Lois Wilson Movies
Born in Pittsburgh and raised in Alabama, actress Lois Wilson was one of four sisters, all of whom would subsequently have silent film careers--but only Lois would rise to stardom. Intending to become a schoolteacher, Wilson was lost to academia forever when she won an Alabama beauty contest sponsored by Universal Pictures. Her first film for the studio was Dumb Girl of Portici (1916), filmed in Chicago, where she showed up uncredited in several minor roles (along with another newcomer named Boris Karloff). Blessed with a serene beauty and expressive eyes, Lois had little trouble achieving leading-lady status in a group of J. Warren Kerrigan westerns. She moved to Famous Players (aka Paramount) in 1919, attaining full stardom for her subtly shaded performance as an outwardly meek but inwardly determined Scotswoman in What Every Woman Knows (1921). After being reunited with J. Warren Kerrigan in the western classic The Covered Wagon (1923), Wilson followed up this film with several other outdoor epics; it was while on location for these films that she developed her lifelong concern with fair treatment of Native Americans, contributing thousands of dollars to Indian mission schools. While filming North of 36 (1924), Wilson, an amateur photographer, filmed invaluable footage of the last major cattle drive in the US--which looks better than anything the "professionals" filmed while recording the same event. In 1926, she reached an artistic peak with her performance as Daisy Buchanan in the first version of The Great Gatsby. Throughout the silent era, she would balk whenever given a passive role that did little justice to her talents, and as a result spent nine months on suspension from Paramount in 1927, which did considerable damage to her career. This coincided with the advent of talkies; though her voice recorded beautifully, the suspension lost her too much ground for her to thrive as a star in sound pictures. Oddly, it was one of her secondary talkie roles for which Wilson is most fondly recalled today: As Shirley Temple's mother in Bright Eyes (1934), she is killed off halfway through the picture, but her sudden demise affects the outcome of the film to such an extent that one can't help remembering her. In 1937, Wilson left Hollywood for a long and fruitful stage career, returning only periodically thereafter. Her last screen appearance was as Virginia Mayo's mother in 1949's The Girl from Jones Beach, but she remained active on stage (I Never Sang for My Father, Madwoman of Chaillot) and television (The Aldrich Family, The Guiding Light) into the '70s. In 1958, Lois Wilson was made a vice president of Actors Equity, using the clout of her position on behalf of the union's Ethnic Minorities Committee. ~ Hal Erickson, All Movie Guide- 1950
The popular radio show was turned into a successful series of films in the 1940s starring Jimmy Lydon, and this live television production was an attempt to cash in on that popularity. In this episode, Henry Aldrich is upset because he hasn't received an invitation to a costume party. Program sponsors included Jello, Swans Down cake mixes, and Birds Eye Foods. ~ Brian Gusse, All Movie Guide
- 1949
Ronald Reagan plays a George Petty-type magazine illustrator who creates a "perfect girl" from a composite of the features of several models. While relaxing at the beach, Reagan meets a lovely young schoolteacher (Virginia Mayo) who is the living image of his imaginary girl. Sensing a terrific promotional angle, Reagan ingratiates himself with the girl and attempts to secure her services for a series of cheesecake poses. The film leads to a courtroom conclusion wherein Mayo must strut around in a bathing suit to win her case. Girl from Jones Beach is worth the admission price alone just to hear Ronald Reagan pose as a Czechoslovakian immigrant--complete with accent. ~ Hal Erickson, All Movie Guide
- Starring:
- Ronald Reagan, Virginia Mayo, (more)
- 1941
A Clarence Buddington Kelland story was the source for the mildly farcical For Beauty's Sake. If he wants to inherit a fortune, bookish astronomy professor B. E. Dillsome (Ted North) must operate his aunt's beauty parlor for a two-year period. Business is very, very slow, prompting Dillsome's girlfriend Dime Pringle (Marjorie Weaver) to bring in a hot-shot press agent Jonathan B. Sweet (Ned Sparks) to publicize the establishment. Before long, our benighted hero finds himself mixed up in a murder plot and a blackmail scheme. The raucous comedy relief of Joan Davis and the patented deadpan asides of Ned Sparks more than make up for the film's plot deficiencies. ~ Hal Erickson, All Movie Guide
- Starring:
- Ned Sparks, Marjorie Weaver, (more)
- 1940
