Jean Hersholt Movies
Danish actor Jean Hersholt was already a stage and movie veteran when he arrived in the USA in 1913. An apprenticeship as an extra and bit player led to a long and lucrative silent film career in the '20s, during which time Hersholt was firmly entrenched as the slimiest and most monstrous of movie villains. Towards the end of the silent era, Hersholt began playing nicer characters, still taking on the occasional bad guy or "surprise" killer in murder mysteries. Hersholt's screen image was altered permanently in 1936, when he was cast as Dr. Dafoe, the Canadian obstetrician who delivered the celebrated Dionne Quintuplets, in 20th Century-Fox's The Country Doctor. Plans to create a Dr. Dafoe movie series were blocked by the real Dafoe, but Jean Hersholt was anxious to sustain the characterization of a beneficent, lovable small-town medico; thus Dr. Christian -- named for Hersholt's favorite author, Hans Christian Andersen -- was born. The actor created the role of Dr. Christian on radio in 1937, then commenced a series of six low-budget Christian features for RKO Radio in 1939. Extending the ethics and generosity of Dr. Christian into his private life, Hersholt set up the Motion Picture Relief Fund, which provided medical care and a livable income for actors, directors, and other studio employees who were no longer able to care for themselves. While serving as president of the Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences, Hersholt was lauded with three Academy Awards for his own charity work, and in 1948, he was knighted by King Christian X of Denmark. In 1956, a TV series based on Dr. Christian was produced by ZIV Studios; appearing on the first episode to bestow his practice upon the new Dr. Christian (MacDonald Carey) was Jean Hersholt, who had valiantly agreed to help launch the series even though he was dying of cancer and had wasted away to only 95 pounds. After the actor's death, the Jean Hersholt Humanitarian Award was set up to honor conspicuous acts of selflessness and kindness in the movie industry. ~ Hal Erickson, All Movie Guide- 1917
A judge who had taken part in the gold rush of 1849 hires an acting troupe to recreate the experience in this rather fanciful silent Western. The make-believe turns serious when a real gold-mine is discovered nearby and a local girl (Donna Drew) is kidnapped by a nasty gambler (Jean Hersholt). Filmed near San Diego, California, the '49 - '17 is notable for having been directed by a woman, Universal scenario-writer Ruth Ann Baldwin. Miss Baldwin directed or co-directed a handful of feature films, several of which, including this one, featured her husband Leo O. Pierson in important roles. Baldwin returned to screen writing in 1919. ~ Hans J. Wollstein, All Movie Guide
- Starring:
- Joseph W. Girard, Leo Pierson, (more)
- 1928
In this comedy, a wealthy matron is terribly upset when she learns that her socialite son is planning to marry a blue collar girl. Upon hearing the dreadful news, the irate mother immediately cancels her vacation in Europe, disguises herself, and takes up residence in her cousin's boardinghouse. There she encounters a dashing, sophisticated thief and discovers that he is planning to rob her lovely home in Washington Square. She and her maid quickly return to the endangered home and find the house awash with people. Among them are her son and his fiance, the would-be thief, and many reporters and cops. Appalled at the thought of scandal, the quick-thinking mother immediately congratulates the young couple and introduces the crook as her "art broker." In this way, peace is restored and all are happy. ~ Sandra Brennan, All Movie Guide
- Starring:
- Jean Hersholt, Alice Joyce, (more)
- 1931
In this WW I comedy, several young men decide to join the army. Each one has his own reason for joining up. Songs include: "Forever," "Qui, Qui," "Honey Boy," "Ja, Ja, Ja," "Side by Side." ~ Sandra Brennan, All Movie Guide
- Starring:
- Lotti Loder, Harry Langdon, (more)
- 1928
