Dorothy Revier Movies
The daughter of a musician, Doris Velegra worked as a chorus girl and nightclub dancer before making her film debut in 1921's Life's Greatest Question. The following year, she appeared as Dorothy Revier in Broadway Madonna, directed by her first husband, Harry Revier. Never a major star, Revier was a dependable, hardworking leading lady, averaging seven to ten movie appearances per year during the silent era. Perhaps her most celebrated assignment was Milady de Winter in Douglas Fairbanks' The Iron Mask (1929), one of her many "vamp" or evil-seductress roles. Making a successful transition to talkies, Revier kept busy at Fox and Universal, continuing in the femme-fatale mode that had earned her fame. By the mid-'30s, she was consigned almost exclusively to B-pictures, earning the far-from-coveted soubriquet "Queen of Poverty Row." After finishing her duties on a 1936 Buck Jones Western, Dorothy Revier retired from films. ~ Hal Erickson, All Movie Guide- 1936
Buck Jones, the auteur of the prairies, frequently wrote and/or directed his own westerns. Jones composed the screenplay for Cowboy and the Kid, but allowed Ray Taylor to warm the director's chair. Per its title, the film revolves around the relationship between Jones and tousle-headed orphan Billy Burrud. Our hero raises the boy after his father is killed; upon meeting schoolmarm Dorothy Revier, Jones begins sizing her up as a potential stepmother. Cowboy and the Kid for the most part pleased Jones' army of youthful fans. ~ Hal Erickson, All Movie Guide
- Starring:
- Buck Jones, Dorothy Revier, (more)
- 1936
In the second of producer Harry Sherman's Hopalong Cassidy Westerns, Deputy Sheriff Cassidy (William Boyd) promises El Toro (William Farnum), a retired Mexican outlaw, that he will search for the old man's grandson, missing after a gang of outlaws robbed and murdered the child's parents. With the help of young sidekick Johnny Nelson (James Ellison) and saloon girl Dolores (Joan Woodbury), Hoppy goes undercover as an outlaw in order to infiltrate the gang, which is headed by crooked saloon owner Big Henry (Addison Richards). Dolores is murdered for her efforts, and when Cassidy is forced to kill one of the gang members (Frank Shannon), Big Henry suspects foul play. Johnny, who has found little Pablo (George Mari) wandering in the woods, is wounded by yet another of Big Henry's henchmen (Paul Fix). The latter reports back to his boss, who fears that the child may implicate him in the murders of his parents and quickly plans a trap for Hoppy. There is the inevitable climactic shootout, during which Old Spike (George "Gabby" Hayes), a bartender in Henry's saloon, prudently switches sides and is mortally wounded as a result. Only Big Henry himself escapes the melee, but the villain is hunted down and killed by Hoppy. ~ Hans J. Wollstein, All Movie Guide
- Starring:
- William "Hopalong" Boyd, James Ellison, (more)
- 1935
A couple of idealistic reporters attempt to unmask an unfair system in this topical melodrama from poverty row company Chesterfield. Witnessing a man convicted of murder purely on circumstantial evidence, reporters Jim Baldwin (Chick Chandler and Spike Horton (Lee Moran) decide to demonstrate how uncivilized the system is by faking a murder of their own. But when the "victim," fellow newspaperman Fred Stevens (Arthur Vinton), turns up very much the worse for wear -- dead in fact -- Jim is found guilty on circumstantial evidence and condemned to death. He manages to escape and hunt down the real killer who, it turns out, had good reason for murder. Circumstantial Evidence, which was produced in the wake of the conviction of accused Lindbergh baby-killer Bruno Hauptmann, was based on a story by silent screen director Tom Terriss. ~ Hans J. Wollstein, All Movie Guide
- Starring:
- Chick Chandler, Shirley Grey, (more)
- 1935
In this drama an older actress plays her last role. The aging thespian is terribly depressed and ready to kill herself when she finds out that an older more successful friend has vanished. The missing actress's family is in a real quandry. To help them, the other impersonates the older actress. Loose ends are knitted together and then she admits her ruse. ~ Sandra Brennan, All Movie Guide
- Starring:
- Henrietta Crosman, Dorothy Lee, (more)