Edith Fellows and Billy Lee, two of Hollywood's most talented second-echelon child stars, are teamed in the Columbia tearjerker Nobody's Children. The film was inspired by Walter White Jr.'s popular human-interest radio series, which ran from 1939 to 1941. The radio version of Nobody's Children was dedicated to finding loving homes for the orphaned and abandoned kids under the care of the Children's Home Society of Los Angeles. White himself appears in the film in the "framing" scenes, ostensibly taking place during one of his broadcasts. The story proper deals with the plight of orphaned siblings Pat (Fellows) and Tommy (Lee), whose efforts at finding adoptive parents have been thwarted by the fact that Pat is crippled. Many adults have offered to adopt Tommy alone, but he loyally refuses to be separated from his sister?and the plot wends its sentimental way from there. ~ Hal Erickson, All Movie Guide
- Starring:
- Edith Fellows, Billy Lee, (more)
- 1939
To dim-bulb accountants find themselves working for a bookie in this comedy. Their jobs and their lives are placed in jeopardy when they accidently fumble $50,000 worth of the bookie's cash over to the secretary who wastes no time in spending $44,000 of it in less than 8 hours. The bookkeepers are given 36 hours to get all of the money back by their infuriated boss. ~ Sandra Brennan, All Movie Guide
- Starring:
- June Lang, Robert Kent, (more)
- 1939
A genuine oddity, Life Returns was originally filmed by Universal Pictures in 1935. The story, concerning the efforts by researchers Onslow Stevens and Lois Wilson to find a means to briefly bring dead animals back to life for research purposes, was built around the actual accomplishments of Dr. Robert E. Cornish of the University of California-Berkeley. On May 22, 1934, Cornish was successful in reviving a dog that had been pronounced dead: the actual footage of this experiment was incorporated into Life Returns. Presumably because of its controversial subject matter, the film was shelved by Universal and never released by that studio. It finally received distribution in January 1939 via a small-time firm called Scienart Pictures, which also took credit for producing the film. ~ Hal Erickson, All Movie Guide
- Starring:
- Onslow Stevens, Lois Wilson, (more)
- 1939
A plucky orphan girl runs away from the orphanage. Her only possession is her beloved Bible in which she has complete faith and this helps her cope with the often cruel realities of life on the run. Eventually the young fugitive teams up with a street-wise shoe-shine boy who takes her to a kindly newspaper editor who provides her with the home she has searched for. ~ Sandra Brennan, All Movie Guide
- Starring:
- Virginia Weidler, Gene Reynolds, (more)
- 1937
The film is called Laughing at Trouble, but feisty female newspaper publisher Glory Bradford (Jane Darwell) doesn't waste much of her time laughing. Using her paper as a forum, Glory does her best to clear innocent John Campbell (Allan Lane) of a trumped-up murder charge. When John escapes from jail, he hides out in Glory's home, a circumstance she takes in her usual stride. Figuring out the identity of the actual murderer, the publisher employs a bit of unorthodox (and frankly unethical) trickery to force a confession. Laughing at Trouble puts the lie to the long-held assumption that Jane Darwell never played a movie leading role until The Grapes of Wrath. ~ Hal Erickson, All Movie Guide
- Starring:
- Jane Darwell, Sara Haden, (more)
- 1936
Impressed by the popularity of radio program about the exploits of legendary safecracker Jimmy Valentine, advertising man Gary Howard (Roger Pryor) posts a huge reward for anyone who knows the whereabouts of real Valentine, who is technically still a fugitive from justice. Following a lead, Howard ends up in a small town, where it appears as though Valentine has been living a respectable pseudonymous life as the town banker (played by Robert Warwick, coincidentally the star of the 1915 film Alias Jimmy Valentine!) Just as Howard is about to "expose" the banker, another old duffer steps forth to claim that he's Valentine. By now, Howard has fallen in love with banker's daughter Midge (Charlotte Henry), so he decides to let sleeping crooks lie. The last-minute introduction of villainous gangsters adds some life to this laid-back yarn. Return of Jimmy Valentine was remade (and significantly improved upon) in 1942 as Affairs of Jimmy Valentine. ~ Hal Erickson, All Movie Guide
- Starring:
- Roger Pryor, Charlotte Henry, (more)
- 1936
In this newspaper farce, an editor loses his voice and his job after he tires of being tormented by the practical jokes of one of two reporters. The joker ends up the new editor. Soon after taking the job, his personality changes dramatically and soon he has become a pompous and excessively harsh taskmaster. His former partner is so disgusted that she decides to leave and marry a stodgy writer of inspirational books. The new editor loves his partner and tries to get her back. When he fails, he begins drinking heavily and wondering what kind of wedding gift he should get her. Knowing that she likes the excitement of police and fire calls, he insures that her wedding will be unforgettable by having fire engines, police cars, and hearses show up to the nuptials. In the end, the editor drives a wagon from the local loony bin into the ceremony and kidnaps her. Romance ensues and eventually the two are married. ~ Sandra Brennan, All Movie Guide
- Starring:
- Joan Bennett, Cary Grant, (more)