Anne Nichols' Broadway comedy Abie's Irish Rose was almost universally panned when it opened in 1923. But despite the moans and wails of the critics (notably Robert Benchley, who turned his weekly drubbing of the play into an art form), the Nichols piece ended up as one of the longest-running plays in American theatrical history. Inevitably, the play spawned innumerable imitators, many of which had been committed to film long before the movie version of Abie's Irish Rose was released in April of 1928. It will be recalled that the story concerns the "mixed" romance between Jewish Abie Levy (Charles Rogers) and Irish Rosemary Murphy (Nancy Carroll). Taking into consideration the ethnic antagonism between the Levys and the Murphys, the road to the altar for Abie and Rosemary is a rocky one. Even after the couple is married, an argument rages between the parents over whether the first grandchild will be raised as a Jew or a Catholic. Fortunately, Providence takes a hand in matters when Rosemary thoughtfully gives birth to twins. Holdovers from the original Broadway cast include Bernard Gorcey as family attorney Isaac Cohen; Gorcey, the father of Leo Gorcey, is best remembered today as Louie Dumbrowski, the gullible sweet-shop proprietor in the Bowery Boys comedies of the 1940s and 1950s. Completed as a silent film, Abie's Irish Rose was released with a brief talkie sequence, padding the running time out to an ungainly 120 minutes. Though no classic, the original Abie's Irish Rose was far better than the phlegmatic and outdated 1946 remake. ~ Hal Erickson, All Movie Guide
- Starring:
- Charles "Buddy" Rogers
His Aunt Sophie (Helen Westley) and his teacher Professor Heinrich (Jean Hersholt) are sure that Roger Grant (Tyrone Power) will be a famous classical violinist, but Roger's more interested in popular music. He and his friend, pianist Charlie (Don Ameche), audition at a saloon in San Francisco's Barbary Coast, using sheet music left by singer Stella Kirby (Alice Faye), which had been sent to her by a friend in New York, Irving Berlin. The number, "Alexander's Ragtime Band," proves to be a sensation, and Stella goes along with Charlie's plea to sing with the band, which soon becomes famous for its ragtime numbers. Charlie has fallen in love with Stella by the time they open at the Cliff House, but he soon realizes that she and Roger are in love. Stella is invited to New York by a famous producer, but Roger's against this, and angrily fires her, so Charlie quits, too. When Roger returns from World War I, he meets Stella, only to learn she and Charlie have been married for a year. Another year passes, and Charlie and Davey have formed a new band with Jerry Allen (Ethel Merman) as their lead singer. Charlie knows Stella still loves Roger, so he divorces her, but Roger sails for Europe with the new band. Back in New York, Roger is set for a major concert in swing at Carnegie Hall. Charlie tells Roger about the divorce, and that Stella still loves him. Unable to get a ticket, Stella listens to the concert in a cab. Explaining that he is playing it for one particular person, Roger and his band perform "Alexander's Ragtime Band" as their encore, bringing Stella into the theater, where she's reconciled with Roger. He brings her onstage to perform the number with his band. ~ Bill Warren, All Movie Guide
- Starring:
- Tyrone Power, Alice Faye, (more)
- 1927
Jean Hersholt stars in this Universal "jewel," which was based on the Broadway success by John B. Hymer and Leroy Clemens. A professional gambler (Hersholt) comes to a small town and is mistaken for the new deacon. He decides that this is as good a front as any, and sticks around to swindle the villagers at cards. But the Deacon has a heart of gold, and when Phylis, a girl he has befriended (June Marlowe), falls in love with reformed crook Jim Adams (Ralph Graves), he decides to help them out. Adams tries to make some money in a prize fight, but he is cheated out of his earnings and falsely accused of robbery. The Deacon beats out the crooked promoter (Ned Sparks) in a card game, clears Adams' name and gives Phylis the money as a wedding present. Since the sheriff has finally figured out his game, the Deacon makes a getaway. This story was filmed once again in 1940. ~ Janiss Garza, All Movie Guide
- Starring:
- Jean Hersholt, June Marlowe, (more)
- 1932
