Roberta Smith Movies
- 1945
A New-York-bound hitchhiker is hit by a car. The driver, a successful art dealer, stops and finds that he has hit a beautiful girl. He takes her to his home and later learns that she was to be a dancer. As she recovers she cannot help but notice that her benefactor and his stepdaughter both seem a little touched. The suspense comes in when she figures out that the greedy dealer is planning to kill all his female relatives in order to receive a large inheritance. ~ Sandra Brennan, All Movie Guide
- Starring:
- Charles Arnt
In this romantic comedy, two warring neighbors are aghast when their respective daughter and son fall in love and plan to marry. Despite their parents' objections they begin planning and getting the legal paper work done; it is then they learn they could be brother and sister. Fortunately, the situation is straightened out and the two find out they are related only by marriage. ~ Sandra Brennan, All Movie Guide
- Starring:
- Freddie Bartholomew, Jimmy Lydon, (more)
- 1944
A lesser East Side Kids effort, Block Busters looks more like an elongated 2-reel comedy than a 6-reel feature. This time, Muggs (Leo Gorcey), Glimpy (Huntz Hall) and the rest of the Kids set about to "Americanize" affable young French refugee Jean Rogers (Frederick Pressel). But after a disastrous baseball game, Jean is chased out of the neighborhood and told not to return. Eventually, the Kids patch things up with Jean and play a championship game on behalf of their sick friend Tobby (Bill Chaney). Featured in the cast are Leo Gorcey's then-wive Kay Marvis, his father Bernard Gorcey (in a dry run for his Bowery Boys character Louie Dumbrowski), and, sadly, former comedy great Harry Langdon, wasted in a minor role as an undertaker. ~ Hal Erickson, All Movie Guide
- Starring:
- Leo Gorcey, Huntz Hall, (more)
- 1943
In this musical, the teenage daughter of a popular movie star tires of being ignored by her separated parents and decides to make it as a star on her own. She does. Songs include: "It Had to Be You," "Blow, Gabriel, Blow," "I'm Always Chasing Rainbows," "On the Sunny Side of the Street," "Row, Row, Row Your Boat." ~ Sandra Brennan, All Movie Guide
- 1942
This biopic takes an in-depth look into the life of Minnesota All-American football player Bruce Smith. The story is framed by a screenwriter's interview with the famed halfback. In order to garner information, the scenarist is assigned to live with Smith. During the film, Smith shares his thoughts on football and anecdotes from his life. ~ Sandra Brennan, All Movie Guide
- Starring:
- Bruce P. Smith, Warren Ashe, (more)
- 1941
The Gambling Daughters of the title are Gale Storm and Janet Shaw. Students in an exclusive girl's school, Storm and Shaw fall under the spell of suave, secretive gambler Roger Pryor. It isn't long before the girls have depleted their family's finances, and have enmeshed the other students in their speculative spree. Robert Baldwin is featured as a comic-relief insurance inspector who turns private eye when a murder takes place. Among the scenarists of this PRC programmer is future best-selling novelist Sidney Sheldon. ~ Hal Erickson, All Movie Guide
- Starring:
- Cecilia Parker, Roger Pryor, (more)
- 1940
In this drama, six street-wise tough girls try to imitate the older sister of one who became a gangster's wife and lives a comfortable life. Unfortunately, because she married a crook, the young woman is sent to prison along with her man. When she is finally released, she gets hooked up with an ex-lover who sets her on the straight and narrow. The newly redeemed big sister attempts to help her little sister and her pals, but does not succeed until one of the gals is killed during a petty robbery at as department store. ~ Sandra Brennan, All Movie Guide
- Starring:
- Bruce Cabot, Rochelle Hudson, (more)
- 1939
In this comedy drama, young high school student Henry Aldrich tries to tone down his natural mischievousness and shuck the reputation of being the worst student in school. It isn't easy and his father, who was an excellent student at Princeton, doesn't help. Fortunately, by the story's end, the young man is able to overcome all obstacles and prove himself. Following this film, the character of Henry Aldrich became popular and so several subsequent films were made around him. ~ Sandra Brennan, All Movie Guide
- Starring:
- Jackie Cooper, Betty Field, (more)
- 1938
Down on the Farm was yet another entry in the seemingly endless saga of the Jones Family. The plot is set in motion when the Joneses' Aunt Ida (Louise Fazenda) invites the family to spend the summer on her farm while their house is undergoing repairs (thanks to an unfortunate encouter with a fire hose). Patriarch John Jones wins a cornhusking contest, whereupon he is invited to run for a local political office. The usual complications ensue, culminating in a ribtickling "drunk" scene and the ultimate exposure of the community's crooked politicians. Many of the biggest laughs are provided by Eddie Collins as Aunt Ida's moon-faced husband. Elements of several earlier Will Rogers vehicles managed to work their way into the screenplay of Down on the Farm. ~ Hal Erickson, All Movie Guide
- Starring:
- Jed Prouty, Spring Byington, (more)
