Ann Rutherford Movies
Brunette Canadian leading lady Ann Rutherford had the sort of button-cute baby face that allowed her to play ingénues into her thirties. The daughter of an opera tenor and a stage actress, Rutherford was performing on-stage from childhood. She was still a teenager when she made her first film appearances as leading lady to such Western heroes as John Wayne and Gene Autry. At MGM from 1937, Ms. Rutherford gained minor stardom as Polly Benedict in the studio's Andy Hardy series. She was allowed to display her perky comic gifts in a trio of 1940s mystery-comedies co-starring Red Skelton (Whistling in the Dark, Whistling in Dixie, Whistling in Brooklyn), and was quite appealing as Careen O'Hara in Gone With the Wind (1939). She closed out her film career in 1950 to devote more time to her private life; for many years, she was the wife of 20th Century Fox executive William Dozier. Anne Rutherford returned to the screen in 1972 to join several fellow MGM alumni in They Only Kill Their Masters, thereafter confining most of her professional activity to her annual appearances as Suzanne Pleshette's mother on TV's The Bob Newhart Show (1972-1978). ~ Hal Erickson, All Movie Guide- 1938
Viennese-born Luise Rainer plays a young Parisian girl who attends an exclusive drama school, working nights at a factory to pay the tuition. Despite the jealousies of her fellow students, Luise allows nothing to discourage her from her goal to become as great an actress as her idol (Gale Sondergaard). The girl wins the coveted role of Joan of Arc in an upcoming play, but the victory has a bitter taste when she realizes she's beaten out her idol for the part. At the end, Luise manages to have both a happy career and a successful marriage, even though her friends (and enemies) insist that such a combination is impossible. Dramatic School is a film buff's banquet; virtually every bit player in the cast (Ann Rutherford, Lana Turner, Dick Haymes, Hans Conried, etc.) later graduated to show-biz prominence. ~ Hal Erickson, All Movie Guide
- Starring:
- Luise Rainer, Paulette Goddard, (more)
- 1937
In the fine tradition of And Sudden Death, Columbia's The Devil is Driving tabulates the dangers of drunken driving in an exciting, unabashedly melodramatic fashion. In his first true portrayal of a "little creep," Elisha Cook Jr. stars as Tony, the spoiled-rotten son of the wealthy and influential Mr. Stevens (Henry Kolker). Forever climbing behind the wheel after one too many martinis, Tony strikes and kills an old woman and later forces his sweetheart Kitty (Ann Rutherford) over an embankment. By rights, this blatant vehicular homicide should earn Tony a stiff jail sentence, but he is constantly bailed out by his father, who even buys off juries and judges to keep his son out of prison. After helping Stevens spring his son once too often, guilt-stricken district attorney Paul Driscoll (Richard Dix) joins forces with crusading reporter Eve Hammond (Joan Perry) to keep repeat offenders like Tony off the road. Be assured that Tony will receive his comeuppance in spades by fade-out time. ~ Hal Erickson, All Movie Guide
- Starring:
- Richard Dix, Joan Perry, (more)
- 1937
Based on The Bride from Trieste by Ferenc Molnar, The Bride Wore Red stars Joan Crawford as the eponymous heroine. A singer in a seedy Budapest dive, Anni (Crawford) is mistaken for a socialite thanks to a practical joke perpetrated by the cynical Count Armalia (George Zucco). Though a bit confused about her new favored status, Anni happily hobnobs with the "best people" on the Tyrol, including handsome Rudi Pal (Robert Young), who falls in love with her. She manages to pull off her charade for two full weeks, at which time the Count callously reveals the truth. Rudi Pal gallantly offers to marry Anni anyway, but she settles for a happier -- if less financially advantageous -- union with humble village postman Guilio (Franchot Tone, Crawford's husband at the time). When all is said and done, The Bride Wore Red is essentially a showcase for MGM's wardrobe department, with Joan Crawford garbed in a variety of gorgeous gowns, each one more dazzling than the last. ~ Hal Erickson, All Movie Guide
- Starring:
- Joan Crawford, Franchot Tone, (more)
- 1937
Starving artist Robert Montgomery could care less if his paintings sell, so long as he's happy. Montgomery falls in love with Rosalind Russell, an heiress who's gone "slumming" in Greenwich Village. Russell becomes Montgomery's patroness as well as his wife, urging him to make his paintings more commercial. He becomes a success following her advice, but popularity goes to his head and soon Russell realizes she's created a monster. She walks out, he gets his act together, she comes back, and they return to their blissful hand-to-mouth existence. Live, Love and Learn scores its biggest laughs unintentionally with MGM's prettified concept of what a "run down" Greenwich village apartment looks like. ~ Hal Erickson, All Movie Guide
