Albert Parker Movies
Born in Brooklyn, actor/director Albert Parker spent much of his childhood in England, where his father worked as a business representative. In his late teens, Parker decided upon a theatrical career. He began his film career at Hollywood's Triangle Studios in 1916 as a stock actor in Douglas Fairbanks films; before long, Parker was a Fairbanks director and occasional scripter. While he maintained his professional relationship with Fairbanks well into the 1920s (he helmed Fairbanks' classic swashbuckler The Black Pirate), he also worked with several other major stars, including Clara Kimball Young and Gloria Swanson. One of his best-known directorial efforts was Sherlock Holmes (1922), which, at Parker's personal recommendation, starred John Barrymore as the Great Detective. Briefly retiring from directing when sound came in, Parker signed on as a talent scout for Fox Studios. In 1936, he returned to England, where after directing a brace of murder mysteries he became one of Britain's top talent agents. At the time of his death, Albert Parker was assisting film historian-preservationist Kevin Brownlow in the restoration of the recently rediscovered Sherlock Holmes. ~ Hal Erickson, All Movie Guide- 1938
In this mystery, a nephew is accused of murdering his aunt who had just refused to loan him some money. Unfortunately, he is not the real culprit. ~ Sandra Brennan, All Movie Guide
- 1938
In this drama, a disfigured chemist, whose face was badly scarred during a lab accident, becomes insanely jealous and suspects his wife of committing adultery with a playwright. ~ Sandra Brennan, All Movie Guide
- 1937
In this comedy, an unemployed ex-con searches for the gang that falsely fingered him for counterfeiting. He attends a charity auction and ends up getting sold as a butler for five pounds. Upon examination, he realizes that the five-pound note is bogus. This leads him to confront the father of the woman that hired him. He accuses him of framing him. Rather than go to prison, the semi-honorable father commits suicide. ~ Sandra Brennan, All Movie Guide
- 1937
In this crime drama, a scientist finds himself entangled in a criminal plot to make counterfeit pearls. He tries to escape the gang and ends up clubbed upon the head and left for dead. His body is eventually found and he has experimental brain surgery. He is completely healed, but feigns amnesia so he can catch the crooks. ~ Sandra Brennan, All Movie Guide
- 1936
A British town, desperate to save its dying mineral spring water business, launches a bizarre conspiracy to attract badly needed attention for the town. They do so by claiming that a local man who died in an auto accident was a victim of murder. A government agent comes to investigate and learns, much to the surprise of the locals, that the man really was murdered. He then exposes the gang of smugglers who have been causing all the problems. ~ Sandra Brennan, All Movie Guide
- 1936
In this drama, a suspicious blind scientist neglects to tell his cheating wife that a fluke during a recent experiment has restored his sight. He then tries to catch her with her lover, his rival. He also continues to perfect his newly invented invisibility ray, something the rival is eager to steal. ~ Sandra Brennan, All Movie Guide
- 1935
In this British mystery, a man is killed in a rural village. There are plenty of suspects, as he was hated by almost everyone. Unfortunately for the investigator, all of the suspects seem to have airtight alibis. This doesn't stop the detective from solving the mystery though. ~ Sandra Brennan, All Movie Guide
- 1935
In this drama, a cub reporter from the Daily Gazette attempts to catch a bank robber. He is assisted by a woman who wants to provide him with valuable information. Unfortunately she is killed before he can meet with her. The reporter eventually finds the crook, catches him and sends him to the police. ~ Sandra Brennan, All Movie Guide
- 1935
In this murder mystery, three prominent, wealthy businessmen are killed just before their big meeting. To find their killers, a reporter assists the inspector. ~ Sandra Brennan, All Movie Guide
- 1934
In this crime drama, two gangs of criminals compete to find a cache of purloined jewels. Both gangs really want them and use all sorts of devious tricks to beat out their rivals. Eventually both converge at a creepy old mansion. ~ Sandra Brennan, All Movie Guide
- 1930
Lensed at Paramount's Astoria studios, Follow the Leader is the film version of the 1927 Broadway musical Midnight Mary, with Ed Wynn making his talkie debut in his original stage role. The story has something to do with bombastic Broadway singer Helen King (Ethel Merman in her first feature-film appearance) and her understudy, winsome Mary Brennan (Ginger Rogers). To make certain that Rogers will be able to go on in Helen's place, comedy-relief character Crickets (who else but Wynn?) is hired to kidnap the latter. He makes precious little effort to hide his larcenous intentions, noisily stumbling into the lobby of Helen's hotel with the tools of his trade -- rope, sledgehammers, et. al. -- in full view of the assembled guests. Amazingly, he manages to bind Helen to a chair, only to wind up knocking himself out with a bottle of chloroform. Needless to say, Mary becomes a star, but the audience never sees Crickets or Helen again; for all anyone knows, they may still be locked up in that hotel room. Incredibly silly, Follow the Leader did little to advance the careers of any of its stars, though Ed Wynn and Ethel Merman continued packing 'em in on Broadway. If nothing else, the film offers modern audiences a chance to see several vaudeville headliners in action, including Lou Holtz, James C. Morton and Bobby Watson (here cast as Broadway impresario George White instead of his usual guise as Adolph Hitler). ~ Hal Erickson, All Movie Guide