Lawyer Oliver Keith (Reginald Denny) in love with his secretary Ella Carey (Patricia Farr), but refuses to do anything about it during office hours. Thus, it's up to Ella to ardently pursue Oliver in her spare time. Their romance is temporarily shelved when Oliver and Ella combine forces to solve two seemingly unrelated murders. Lady in Scarlet is yet another spin on the Thin Man formula, this time from low-budget Invincible Pictures. No one expressed much enthusiasm over the film, though Reginald Denny garnered some of his best reviews in years. ~ Hal Erickson, All Movie Guide
- Starring:
- Reginald Denny, Patricia Farr, (more)
- 1935
1932 WAMPAS Baby Star Dorothy Wilson was trapped in this mediocre circus melodrama from low-budget Peerless Pictures Corp. Wilson played Elaine Cavanaugh, whose mother, Stella (Dorothy Revier), joined a traveling tent show after being ostracized by her husband's wealthy family. The story repeats itself years later when Elaine breaks up with her wealthy boyfriend Dale Wentworth (Kane Richmond), whose aunt (Gladys Gale) and snobbish sister (Anne Hovey) warn him against getting involved with show people. At the circus, Elaine works as the assistant to fake astrologer Zirillo (William Ruhl). When Dale later accuses the act of swindling his aunt, Elaine pretends to be in on the ruse, hoping that he will forget her. Tommy (Sumner Getchell), a former pickpocket and Elaine's friend, tells Dale that Elaine believed Zirillo to be the genuine article and the lovers are reunited. ~ Hans J. Wollstein, All Movie Guide
- Starring:
- Dorothy Wilson, Kane Richmond, (more)
- 1934
After directing three of Universal's finest horror films, James Whale shifted gears with the elegant romantic comedy By Candlelight. Though quite miscast, Paul Lukas successfully conveys the role of Josef, ultra-dutiful valet to the libidinous Count Von Bommer (Nils Asther). Falling in love with Marie (Elissa Landi), whom he assumes to be a countess, Josef poses -- quite convincingly -- as his rakish master. The catch: Marie is herself a poseur, a mere maidservant to Count and Countess Von Rischenheim (Lawrence Grant, Dorothy Revier). Based on a play by Siegfried Geyer, By Candlelight is chock full of delightfully double-entendre pre-Code dialogue and dextrous directorial touches. ~ Hal Erickson, All Movie Guide
- Starring:
- Elissa Landi, Paul Lukas, (more)
- 1934
The Buck Jones western The Fighting Ranger utilizes its familiar plotline with excellent results. When Jones' kid brother is killed by the villains, our hero quits the Texas Rangers and sets off to seek vengeance on his own. He ends up just below the Mexican border, where bandit leader Cougar (Bradley Page) lives high off the hog, knowing he can't be extradited. But Jones is able to round up the baddies just in time for the "End" title. Columbia's all-purpose leading lady Dorothy Revier is the heroine, while comedy relief is provided by eyeball-rolling Frank Rice. ~ Hal Erickson, All Movie Guide
- Starring:
- Buck Jones, Dorothy Revier, (more)
- 1934
This well-mounted Majestic Pictures effort was inspired by Collusion, a novel by Theodore D. Irwin. Edward Arnold is in his element as Frank Rodie, an honest lawyer who turns dishonest to pay off his wife's stock-market losses. Still desperate for money, Rodie offers to serve as a co-respondent in a divorce case. His far-from-grateful wife (Helen Jerome Eddy) uses this as an excuse to divorce him and desert him for her paramour. Rodie spends the rest of the picture proving that his wife was a fool for deceiving and underestimating him. The "blonde" of the title is played by Dorothy Revier, actually one of the more sympathetic characters in the film. ~ Hal Erickson, All Movie Guide
- Starring:
- Helen Jerome Eddy, Edward Arnold, (more)
Based on H. Ashbrook's novel The Murder of Stephen Kester, Green Eyes gets off to a powerful start when host Stephen Kester (Claude Gillingwater) is found stabbed in a closet during a weekend masquerade party. The principal suspects are Kester's daughter Jean (Shirley Grey) and her fiancé Cliff (William Bakewell), whose planned marriage had been violently opposed by Jean's father. One of the party guests, mystery writer Bill Tracy (Charles Starrett), suggests to Inspector Crofton (John Wray) that there were others who wanted to see Kester dead, notably his business associates Pritchard (Alden Chase) and Hall (Arthur Clayton). When Hall commits suicide, leaving a note confessing to the murder, Crofton is satisfied -- but Tracy isn't. The "gimmick" in this well-crafted independent meller is its double-edged ending, in which two logical conclusions to the case are offered, each cancelling the other out. ~ Hal Erickson, All Movie Guide
- Starring:
- Shirley Grey, Charles Starrett, (more)
