Eddie Polo Movies
One of the best stunt men of the silent era, diminutive Eddie Polo became known as the "Hercules of the Screen." The former circus acrobat joined Universal in 1914 where he doubled the serial team of Francis Ford and Grace Cunard before starring on his own in chapterplays, such as Lure of the Circus (1918). At one point, the egocentric Polo was almost as popular as he imagined himself to be and became arguably the only male star to threaten the supremacy of the renowned serial queens. A 1919 attempt to become a two-reel Western star was less successful, however, and by the time of the self-produced Captain Kidd (1922), Polo was clearly too old for swashbuckling. Abandoning Hollywood for Europe, the former serial ace made the German Der Teufelreporter (1930), but time had obviously passed him by and he did not resume his screen career until the 1940s, and then mostly in unbilled bits. Long in retirement, Polo died of a heart attack while playing poker with old friends at a Hollywood eatery. He was survived by his brother Sam Polo and daughter Malvina Polo, both of whom had appeared in silent films, with Malvina memorably appearing as the retarded girl in Erich von Stroheim's Foolish Wives (1922). ~ Hans J. Wollstein, All Movie Guide- 1954
In the tradition of Dragnet and The Lineup, this is devoted to a typically busy day at a police precinct station house. Despite the presence of such recognizable actors as Gary Merrill and Regis Toomey, the film successfully adopts a documentary approach. The plot concerns a new police chief (Gary Merrill) who is determined to clean up a crime-ridden slum district. The ads for The Human Jungle offered teasing full-body shots of costar Jan Sterling in a skimpy negligee; hopefully the fans lured in by this come-on weren't disappointed once they found how little they actually saw of Ms. Sterling (figuratively and literally) in the film itself. The Human Jungle was an "in between" production for Allied Artists, which in 1954 was trying to divest itself of the "poverty row" onus placed upon its predecessor, Monogram Pictures. ~ Hal Erickson, All Movie Guide
- Starring:
- Gary Merrill, Jan Sterling, (more)
- 1953
Though scheduled for production as early as 1950, the Bowery Boys' Loose in London didn't go before the cameras until 1953. In this outing, Sach (Huntz Hall) is told that he's a relative of Sir Percy, the Earl of Walsingham (Walter Kingsford). In short order, Sach, his pals Slip (Leo Gorcey), Chuck (David Condon) and Butch (Bennie Bartlett), and sweet-shop proprietor Louie (Bernard Gorcey) head to the Earl's estate in London. Immediately ingratiating themselves with the ailing nobleman, the boys give the old fellow a new lease on life--which doesn't sit well with the rest of the Earl's relatives, who are greedily awaiting his demise so that they may claim his inheritance. In desperation, the other relatives plan to kill the Earl, but they're foiled by Slip, Sach and company. This leaves Sach the sole heir to the Earl's fortune--at least that's what he thinks! Written by "Three Stooges" alumni, Elwood Ullman and Edward Bernds (who also directed), Loose in London is an enjoyable hour's worth of nonsense. ~ Hal Erickson, All Movie Guide
- Starring:
- Leo Gorcey, Huntz Hall, (more)
- 1950
This formula Esther Williams musical casts the star as Midwestern carnival swimmer Christine Duncan, in love with bandleader Dick Layn (Van Johnson). Attempting to smooth the course of romance for her friend Ellen Hallet (Paula Raymond), Christine makes a play for Ellen's wealthy boss Douglas J. Morrissen, Jr. (John Lund). Ellen wants to protect Douglas from fortune hunters, so Christine pretends to be a fortune hunter, so that he'll appreciate anew how much Ellen cares for him. Confused? So is Dick, who can't fathom Christine's bizarre behavior. If for nothing else, Duchess of Idaho is memorable as the "comeback" picture for dancing star Eleanor Powell, who has just as little to do as her fellow guest stars Lena Horne and (unbilled) Red Skelton. Watch for Amanda Gunsmoke Blake and Dick Sergeant Preston Simmons in supporting roles. ~ Hal Erickson, All Movie Guide
- Starring:
- Esther Williams, Van Johnson, (more)
- 1943
Honeymoon Lodge is a musical variation on the old Awful Truth plotline. Divorce-bound Bob and Carol Sterling (David Bruce, June Vincent) make a last-ditch attempt to avoid their legal breakup by restaging their mountain-resort honeymoon. Things get complicated when a rancher named Big Boy (Rod Cameron, in a Ralph Bellamy-style "sap" role) shows up at the resort in ardent pursuit of Carol, while Lorraine Logan (Harriet Hilliard) sets her cap for Bob. Though it has more plot than usual for a film of this kind, Honeymoon Lodge is worth seeing only for its musical highlights, including a few delightful numbers teaming Harriet Hilliard with her real-life bandleader husband Ozzie Nelson. ~ Hal Erickson, All Movie Guide
- Starring:
- David Bruce, June Vincent, (more)
- 1942
Hoping to increase its box-office allure by adopting the title of a popular song, Deep in the Heart of Texas (clap!clap!clap!clap!) was the first Johnny Mack Brown western of the 1942-43 season. The plot concerns a group of insurrectionists who intend to keep Texas separate from the rest of the USA. Brown is cast as Jim Mallory, son of insurrectionist leader Colonel Mallory (played by William Farnum, who was often called upon to play Brown's dad). At first sympathetic to the separatists out of loyalty to his father, Johnny ultimately realizes that the movement has been corrupted by a criminal element. With the help of governor's emissary Brent Gordon (Tex Ritter), Johnny is instrumental in restoring the Lone Star state to the Union. The title tune is sung con brio by the Jimmy Wakely trio. ~ Hal Erickson, All Movie Guide
- Starring:
- Johnny Mack Brown, Tex Ritter, (more)
- 1941
"Even a man who is pure at heart/And says his prayers by night/May become a wolf when the wolf-bane blooms/And the moon is full and bright." Upon first hearing these words, Larry Talbot (Lon Chaney) dismisses them as childish folderol. After all, this is the 20th Century; how can a human being turn into a werewolf? Talbot soon learns how when he attempts to rescue Jenny Williams (Fay Helm) from a nocturnal attack by a wolf. Collapsing, Talbot discovers upon reviving that Jenny is dead-and, lying by her side, is not the body of a beast, but of a gypsy named Bela (Bela Lugosi). The son of fortune teller Maleva (Maria Ouspenskaya), Bela was a lycanthrope, or "wolf man." And now that he has been bitten by Bela, Talbot is cursed to suffer the torments of the damned whenever the moon is full. Arguably the best of the "original" Universal horrors (original in the sense that it was not based on an existing literary property, a la Frankenstein, Dracula and The Invisible Man), The Wolf Man boasts one of the most stellar casts ever to grace a "B" picture: Lon Chaney Jr., Claude Rains, Evelyn Ankers, Ralph Bellamy, Warren William, Patric Knowles, Maria Ouspenskaya and Bela Lugosi. The man-to-wolf transformation sequences -- one of which took a full 24 hours to film -- are thoroughly convincing, thanks to the cosmetic genius of Jack P. Pierce (Chaney had wanted to emulate his father by developing his own werewolf makeup, but existing union rules would not permit this). Alas, after this powerhouse opening volley, the Wolf Man character was relegated to a series of cheap sequels, teaming him with other Universal shock stars: Frankenstein Meets the Wolfman (1943), House of Frankenstein (1944) and House of Dracula (1945). The final ignominy was Abbott and Costello Meet Frankenstein (1945), in which Lawrence Talbot (Chaney again), having been cured of lycanthropy in House of Dracula, reverts to his werewolf status -- and has to endure the one-liners of Lou Costello to boot! ~ Hal Erickson, All Movie Guide
- Starring:
- Lon Chaney, Jr., Claude Rains, (more)
- 1940
In It's a Date, the teenage diva Deanna Durbin is cast as Pamela Drake, the daughter of celebrated stage actress Georgia Drake (Kay Francis). Hoping to find success as an actress herself, Pamela energetically lobbies for the role of the maid in an upcoming play based on the life of St. Bernadette -- a role that has already been given to Georgia. When those conducting the auditions hear Pamela's singing, however, they quickly change their mind and offer the part to her. The rivalry between Pamela and Georgia intensifies when both fall in love with handsome middle-ager John Arlen (Walter Pidgeon). Innumerable complications follow, leading to a happy ending for both mother and daughter, though not quite the ending that either one had in mind. Deanna Durbin's musical repertoire this time out includes "Musetta's Street Song" from La Bohème, "Loch Lomond," "Love Is All," and a curious climactic rendition of "Ave Maria." It's a Date was remade in 1950 as Nancy Goes to Rio, with Jane Powell and Ann Sothern. ~ Hal Erickson, All Movie Guide
- Starring:
- Deanna Durbin, Kay Francis, (more)
- 1940