"Are you listening?" was the catchphrase of early-1930s radio personality Tony Wons. Though Wons does not appear in the 1932 MGM programmer Are You Listening?, the film is concerned with the burgeoning broadcast industry. William Haines plays a wise-cracking radio writer who is tricked into confessing on the air that he murdered his wife. Whenever an actor normally associated with comedy roles plays a murderer (either actual or implied) in a film, it's usually a sign that his studio contract has come to an end. Such was the case of Are You Listening?, which proved to be William Haines' swan song at MGM, where he'd been employed since 1925. Perhaps as a going-away present, J.P. McEvoy's script contrives to give Haines three leading ladies: Madge Evans, Anita Page and Karen Morley (nobody outside the industry knew that Haines was in fact a homosexual, and MGM was determined to keep it that way). ~ Hal Erickson, All Movie Guide
- Starring:
- William Haines, Madge Evans, (more)
- 1935
Katharine Hepburn suffers nobly while her philandering conductor husband Charles Boyer dallies with the likes of Helene Millard in this overheated melodrama directed by Philip Moeller of the renowned Theater Guild. Although receiving plenty of warning, prim lady composer Constance Roberti (Hepburn) is still devastated when her new husband, Franz (Boyer), is spotted dining with glamorous Sylvia (Millard) and promptly leaves him. A dipsomaniac, Roberti finds solace in a bottle and is soon reduced to playing in a seedy dive. Constance finds him there and after playing “their song” on the honky-tonk, Roberti resolves to go straight and return to the world of classical music. ~ Hans J. Wollstein, All Movie Guide
- Starring:
- Katharine Hepburn, Charles Boyer, (more)
- 1916
This Thomas H. Ince production contained enough plot, incidents and characters for three pictures. William Desmond stars as Prince Carl, ruler of a war-ravaged European kingdom. On the orders of pretender-to-the-throne Michael (Wyndham Standing), Carl is lured into a dank dungeon by Michael's vampish sister, Countess Olga (Bessie Barriscale). Sentenced to be executed on a trumped-up charge, Carl is rescued by Olga, who has fallen in love with him. In retaliation, Michael begins plotting Olga's demise, but she in turn is saved by the timely arrival of Carl, who dispatches the villain with his trusty saber. And the story still has at least three more reels to go! ~ Hal Erickson, All Movie Guide
- 1924
This satirical comedy-drama was C. Gardner Sullivan's first producing effort. To insure its success, he hired a veteran writer to pen the story and screenplay -- himself. When Donald Dillingham (Cullen Landis) weds Ardell Kendall, a chorus girl (Lillian Rich), his snobbish and wealthy parents disown him. When famed sculptor Gustaf Borgstrom (Jean Hersholt) chooses Ardell as a model, Donald's parents decide to make amends. They invite the couple and Borgstrom to their estate. One of the other guests is Maybelle Westcott (Bessie Eyton), who has her eye on Donald. She manages to catch his attention, and Ardell wheedles money out of his father (who has his own infatuation with a chorus girl) so that she can buy Maybelle off. When Maybelle doesn't keep her end of the bargain, Ardell exposes her in front of the other guests. This causes an argument between her and Donald, and she angrily goes home. Donald is already there with apologies and the couple reconciles. ~ Janiss Garza, All Movie Guide
- Starring:
- Cullen Landis, Vera Reynolds, (more)
- 1933
Based on the play by Sidney Howard (of Gone with the Wind and Dead End fame), Christopher Bean is a showcase for the magnificent Marie Dressler. She plays Abby, the poor but proud housekeeper of a small-town doctor (Lionel Barrymore), his wife (Beulah Bondi), and their children. Years before the story proper begins, Abby had been a close friend of Christopher Bean, a local painter who was treated as a pariah by the community because of his drunken misbehavior. After his death, however, Bean was acknowledged as a genius, and his paintings became extremely valuable. One of Bean's best works is a portrait that he painted of Abby -- and she refuses to part with it at any price, despite the entreaties of her avaricious employers. