntly Gordon) has a drinking problem, and his wife (Gertrude Astor) threatens divorce unless he straightens up. He does, but then he comes home to find his wife in the arms of Jerry Hayden (Morgan Wallace). He feigns drunkenness and she asks for a divorce. The depressed Steadman sinks to haunting dives. At a dancehall belonging to Red Bishop (Walter Long), he meets Bobo (Elaine Hammerstein). To give his wife grounds for divorce, he goes to Bobo's home. Bobo, however, turns out to have a heart of gold and nurses him back to health. When the United States enters the World War, he goes off to serve. When he returns, his wife tries to win him back. When she fails, she convinces Bobo to give him up. Bobo accepts the marriage proposal of Bishop, but then she admits she really loves Steadman. Bishop sets out to give Steadman a thrashing, but instead he relents and allows the couple to be together. When the senator finishes his story, the governor walks in -- it's Steadman and Bobo is his wife. The senator is Red Bishop. ~ Janiss Garza, All Movie Guide
- Starring:
- Elaine Hammerstein, Huntly Gordon, (more)
- 1923
Madalyn Harlan (Estelle Taylor), the daughter of wealthy socialites, falls in love with the chauffeur Jerry Ryan (David Butler) in this uneven society drama. She and Jerry are secretly married, but Jerry's mother tells Madalyn that Jerry is through with her. She takes poison in the cabaret that holds so many happy memories. Jerry moonlights as a cabbie and discovers too late that the drunken woman at the bar is his own wife. He steers the cab towards the river as he considers plunging to his death. The film suffers from uneven editing. Although credited, performances of Noah Beery, Frank Currier, and Hank Mann have bee eliminated, Marguerite de la Motte, John Bowers, and Walter Long co-star. The apparent lack of communication between studio heads, the editor, and those in charge of continuity give an ironic twist to the term "the silent era." Watch for comedian Chester Conklin in a small part. ~ Dan Pavlides, All Movie Guide
- Starring:
- Marguerite de la Motte, John Bowers, (more)
- 1932
As cheap as any other poverty-row talkie, Dragnet Patrol possesses a breezy charm that is hard to resist. Glenn Tryon stars as a rambunctious sailor who marries carnival cutie Vera Reynolds. For her sake, he hires himself out to shady business entrepreneur Walter Long, only to face extermination when Long's faithless wife Symona Boniface "comes on" to him. Finally getting his priorities straight, Tryon returns to his wife, but not before an understanding judge gives him a severe dressing-down in court. Effortlessly stealing the picture is 2-reel comedy perennial Vernon Dent as Tryon's sailor pal; the scene in which Dent returns home to his wife Marjorie Beebe, only to be forced to kick Beebe's current boyfriend out the back door, is priceless. Also worth noting is the performance of veteran screen heavy Walter Long, who turns out to be more honorable and up-front than the so-called hero. ~ Hal Erickson, All Movie Guide
- Starring:
- Vernon Dent, Walter Long, (more)
Although Larry "Buster" Crabbe earns top billing, the hero of Drift Fence is former Western star Tom Keene as Jim Travis, who, at a rodeo, meets city dweller Jim Traft (Benny Baker), who has come west to erect a fence that will prevent Clay Jackson (Stanley Andrews) from continuing his cattle rustling business. A tough Western type, Travis suggests that he impersonate Traft and the building of the fence soon begins. But Travis is opposed by Slinger Dunn (Crabbe) and his family, whose small ranch will suffer from the division of the land. A romance between Travis and Slinger's sister, Paula (Katherine DeMille), paves the way for a meeting of the minds, however, and Slinger switches sides completely upon learning that Travis is a Texas Ranger in disguise. An in-house production (as opposed to Harry Sherman's Hopalong Cassidy Westerns), Drift Fence was the closest Paramount came to a B-Western in the mid-'30s. Zane Grey's original novel was published in 1932. ~ Hans J. Wollstein, All Movie Guide
- Starring:
- Larry "Buster" Crabbe, Katherine de Mille, (more)
- 1933
This cheapie but goodie stars Skeets Gallagher as a young man who doesn't want to be strong-armed into a questionable business deal by his pal Johnny Arthur. Thus, he tells Arthur that he doesn't need any extra money because he's inherited a million bucks. Soon a rumor spreads that Gallegher is worth several million -- and he dare not tell the truth for fear of causing his beloved aunt to suffer a fatal heart attack. Among the many perils facing the newly rich, our hero is forced to fend off the attentions of three predatory females. The familiar faces in the supporting cast include three veterans of the Hal Roach two-reeler mill: Pansy Johnny Arthur, tough guy Walter Long, and Gracie Allen sound-alike Gay Seabrook. ~ Hal Erickson, All Movie Guide
- Starring:
- Dorothy Burgess, Merna Kennedy, (more)
- 1932
Didn't the beautiful, ubiquitous Sally Blane ever take a day off in 1932? In Escapade, the busy Blane is cast as Kay Whitney, the wife of jailbird Phillip Whitney (Anthony Bushell). Upon his release, Phillip and Kay head to the home of his brother, celebrated lawyer John Whitney (Jameson Thomas) who, incredibly, is unaware that Phillip has "done time." It doesn't take long for Kay and John to fall in love, but this doesn't weaken John's resolve to save Phillip from the wrath of one of his former cellmates, the much-feared Gimpy McLane (Walter Long). Conveniently, Phillip and Gimpy knock each other off during a climactic gun battle, clearing the field for John and Kay. ~ Hal Erickson, All Movie Guide
- Starring:
- Anthony Bushell, Sally Blane, (more)
- 1926
If Eve's Leaves has the "look" of a Cecil B. DeMille production, it's because DeMille himself functioned as producer. Salty sea captain Robert Edeson tries to keep his daughter Leatrice Joy away from men, but the rambunctious Joy yearns to experience such forbidden pleasures as kissing. When Edeson's ship docks at a Chinese port, both Joy and seaman William Boyd are captured by river bandits. The bandit chieftain hopes to take Joy as his bride, and to secure her compliance he binds Boyd hand-and-foot and prepares to subject the poor boy to torture. Joy takes this opportunity to steal a kiss from the helpless Boyd, whereupon a melodramatic scene becomes a comic one -- just as the stage play upon which this film was based was essentially a comedy. Captain Edeson rescues the lovers in the nick of time, admitting that it was a big mistake to keep his daughter locked up and agreeing to allow her to live her own life from now on. ~ Hal Erickson, All Movie Guide
- Starring:
- Robert Edeson, Richard Carle, (more)