In this exciting western, Roaring Dan is the meanest old cuss around. He and his "son" are constantly bickering. But things are not as they seem as the young man is only pretending to be Dan's son so they can find the killers of the young man's real father. Among the guilty are two women. In the end, the young hero and the killer engage in a thrilling fist fight. ~ Sandra Brennan, All Movie Guide
- Starring:
- Johnny Mack Brown, Fuzzy Knight, (more)
- 1923
Former serial star Eddie Polo stars in this mediocre romantic adventure, which was offered on a States' Rights basis. Although Polo, at 48, was getting a bit too old for the stunt stuff -- not to mention romance -- he still proves to be impressively athletic. While sleeping, Polo's hero dreams of meeting a beautiful girl (Kathleen Myers, who frequently co-starred with him). Over and over again he saves her from a gang of crooks and certain death with his impressive feats of strength and agility. In the end he marries her. Then, much to his disappointment, he wakes up. He pines for his dream girl until, to his surprise, he actually meets her. They wind up embroiled in a number of adventures that bear an eerie resemblance to his dream. By the end of the movie, it looks like the pair are headed to the altar, wide-eyed and awake. This was one of the last times Polo appeared in an American-made film. ~ Janiss Garza, All Movie Guide
- Starring:
- Eddie Polo
- 1923
Famed cinematic stuntman Eddie Polo stars in this uneven rural adventure drama with Ena Gregory and James McElhern. Society dandy John Pendleton Smythe (Polo) plans to kill himself when his girl runs off with a feuding hillbilly family. The loss makes John mad enough to battle the town bully and he earns the respect of his many detractors. ~ Dan Pavlides, All Movie Guide
- Starring:
- Ena Gregory, Eddie Polo, (more)
- 1923
Dashing serial star Eddie Polo headlines this exciting silent Arizona-set actioner. He (playing himself) and a camera crew have come to the desert to shoot their latest film and while filming, he finds himself increasingly attracted to a local gal. He continues to get acquainted with locals and is disturbed to learn that the town mine-owner cares nothing for safe working conditions. The film gets completed and Polo goes home until he learns that many of his new Arizona friends have been trapped in a mine cave-in. Without hesitation, he rushes back to save them, give the mine owner heck, and propose to his girl. ~ Sandra Brennan, All Movie Guide
- Starring:
- Jack Carlisle, George A. Williams, (more)
- 1921
Universal's wiry little serial star Eddie Polo finished his long association with the studio with this low budget chapterplay, whose plot, sadly, has been lost to history. Success had gotten to Polo's head, and he left to form his own production entity, the "Star Serial Company." The resulting serial, Captain Kidd, was not a success, and Polo left for what he hoped would be greener pastures in Europe. ~ Hans J. Wollstein, All Movie Guide
- 1917
Two men, "Tuolumne John" Silverwood (Rupert Julian, who also directed the film), and "Kentuck" Windfield Gordon (Harry Carter) are partners in a California mine. When an attempt is made on their claim by the Long brothers (Eddie Polo and Frank Lanning), Gordon is killed. Silverwood sends Gordon's daughter Nannie (Ruth Clifford) back home to Kentucky to live with her uncle, Henry Gordon (also played by Carter). But Uncle Henry has gotten remarried to a widow (Aurora Pratt) who has her own daughter, Rachel (Myrtle Reeves -- trivia buffs might like to know that she later became the wife of Oliver Hardy). Mrs. Gordon is very cruel to Nannie, but the girl is protected by mammy Aunt Chlorindy (Lucretia Harris). She sends Nannie to live with nice widow Mrs. Morgan (Gretchen Lederer), and eventually Nannie wins Tom Boiling (Emory Johnson) away from Rachel. When the pair are getting married, Silverwood arrives with a big present -- the fact that the mine has struck it big. This story, which took place in the 1860s, was loaded with comic touches involving "ignorant" Negro slaves -- the kind of stuff that people in the 1910s found amusing but today is justifiably considered highly offensive. ~ Janiss Garza, All Movie Guide
- 1915
We could be cute and say that The Campbells are Coming is about invading hordes of tomato soup cans. But we won't. Set during the Sepoy uprising of 1857, the film recounts the courageous activities of a Scottish regiment. Star Francis Ford (the brother of John Ford) also directed, bringing a keen sense of cinematic knowhow to the massive battle sequences. Ford's wife and costar Grace Cunard adapted the screenplay from a story by Emerson Hough. ~ Hal Erickson, All Movie Guide
