Conway Tearle Movies

In his fourth and final Western for Poverty Row company Beaumont Pictures, veteran leading man Conway Tearle played Kirk Allenby, a lawman hired by the Cattlemen's Association to bring in his look-alike, Bob Enright (also Tearle), a renegade rancher. Badly injuring Enright in a gunfight, Allenby promises the wounded man that he will save his sister Roberta (Margaret Morris) from marrying villainous Jeff Bagley (William Gould). Impersonating Enright, Allenby arrives in time to stop the ceremony, and, with the recovered Enright's help, manages to bring Bagley and his gang to justice. In one of the kinkier denouements in B-Western history, Roberta then agrees to marry her brother's savior and look-alike. A Western star at the age of 58, Conway Tearle was a holdover from the early silent era. Despite his advancing years, Tearle did his own stunts and his four Westerns for Beaumont Pictures proved better than expected. The august star retired with the demise of Beaumont Pictures and suffered a fatal heart attack a little over a year later. ~ Hans J. Wollstein, Rovi

Director George Cukor and producer Irving G. Thalberg's adaptation of Romeo and Juliet, a lavish production of Shakespeare's tale about two star-crossed lovers, is extremely well-produced and acted. In fact, it is so well-done, that it is easy to forget that Leslie Howard and Norma Shearer are too old to be playing the title characters. ~ Stephen Thomas Erlewine, Rovi

In this mystery, an international news correspondent is fatally shot with three bullets. Now three men stand accused of the crime. All three confess their guilt and receive the death penalty, but only one of them is really guilty. Fortunately, a professor has invented a new kind of lie detector. He uses it to reveal the real killer's identity and save the lives of the others. ~ Sandra Brennan, Rovi

This typically lightning-paced Mascot Studios production stars Heather Angel as the title character, a thrill-seeking socialite named Myrna Van Buren. During a raid on a gambling joint, Myrna witnesses the murder of gambler Johnny Corinti (Theodore Von Eltz). Hoping to get an exclusive story, hotshot reporter Bob Grayson (Roger Pryor) kidnaps Myrna, only to recall a bit too late that she's the daughter of his boss! Bob then dedicates himself to keeping the girl out of the headlines, which proves almost as difficult as protecting her from the murderer. Curiously, though Robert Gleckler is prominently cast as Grayson's city editor, Gleckler's name does not appear in the cast list; however, former Keystone Kop Ford Sterling does receive billing in his last important screen assignment before a leg amputation forced him to retire from films. ~ Hal Erickson, Rovi

Richard Dix plays the title-role, of a dashing highwayman and bandit in 1870's Australia, in this strangely delightful mix of swashbuckler and musical. But the real star is Irene Dunne as Hilda Bouverie, an impoverished serving girl who wants to sing. Left orphaned and homeless by the deaths of her parents, Hilda is now a servant in the home of the Clarksons, the wealthiest family in the province. Hilda is glad to have a roof over her head and three meals a day, but won't really be happy unless she gets a chance to sing, and she has the voice to match her aspirations. Mr. Clarkson (Henry Stephenson) is kind and encouraging enough to her, but his wife (Mary Boland) is a harridan who treats Hilda and her other maid Annie (Una O'Connor) as little better than slaves; and Mrs. Clarkson is especially jealous of Hilda, as she also aspires to a singing career (but is sorely lacking a voice), and is eagerly awaiting a visit by London-based composer and impressario Sir Julian Kent (Conway Tearle). And then in rides Stingaree (Richard Dix), a highwayman new to the province, who is already a legend elsewhere in Australia. The authorities, led by the boorish Inspector Radford (George Barraud), know he is there and are set to catch him, but he's smarter than they are and faster on his feet, and outwits them. Stingaree kidnaps Sir Julian and, learning of the Clarksons and their wealth, plans to rob them masquerading as Sir Julian. But when he chances to hear Hilda singing, and gets to meet her, he abandons his plan and, instead, decides to help her -- his ruse is uncovered, however, and he is forced to flee, and takes the unwilling girl with him. Together in his lair in the forest, Hilda discovers that Stingaree truly does love her -- he is a man who takes whatever he wants and wants everything, but, as he tells her, "You are as safe here as you wish to be." Stingaree arranges a daring raid on the Clarkson home that allows Hilda's singing to be heard by Sir Julian -- the impressario offers her the chance to go to London, and at a career as an opera singer. She's reluctant to accept because Stingaree has been captured, but the highwayman insists that she do it, telling her that he happily gave up his freedom to give Hilda hers. And she conquers the operatic stages of Europe, in a career that takes her to Berlin, the Paris Opera, La Scala, and London's Covent Garden, and leading roles in Trovatore, Martha, and the rest of the major operatic repertory of the period. But she can't forget the sacrifice that Stingaree made for her, or the love they share for each other, and decides that even if it means giving up everything, she must return to Australia to find him. ~ Bruce Eder, Rovi

In this romantic comedy, a middle-aged woman married to a much older man begins a harmless flirtation with an artistically inclined gigolo after she mistakes him for her long-lost lover. Unfortunately, the opportunist really loves the woman's daughter. He is also smitten with another woman. Romantic mayhem ensues when the artist's true identity is revealed. ~ Sandra Brennan, Rovi

Man About Town owns the distinction of being the first espionage film ever set in contemporary America. Warner Baxter stars as Stephen Morrow, an embryonic James Bond who doubles as a gambler and secret agent. The scion of a wealthy Washington family, Morrow is ordered by the government to set up a gambling establishment, the better to attract possible enemy spies. The plot segues into a romantic triangle, with Budapest native Helena (Karen Morley) coming between Morrow and his old friend, British ambassador Bob Ashley (Conway Tearle). One thing leads to another, and by film's end Helena has murdered a slimy blackmailer-spy to protect the reputation of her younger sister (an outtake of this scene exists, with Karen Morley dropping character when her prop gun fails to work). One hopes that the original Denison Clift novel wasn't as confusing as this film. ~ Hal Erickson, Rovi

A pair of grifters, one of whom is impersonating a doctor, assist a sick woman while riding a train. After the woman dies, the female con-artist assumes her identity so that she can collect a large amount of money. Trouble ensues when the woman begins to bond with the dead lady's blind son. She decides not to take the cash. This arouses her attorney's suspicions. Later, when the lad learns the truth, he has a fatal coronary. The woman and the lawyer get married. ~ Sandra Brennan, Rovi

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, Rovi

Conway Tearle stars as Jack Norton, a diamond smuggler operating in South America who is strong-armed into participating in a blackmail scheme. Norton is to obtain several compromising photos of Margaret Townsend (Billie Dove), the wife of American consulate Charles Townsend (Sidney Blackmer). The plan collapses when the "hero" falls in love with Margaret. As one of several "comeback" attempts for silent-film beauty Billie Dove, The Lady Who Dared was a flop. As another argument in favor of a stronger Motion Picture Production Code, it was unfortunately a success. ~ Hal Erickson, Rovi

Betty Stockford, a British actress who probably played more wronged women than Constance Bennett and Helen Twelvetrees combined, is the leading lady of Captivation. Stranded in Europe, Stockford is befriended by iconoclastic writer Conway Tearle. To save her from disgrace, Tearle introduces Stockford as his wife. She rather likes the idea, and by film's end she makes the set-up legal and permanent. Edgar Middleton adapted his verbose screenplay for Captivation from his own stage play. ~ Hal Erickson, Rovi