- Starring:
- Ed Wynn, Ginger Rogers, (more)
- 1927
Also known as The Loves of Sunya, this Gloria Swanson picture is a remake of the 1919 Clara Kimball Young vehicle The Eyes of Youth (itself based on a play by Charles Guernon and Max Marcin). Unable to choose among her many suitors, heroine Swanson consults a crystal ball. Here she is given a preview of what life might be like as the wife of (a) John Boles, (b) Andres de Segoula, (c) Anders Randolph, (d) Raymond Hackett, (e) Ivan Lebedeff or (f) Ian Keith. Shown that tragedy lies in store with her if she marries for fame or wealth, Swanson finally settles for true love. The first production from Gloria Swanson's own production company, The Love of Sunya was also the inaugural offering at New York's new Roxy Theater. ~ Hal Erickson, All Movie Guide
- Starring:
- Gloria Swanson, John Boles, (more)
The Black Pirate was hailed in 1926 as the "return" of the Douglas Fairbanks who'd breezed through several peppy comedies before starring in lavish costume epics like Robin Hood (1922) and Thief of Bagdad (1924). The story involves a young nobleman (Fairbanks) whose father is killed by pirates. He vows to avenge his dad's death by becoming a buccaneer himself and routing out the villains. Along the way, he rescues damsel-in-distress Billie Dove (likewise of noble birth) and engages in a few bloody duels with the swarthy likes of Sam De Grasse and Anders Randolph. Charlie Stevens, a grandson of American Indian chief Geronimo -- and whom Fairbanks regarded as a "lucky charm" -- appears in several tiny roles. The Black Pirate was originally presented in two-color Technicolor form; the black and white prints are the most-often-seen version of the film, however. ~ Hal Erickson, All Movie Guide
- Starring:
- Douglas Fairbanks, Billie Dove, (more)
- 1924
John Leslie (Conrad Nagel) and Craig Burnett (Antonio D'Algy) land their plane near a small Quebec town. Leslie becomes infatuated with Diane DuPrez (Alma Rubens), although her father (George MacQuarrie) wants her to marry Jean Gagnon (Bela Lugosi, who had just recently begun making films in the U.S.) During a walk, Diane and Leslie are caught in a snowstorm and forced to seek shelter overnight. The hamlet is scandalized. When Leslie returns to New York because of the death of his millionaire father, DuPrez sends his "ruined" daughter there to stay with her aunt. Leslie finds her rural ways a lot less appealing in the big city. His business manager, James Dunbar (Wyndham Standing), takes her aside and offers to send her to Europe to gain some polish. When Diane returns in style, Leslie falls in love with her all over again and they marry. Then Dunbar reveals that he spent the money to send Diane to Europe and Leslie presumes the worst. When he discovers that it was all a plot on Dunbar's part to get his hands on the Leslie fortune, the two men battle it out with their fists, and Leslie and Diane reconcile. ~ Janiss Garza, All Movie Guide
- Starring:
- Alma Rubens, Conrad Nagel, (more)
- 1924
Stage actor Alfred Lunt makes one of his rare screen appearances in this light comedy, based on the novel by Allen Updegraff. Rowland Farwell Francis (Lunt) is a retiring silk salesman at a department store. His reticent demeanor doesn't stop his widowed landlady, Mrs. Benson (Jobyna Howland) and his stenographer from considering him to be husband material. These women don't get Francis' attention, however -- and he falls for the wealthy Anne Winton (Mimi Palmeri), who he meets over the silk counter. Of course, he's too shy to do anything about it, and hat's the way it would probably have stayed if Anne's brother-in-law hadn't dared her to invite a man out to supper. She takes the dare and shows Francis such a good time that he becomes an aggressive and virile lover who wins her heart. He also lands a promotion to assistant buyer. Although the other ladies lose their chance with Francis, they still manage to win mates of their own. Lunt's wife and stage partner, Lynn Fontanne, appears in a bit role. ~ Janiss Garza, All Movie Guide
- Starring:
- Alfred Lunt, Jobyna Howland, (more)
- 1922
John Barrymore's impressive performance in this picture is a testament to the strength of his talent, because it had a lot to overcome -- according to director Albert Parker, the famed thespian was on a bender for much of the shoot. This version of Sir Arthur Conan Doyle's stories (adapted from the play by William Gillette) was shot on location in London and Switzerland; when the crew headed back to the States to complete shooting, Parker pleaded with Barrymore to quit drinking. Surprisingly, Barrymore obliged, and was sober for the rest of production. The storyline follows the play pretty closely, including Holmes' early days, in which he decided to study criminology after college graduation. Along with his faithful assistant, Dr. Watson (Roland Young), Holmes comes face to face with arch criminal Professor Moriarty (Gustav von Seyffertitz). Moriarty is causing trouble for Prince Alexis (Reginald Denny), and Holmes craftily outwits the villain. This excellent picture had only a few faults -- one was its lengthy subtitles. The other noticeable gaffe was casting Carol Dempster (who was borrowed from D.W. Griffith) to play the romantic interest, Alice Faulkner -- her performance is only passable. A young William Powell has a small supporting role. ~ Janiss Garza, All Movie Guide