- 1935
Heroic and crusty old Cappy Ricks takes on lobbyists who are trying to pass a law banning shingles on roofs to force consumers to purchase their new roofing materials. Cappy, who runs a lumber company knows that this could be devastating and hires a gutsy young fellow to fight the law. Later the young fellow meets the beautiful daughter of Cappy's rival and they fall in love. Unfortunately a storm brews after Cappy and the fellow realize that a spy has tipped off the rival. The girl is the prime suspect, but her beau just can't believe it is so. Sure enough, further investigation proves her innocence. ~ Sandra Brennan, All Movie Guide
- Starring:
- Robert McWade, Ray Walker, (more)
- 1935
Born to Gamble was one of the more palatable efforts of M.H. Hoffman's poverty-row Liberty Films. The four protagonists are brothers who are "cursed" by their family's gambling bug. All four try to overcome the urge to speculate: only one, the youngest, is successful. Onslow Stevens plays both the lucky brother and his 19th-century riverboat-gambler ancestor. Born to Gamble was Americanized from British writer Edgar Wallace's novel The Greek Poropulos. ~ Hal Erickson, All Movie Guide
- Starring:
- Onslow Stevens, H.B. Warner, (more)
- 1935
Produced by M.H. Hoffman's Liberty Pictures, School for Girls is based on Reginald Wright Kauffman's story Our Undisciplined Daughters. It all begins when innocent heroine Annette Eldridge (Sidney Fox) gets mixed up with a slimy jewel thief. Taking the rap for her boyfriend, Annette ends up doing a three-year stretch in a girl's reformatory, where she's subjected to the sadistic excesses of brutal matron Miss Keeble (Lucille La Verne) (the same actress who later provided the voice of the Wicked Queen in Disney's Snow White and the Seven Dwarfs). Thankfully, young prison-board appointee Gary Waltham (Paul Kelly) dedicates himself to helping Annette -- and by extension, the rest of the unfortunate female inmates. The supporting cast of School for Girls reads like a "B"-picture Who's Who: Lona Andre, Russell Hopton, Kathleen Burke, Fred Kelsey, Edward Le Saint, and former silent-film favorites Anna Q. Nilsson, Charles Ray, Myrtle Stedman and Helene Chadwick. ~ Hal Erickson, All Movie Guide
- Starring:
- Sidney Fox, Paul Kelly, (more)
- 1935
In this romance, a young woman falls in love with a bacteriologist who is married to a hot-tempered opera star. When his wife leaves him, the girl sees her chance for love. Unfortunately, the singer returns and reconciles, forcing the girl to get in a relationship with a less colorful, younger man. ~ Sandra Brennan, All Movie Guide
- Starring:
- Lois Wilson, Crane Wilbur, (more)
- 1935
In this comedy, a woman lives with her recently impoverished family who would do anything to regain their former wealth and status. They use the young woman, and every time any likely person comes to call, they try to foist her upon them. One of these visitors is the son of a conniving lawyer who wants the rest of their fortune for himself. The attorney's other son is a bug collector. The family is so busy with their farfetched money grubbing schemes that they pay no attention to the level-headed young woman's attempts to get by. ~ Sandra Brennan, All Movie Guide
- Starring:
- Lois Wilson, Lloyd Hughes, (more)
- 1935
In a rare starring role, character comedian Edward Everett Horton is top-billed in Your Uncle Dudley. Horton is a civic-minded patsy who puts his own interests on the back burner so that he can help out his neighbors. In the true spirit of "No good deed goes unpunished," all Horton has to show for his efforts is a wallful of paper citations and a mountain of debts. Realizing that he has been taken advantage of by the less honest townsfolk, Horton does a "worm turns" scene, though he continues to extend generosity for the truly deserving. Your Uncle Dudley was based on a stage play by Howard Lindsay and Bertrand Robinson. ~ Hal Erickson, All Movie Guide
- Starring:
- Lois Wilson, John McGuire, (more)
Despite stiff competition like Poor Little Rich Girl and Heidi, Bright Eyes is arguably the best of Shirley Temple's 1930s vehicles. The little curly-top is cast as Shirley Blake, daughter of Mary Blake (Lois Wilson), the widowed housemaid of snooty J. Wellington and Anita Smythe (Theodore Von Eltz and Dorothy Christy). Though continually terrorized by the Smythe's obnoxious, doll-destroying daughter Joy (Jane Withers), Shirley finds comfort in the fact that she is the darling of the airplane-pilot buddies of her late father. Especially fond of our heroine is flyboy Loop Merritt, who arranges a birthday party for the girl. Alas, even as Shirley sings "On the Good Ship Lollipop" to a gathering of beaming airmen, her mother Mary is run over by a car while shopping for her daughter's birthday cake. It thus becomes Loop's painful duty to tell Shirley that her mother "cracked up," just like her father did (if this scene doesn't move the viewer to tears, the viewer is made of granite). Fortunately, the Smythe's irascible Uncle Ned takes a liking to Shirley, securing her financial future at the expense of his repulsive relatives. But before this happy ending can come about, Shirley must be rescued from an imperiled passenger plane by the resourceful Loop. Though Shirley Temple is inarguably the main drawing card in Bright Eyes, 9-year-old Jane Withers is equally terrific as the pint-sized "villainess"; indeed, some critics felt that Withers stole the show, and it was this as much as anything else that earned Withers her own starring series at 20th Century-Fox. ~ Hal Erickson, All Movie Guide