- 1934
The second entry in Buck Jones' Universal western series, When a Man Sees Red casts Jones as the foreman of a ranch owned by a haughty Easterner (Peggy Campbell). Our hero tries to dissuade the pretty owner from taking up with an unsavory character (Leroy Mason), to no avail. Eventually, the lout proves himself to be a thief and a liar, out to wrest the ranch owner's property away from her. The self-sacrificial sending is straight out of Under Two Flags, albeit with happier results. Like the first Universal Jones vehicle, Rocky Rhodes, When a Man Sees Red appears at times to be a leftover Ken Maynard script, hastily retooled for the ol' Buckaroo. ~ Hal Erickson, All Movie Guide
- Starring:
- Dorothy Revier, Peggy Campbell, (more)
- 1934
Few studios ground out as many aviation melodramas as Columbia. In Above the Clouds, Robert Armstrong stars as Scoop Adams, an ace newsreel cameraman whose love affair with the bottle all but destroys him professionally. Scoop manages to get his photographer pal Dick (Richard Cromwell) fired as well, but he promises to restore Dick's reputation, some way or another. He gets his chance while covering a dirigible wreck (some three years before the Hindenburg), saving the day for both Dick and himself. The outcome of the plot hinges on a telephoto lens, a relatively new device in 1934. Dorothy Wilson hangs around in the obligatory but hardly necessary role of the love interest. ~ Hal Erickson, All Movie Guide
- Starring:
- Robert Armstrong, Richard Cromwell, (more)
- 1933
Columbia's The Thrill Hunter is more of straight action film than a western, though leading man Buck Jones still wears his traditional cowboy garb. Jones plays a small-town spinner of tall tales who claims to be a top-notch stuntman. He's forced to put up or shut up when a movie company, filming an adventure flick, shows up in town. Offering his services as a stunt double, Jones passes muster as a racecar driver, but he loses his job when he cracks up an airplane. Our hero redeems himself by catching a bunch of criminals who aren't play-acting. Dorothy Revier, allegedly the girlfriend of Columbia Pictures chieftain Harry Cohn, is the incongruously glamorous heroine. ~ Hal Erickson, All Movie Guide
- Starring:
- Buck Jones, Dorothy Revier, (more)
- 1932
Former silent-screen star Frank Mayo plays a big-city bootlegger at odds with gangster chieftain Tom Santschi, the man who's been hijacking his shipments. The cops decide not to get involved but instead remain on the sidelines, hoping that Mayo and Santschi will knock each other off. But young newspaper reporter Charles Morton insists upon getting into the thick of the action -- causing no end of consternation for Santschi, who happens to be Morton's older brother. When Morton is "taken for a ride" by Mayo, he is saved by the bootlegger's cast-off mistress Dorothy Revier. Produced independently, The Last Ride was released by Universal. ~ Hal Erickson, All Movie Guide
- Starring:
- Charles Morton, Dorothy Revier, (more)
- 1932
A bored noblewoman wagers that she can steal a valuable diamond necklace and then return it without discovery in this minor programmer from low-budget producer Ralph M. Like. While the Baroness Orsani (Dorothy Revier) contemplates how to reach her goal and win the bet, a gang of jewel thieves also plans to steal the gem. The leader of the gang, Pete Wells (William V. Mong), is at one point close to actually succeeding in his nefarious purpose, but is bested by the baroness, who not only returns the necklace to its rightful owner, Peter Lawton-Bond (Kenneth Harlan), but ends up marrying him. Usually starring his wife Blanche Mehaffey, producer Like this time managed to corral former Columbia star Dorothy Revier, whose mere presence lends a bit of class to this otherwise pedestrian melodrama. ~ Hans J. Wollstein, All Movie Guide
- Starring:
- Dorothy Revier, Kenneth Harlan, (more)
- 1932
Crusading district attorney Jerry Bennett (Gilbert Roland) would give anything to get the goods on unscrupulous criminal lawyer Clyde Corbin (Noah Beery). Alas, Corbin proves too slippery a target -- and besides, he's got too many irons in the fire to be bothered by Bennett. Halfway through the picture, Corbin temporarily leaves the legal world behind by masterminding a race track swindle, targeting lovable Pop Everett (Otis Harlan) as his fall guy. Bennett teams with lady detective Emilia (Carmel Myers) to save Pop from losing his money, but the DA's girlfriend Carol (Barbara Kent), Pop's daughter, misunderstands the situation and walks out on Bennett. This sets the stage for a comic denouement straight out of the The Front Page. ~ Hal Erickson, All Movie Guide