- Starring:
- John Barrymore, Roland Young, (more)
- 1921
In 1922 Norma Talmadge was one of the most popular stars of the silent screen, but every now and then she'd wind up in a clinker; this cliched drama, made shortly before her production company moved from the East to the West Coast, was certainly one of them. Even Anthony Paul Kelly, a noted playwright and scenarist, couldn't do much with the story, which was based on a novel, On Principle, by Andrew Soutar. Jennie Dobson, a Jamaican native (already it's obvious that Talmadge is miscast), is housekeeper for Clifford Standish, the alcoholic younger son of British nobles (perennial leading man Harrison Ford). Jennie helps him win his battle with the bottle and he proposes. But just then word arrives that he has inherited a fortune. He marries Jennie anyhow and brings her back to England. Once she's thrust into civilization, Jennie miraculously acquires the ability to wear fancy clothes and behave stylishly. Nevertheless, Standish's family is mortified that he has marr! ied a Jamaican girl and they snootily insist that there is no way she can fit into proper society. Eventually the couple agrees with them and they return to Jamaica where it is assumed that they live happily ever after. ~ Janiss Garza, All Movie Guide
- Starring:
- Norma Talmadge, Harrison Ford, (more)
- 1920
This typical Norma Talmadge weeper casts Norma as a social half-caste. She may have had a millionaire daddy, but her mom was just a chorus hoofer. Unaware of her "scandalous" past, Norma becomes engaged to wealthy Percy Marmont. But things take a sinister turn when her mother's nasty boyfriend threatens to tell all. Had the film been made 10 years later, the chorus girl would probably have been the heroine. Produced by Norma Talmadge's husband Joseph M. Schenck, Branded Woman was based on Branded, a play by Oliver D. Bailey. ~ Hal Erickson, All Movie Guide
- 1919
Teddy Drake (Douglas Fairbanks) is an idle clubman who wakes up to the fact that he's incredibly selfish. He wants to see what he's really made of, so he heads out West. While on the train, he changes clothes with Lopez (Albert McQuarrie), who claims he wants to go see his sick mother. Perhaps that's true, but he's also on the lam from a crooked sheriff (Frank Campeau) after screwing up a job. Teddy manages to evade the sheriff and his minions with the usual brand of Fairbanks athletics. Along the way he meets Rita (Marjorie Daw), who is being held captive with her brother (William Wellman) because they've hidden their fortune and refuse to tell the sheriff where it is. Teddy, of course, proves his unselfishness by going through quite a lot of trouble (and the requisite stuntwork) to vanquish the sheriff and, of course, he wins the girl. This was Fairbanks' last picture for Paramount -- he had just formed United Artists with Mary Pickford, Charlie Chaplin and D.W. Griffith. It was a pretty weak finale, though not as bad as his previous Paramount offering, Arizona. Fairbanks was still a few films away from discovering his swashbuckling persona, which revealed itself in 1920's Mark of Zorro. ~ Janiss Garza, All Movie Guide
- 1919
Clara Kimball Young stars in this mystical tour de force. She plays a woman who goes to an Oriental fortune teller in an effort to decide the path in life she should take. The seer shows her the outcome of three of the four choices she has: duty, wealth and fame. In the end she chooses love, the only road she hasn't seen. Rudolph Valentino, who was only known as a Latin dancer at the time, has a small role. It is easy to see why Young made this movie (she was also the producer) -- it was the perfect opportunity to play, basically, four different characters in one scenario. This story had a lot of appeal to other famous actresses in addition to Clara Kimball Young. Marjorie Rambeau was a sensation when she played the lead role on stage. In 1927 Gloria Swanson remade it as Love of Sunya. Not only was it Swanson's first attempt at producing, she also had Albert Parker direct it -- he was the one who directed the Clara Kimball Young version. ~ Janiss Garza, All Movie Guide
- 1918
Silent star Douglas Fairbanks made a rare visit to the director's chair (accompanied by his friend and frequent collaborator Albert Parker) in 1918's Arizona. Utilizing a play by Augustus Thomas as his guide, Fairbanks fashioned another of his easterner-goes-west escapades. This time Fairbanks plays Lieutenant Denton, whose unfamiliarity with his sagebrush surroundings does not prevent him from performing a series of his eye-popping athletic feats. He saves the day at a remote Arizonian military post, much to the delight of a triumvirate of leading ladies (Kathleen Kirkham, Marjorie Daw and Marguerite de la Motte). One of eight Douglas Fairbanks features made in 1917, Arizona was Fairbanks' next-to-last Artcraft release before he helped form United Artists in 1919. ~ Hal Erickson, All Movie Guide