- Starring:
- Shirley Temple, James Dunn, (more)
- 1934
A tough youth gang leader learns the true meaning of courage in this moving and thoughtful drama. He is the leader of a troop of boys involved in an elaborate game of "capture the flag." He is idolized by a sickly boy on the block who begs to be allowed to join the leader's group. Eventually the older boy gives in and "enlists" the weakling as a private. Though he treats the young lad with contempt, the boy is so enamored of his hero that he doesn't notice. Eventually the gang's rivals, the "Red Shirts" steal their flag. To prove himself, the sickly boy risks his life and frail health. The allegorical, anti-war story is based on Hungarian playwright Molnar's autobiographical novel. ~ Sandra Brennan, All Movie Guide
- Starring:
- George Breakston, Jimmy Butler, (more)
- 1934
In this comedy, based on a popular play by George Kelly, an office clerk masquerades as a railroad magnate to impress a young woman. Though the enamored girl believes his every word, her mother is not so easily fooled. Still she says nothing and the emboldened fellow begins making even more outlandish claims and wild promises he could never keep. As a result, the boorish loudmouth loses his job and gets booted out of his girl friend's house. The braggart is then reduced to earning a meager living as a sandwich board man. While wandering about one day, he meets an inventor who shares his latest idea. The young man then helps the inventor sell his new gadget to the railroad. His good work wins him renewed respect and love from his gal. Eventually they marry. The nuptials do nothing to quell the doubts of the bride's mother. ~ Sandra Brennan, All Movie Guide
- Starring:
- Spencer Tracy, Madge Evans, (more)
- 1934
In this melodrama, a devoted father begins feeling unappreciated at home and so embarks upon a clandestine friendship with a former employee. The children see them together and assume it's an affair. They beg him to end the relationship. Later the woman herself talks to the kids, assuring them that the friendship is platonic and chiding them gently on their thoughtless behavior towards their dad. In the end, the family reconciles and the woman goes on with her life. ~ Sandra Brennan, All Movie Guide
- Starring:
- Frank Morgan, Binnie Barnes, (more)
- 1934
This bottom-barrel quickie is elevated by its cast, comprised chiefly of old silent-film favorites. Ralph Graves stars as private eye Clay Holt, perennial "friendly enemy" of police lieutenant McGinniss (James Burke). Time and time again, McGinniss is forced to rely on Holt's expertise to crack a difficult case, leading to a never-ending stream of wisecracks and insults. On this occasion, our heroes are determined to solve a robbery-murder involving $50,000 in stolen pearls. Among the suspects is Courtney Mallory, played by former screen star Charles Ray just before his descent into extra roles. Lola Lane, of the Lane sisters, plays Holt's "girl Friday" secretary Peggy Cummings, whom our hero considers a drudge until she removes her glasses (Yes, that old gimmick is in here, too!) ~ Hal Erickson, All Movie Guide
- Starring:
- Ralph Graves, Lois Wilson, (more)
- 1934
Evidently inspired by Paramount's screwball comedy Three Cornered Moon, Chesterfield-Invincible Studio's In the Money is actually more entertaining than its costlier predecessor. The main characters are members of a zany, perpetually improvident family, all of whom take polite little bows as they're introduced to the audience by narrator-co-star Skeets Gallagher, cast as a two-bit fight manager. Our genial host then tells the viewers exactly what each character is going to do in the course of the next 66 minutes -- and, by golly, they do just what they're supposed to. Facing financial ruin after purchasing a worthless stock, Gallagher and his confreres Lois Wilson, Sally Starr, Frank Coghlan Jr. et al. are rescued by the pugilistic skills of punchdrunk Warren Hymer. Coghlan Jr. went on to repeat his role in the 1936 remake of In the Money, Red Lights Ahead. ~ Hal Erickson, All Movie Guide
- Starring:
- Lois Wilson, Warren Hymer, (more)
- 1933
In this drama, an immigrant barber becomes a US citizen and works hard to uphold his ideals of personal freedom and rights. He is a total supporter of the system, and when he is held-up, decides to reform the criminal by feeding him and finding him work. Later, a local politician attempts to tell people how to vote, but the barber is not swayed and becomes an example to others in his neighborhood. ~ Sandra Brennan, All Movie Guide
- Starring:
- Leo Carrillo, Dickie Moore, (more)
