Carleton Macy Movies
- 1915
That cinematic "vampire" Theda Bara played the wicked wife of a Pennsylvania foundry owner who not only kills her own stepson with her insatiable lust, but almost destroys the entire town in the process. The flamboyant Miss Bara was more ludicrous than ever, but Destruction proved to be a box office blockbuster which after a couple of misfires re-established her as the screen's foremost femme fatale. Bara's usual director, J. Gordon Edwards, was otherwise engaged and the film was directed by a nonentity named Will S. Davis. ~ Hans J. Wollstein, All Movie Guide
- 1916
Written by Irish-born scenario writer Mary Murillo, Gold and the Woman was merely another Theda Bara "Vamp" melodrama about a woman whose insatiable lust destroys every man in her path. This time she is Juliet De Cordova, a "half-breed" taking revenge on the descendants of a Spanish Conquisdator. The film used flashbacks spanning several centuries, but Bara remained Bara throughout. According to surviving stills (the film itself, sadly, appears to be lost), Theda looked downright frumpy whilst "vamping" leading man Harry Hilliard. ~ Hans J. Wollstein, All Movie Guide
- 1929
Previously filmed in 1917 and 1925, the evergreen George M. Cohan-Earl Derr Biggers stage mystery Seven Keys to Baldpate was remade as a talkie in late 1929 (and there were still three more remakes to come). Richard Dix stars as novelist William Magee, who's having trouble completing his latest manuscript. Promising his agent (Crauford Kent) that he'll finish the book within 24 hours if only he gets some peace and quiet, Magee heads off to the Baldpate Inn -- for which he thinks he holds the only key. Unfortunately, the mildewed old inn turns into a hotbed of intrigue as several mysterious characters, all bearing duplicate keys, intrude upon Magee's solitude in search of $200,000 in stolen bonds. In the course of the long, long night, a woman is seemingly murdered and a crooked sheriff lays claim to the money himself before Magee takes a hand in matters -- and then, the owner of the seventh key to Baldpate shows up. Even after repeated viewings, the film's double surprise ending holds up beautifully. Beyond bringing a classic theatrical piece to the talkie screen, Seven Keys to Baldpate served an important technical purpose: RKO Radio Pictures used the film to test out its new repertoire of sound effects, ranging from rolling thunder to realistic gunfire. ~ Hal Erickson, All Movie Guide
- Starring:
- Richard Dix, Miriam Seegar, (more)
Amidst claims that the African-American family unit is slowly deteriorating, filmmaker Leslie Small sets out to explore how the role of black women in the family has evolved as the population of black males continues to diminish. Inspired by the musical stage play of the same name, Small's film follows three women as they battle temptation and contend with their personal demons while waging a valiant battle to maintain happy, healthy relationships. ~ Jason Buchanan, All Movie Guide
- Starring:
- Golden Brooks, Darrin Dewitt Henson, (more)