- Starring:
- Gilbert Roland, Noah Beery, Sr., (more)
As evidenced by its title, Chesterfield's The King Murder was partially inspired by the infamous Dot King extortion case of the early 1930s. Before the film is even half over, three murders have been committed. The first victim is a blonde trollop who'd been blackmailing a prominent millionaire. The second unfortunate is the cop assigned to guard the blonde's body. And the third killing neatly disposes of the man responsible for the first murder. The culprit is eventually done in by his own murder weapon, a poisoned needle. For some unknown reason, the New York prints of The King Murder were five minutes shorter than those prepared for Los Angeles run. ~ Hal Erickson, All Movie Guide
- Starring:
- Conway Tearle, Natalie Moorhead, (more)
- 1932
In 1932, Monogram Pictures was essentially the clearing house for the films of independent production firms. Monogram was responsible for the Southeastern distribution of Trojan Productions' Arm of the Law. Rex Bell, the handsome cowboy-star husband of actress Clara Bow (and later lieutenant governor of Nevada) plays the leading role. Bell wears city duds as a newspaper reporter who tries to solve the murder of nasty nightclub singer Lina Basquette. A whole slew of silent movie veterans pop up as the suspects, including Marceline Day, Bryant Washburn, Donald Keith, Wallace MacDonald, and William V. Mong. A well-crafted little mystery quickie, Arm of the Law was based on Arthur Hoerl's The Butterfly Mystery. ~ Hal Erickson, All Movie Guide
- Starring:
- Marceline Day, Robert E. O'Connor, (more)
- 1932
Defense attorney Forrest Stanley insists upon hiring himself out to gangsters, much to the dismay of his wife Dorothy Revier. She walks out on Stanley, whereupon he goes into a personal and professional slump. Our hero is given a new lease on life when he adopts orphan Mickey McGuire (later known as Mickey Rooney), only to be plunged into the depths of despair again when the boy is killed in the crossfire of a mob shootout. Immediately switching gears, Stanley becomes a crusading prosecutor, sending his former criminal clients to the pen -- and wining back the love of Revier in the process. Sin's Payday is among the first films in which a criminal's recorded confession is entered into evidence -- and never mind the questionable circumstances through which the confession is obtained! ~ Hal Erickson, All Movie Guide
- Starring:
- Forrest Stanley, Harry Semels, (more)
- 1932
Like many low-budgeters of the early talkie era, Sally of the Subway is not so much a film as a reunion of several former silent-screen favorites. The title character, played by Dorothy Revier, is a member of a criminal gang, intent on pulling off a huge swindle by using a genuine Grand Duke (Huntley Gordon) as their "front." Hero Jack Mulhall gets wind of the villains' schemes, and with craft and cunning allows the bad guys enough rope to hang themselves. Though Sally of the Subway was released by Action Pictures (a forerunner to Monogram), there's precious little action save for a mid-film fight sequence pitting Mulhall against four plug-uglies. Blanche Mehaffey, a poverty-row perennial, is the nominal love interest. ~ Hal Erickson, All Movie Guide
- Starring:
- Huntly Gordon, Jack Mulhall, (more)
- 1932
In this crime thriller, a suicidal writer is saved by a helpful newspaper editor who gives her a much-needed job. Later she finds herself entangled in a plot to smuggle Chinese laborers into the country. She follows up on the many clues and ends up in the middle of Chinatown where she is eventually able get her story. ~ Sandra Brennan, All Movie Guide
- Starring:
- Lois Wilson, Grant Withers, (more)
- 1932
Before he moved to MGM, director Richard Thorpe virtually lived at the tiny production firm of Chesterfield-Invincible. Thorpe's Beauty Parlor is a Chesterfield programmer that aspires to be Grand Hotel. The titular parlor is the setting for a multitude of comic and dramatic episodes, most of them involving manicurists Barbara Kent and Joyce Compton. Among the supporting players is Mischa Auer, essaying one of the villainous roles he was stuck with before turning to zany comedy parts in the mid-1930s. Beauty Parlor wraps up all its loose plot strands in 66 minutes. ~ Hal Erickson, All Movie Guide
- Starring:
- Barbara Kent, Joyce Compton, (more)