- Starring:
- Robert Montgomery, Rosalind Russell, (more)
In this 20th-century western, hero Gene Autry uses his old-fashioned horse and six-shooter to foil the plans of cattle rustlers who ply their trade via airplanes, refrigerated trucks and shortwave radios. Songs include: "The West Ain't What It Used to Be?", "I Picked up the Trail When I Found You", "Heebie, Jeebie Blues" (sung by Smiley Burnette) and "Defective Detective from Brooklyn" (also by Burnette). ~ Sandra Brennan, All Movie Guide
- Starring:
- Gene Autry, Smiley Burnette, (more)
- 1936
The Lonely Trail, directed by Joseph Kane, stars John Wayne as veteran Union officer John Ashley. Ashley (Wayne), upon his return to his hometown in Texas, finds his presence unwanted by his former neighbors, who have all sided with the Confederacy. Law and order is being maintained by the smooth-talking Benedict Holden's (Cy Kendall) armed troopers. Though initially duped by the seedy northerner, Ashley realizes that Holden (Kendall) is merely a carpetbagger who, without the knowledge of the governor, is killing, stealing, and taxing the local ranchers out of their property under the pretense of state authority. In an attempt to thwart Holden's continuous betrayal of the Texas citizens, Ashley himself enlists in Holden's troops. The Lonely Trail also features actors Sam Flint, Bob Kortman, and actress Anne Rutherford. ~ Tracie Cooper, All Movie Guide
- Starring:
- John Wayne, Ann Rutherford, (more)
- 1936
Doughnuts and Society is the first of several attempts by Republic Pictures to create a new screen team comparable to MGM's Marie Dressler and Polly Moran. In this one, Louise Fazenda and Maude Eburne are paired up as Kate Flannagan and Belle Dugan, joint owners of a greasy-spoon diner. Unexpectedly striking it rich, Belle buys her way into high society, followed in short order by Kate, who has likewise increased her bank account with a revolutionary new invention. The humor lies in the contrasting behavior of the "400" and the rambunctious heroines, who spend most of their time trying to one-up each other. The romantic subplot concerns Kate's son Jerry (Eddie Nugent) and Belle's daughter Joan (Ann Rutherford), both of whom are extremely relieved when their mothers go broke and return to normal. ~ Hal Erickson, All Movie Guide
- Starring:
- Louise Fazenda, Maude Eburne, (more)
- 1936
Gene Autry's acting skills were still shaky when he made Comin' Round the Mountain, but his singing abilities could not be faulted. An uneven blend of comedy and melodrama, the story has something to do with the formation of the Pony Express, though much of the action takes place at the hacienda of Senorita Dolores (19-year-old Ann Rutherford). After dwelling too long on a comic bullfight, the film comes to a thrilling conclusion as Autry, astride his wonder horse Champion, embarks upon a grueling 10-mile horse race. Perennial comedy relief Smiley Burnette is here saddled by poor material, but he makes the most of what little he has. The 1951 Abbott & Costello opus Comin' Round the Mountain is not a remake. ~ Hal Erickson, All Movie Guide
- Starring:
- Gene Autry, Ann Rutherford, (more)
- 1936
In its first few years of existence, Republic Pictures evinced an eagerness to tackle any sort of offbeat subject. The studio's Down to the Sea has to be one of the only films of the 1930s to concentrate on a pair of Greek sponge fishermen. Played by Russell Hardie and Ben Lyon, the heroes battle over the affections of Ann Rutherford, whose father controls much of Florida's sponge industry. The climactic scenes benefit from the fine location and underwater photography, courtesy of cinematographer Harry Neumann. ~ Hal Erickson, All Movie Guide
- Starring:
- Russell Hardie, Ben Lyon, (more)
- 1936
What would such second-echelon studios as Republic have done without the popular "rural" novels of Gene Stratton-Porter? This adaptation of Stratton-Porter's The Harvester stars Alice Brady in a rare dramatic role as Mrs. Biddle, the domineering matriarch of a farming family. Hoping to secure the future happiness of her daughter Thelma (Joyce Compton), Mrs. B practically ropes and hog-ties eligible bachelor David Langston (Russell Hardie). But it's a bad match, as David discovers when he falls in love with winsome Ruth Jameson (Ann Rutherford). The Harvester was treated as a prestige production by Republic, who accordingly gave the film as close to an "A" treatment as economically possible. ~ Hal Erickson, All Movie Guide
- Starring:
- Alice Brady, Russell Hardie, (more)
- 1936
Republic's The Lawless Nineties reteams the studio's up-and-coming cowboy star John Wayne with 19-year-old ingenue Ann Rutherford. Wayne plays John Tipton, who is determined to break up the corrupt Wyoming-territory political machine run by Charles K. Plummer (Harry Woods). What Tipton doesn't know is that Plummer is also the head of a night-riding vigilante army, bent on killing anyone who opposes his reign. Among Plummer's victims is newspaper editor Major Carter (George "Gabby" Hayes), but Carter's pretty daughter Janet (Rutherford) vows to carry on her dad's work. Amazingly, hero Tipton doesn't have to rely on his fists or fancy gunplay to rout the villains: this time around, Democracy itself saves the day. And in only 58 minutes! ~ Hal Erickson, All Movie Guide
- Starring:
- John Wayne, Ann Rutherford, (more)
- 1936
Though released by Republic, The Oregon Trail was actually filmed by the Lone Star unit at Monogram. John Wayne stars in a bargain-basement rehash of his earlier The Big Trail. Battling his way through reams of stock footage, the Duke leads a wagon train through the rugged frontier. He also keeps both eyes peeled for the man who murdered his father. 18-year-old Ann Rutherford is the feminine interest. ~ Hal Erickson, All Movie Guide
- 1935
Ann Rutherford, who would later rise to fame in the Andy Hardy series at M-G-M and in a number of musical roles, made one of her first screen appearances in this Gene Autry musical western. Teenage runaway Lettie Morgan (Rutherford) stows away with a group of showgirls en route to California after an argument with her aunt. When the stagecoach is attacked near the California border, Capt. Tex Autry (Gene Autry) and his men save the day, but the petulant Lettie complains to his superior officers after Autry scolds the women for traveling through a dangerous area without a proper escort. This, coupled with the actions of rangers-gone-bad Buck LaCrosse (Warner Richmond) and Utah Joe (Alan Sears), leads many to suspect Autry has become a traitor, but when LaCrosse and Utah kidnap Lettie, Autry and his sidekick Frog (Smiley Burnette) are chosen to come to the rescue. ~ Mark Deming, All Movie Guide
- Starring:
- Gene Autry, Smiley Burnette, (more)
- 1935
In her first starring role, 18-year-old Ann Rutherford plays Joan, a singer in a cheap waterfront café. Gambling-ship proprietor Ronny (Frank Albertson), on the lam from the police after accidentally shooting a treacherous underling (Grant Withers), falls in love with Joan, and he with her. Under her good influence, he decides to turn himself over to the cops and face the consequences, only to discover that he's been exonerated by his partner McFee (Charles C. Wilson). Ladling on the sentiment with a steam shovel, Waterfront Lady is a lot less hard-boiled than its title suggests. It was also the final feature-film release from Mascot Pictures before that studio merged into Republic. ~ Hal Erickson, All Movie Guide
- Starring:
- Ann Rutherford, Frank Albertson, (more)
- 1935
Gene Autry's second starring western for Republic was the well-named Melody Trail. Unlike Autry's inaugural vehicle Tumbling Tumbleweeds, which offered an equal blend of action and music, this second effort is virtually all music, with occasional comedy relief from Smiley Burnette. The story finally takes flight when a baby left in Gene's care is kidnapped, and travelling gypsy Frantz (Willy Castello) is suspected. All turns out okay, albeit with a minimum of fisticuffs and gunplay. The film's mass-wedding finale (an intriguing precursor to Seven Brides for Seven Brothers) features several lovely starlets who figure significantly in the storyline, the most prominent of whom is 18-year-old Ann Rutherford. ~ Hal Erickson, All Movie Guide
- Starring:
- Gene Autry, Smiley Burnette, (more)
- 1935
Its the US Marines against the pirates in this spliced-together adventure serial. The Marines are trying to set up a landing field on a Pacific island. Unfortunately, Halfway Island is the lair of the "Tiger Shark," a modern day pirate, and he is unwilling to share. ~ Sandra Brennan, All Movie Guide
- 1932
Ghost City was one of eight Monogram westerns which teamed veteran cowboy star Bill Cody with juvenile performer Andy Shuford. The motivating factor in this one is a valuable gold mine which rightfully belongs to heroine Helen Foster. The deed to the mine is currently (and illegally) in the possession of villain Walter Miller, but Cody aims to alter this status quo. The film is dominated by fight scenes and riding interludes, with scant attention paid to the romantic subplot (much to the relief of Bill Cody's younger fans). Jack Carlyle, who later had a career in "exploitation" pictures, plays a surly deputy. ~ Hal Erickson, All Movie Guide
- Starring:
- Bill Cody, Andy Shuford, (more)
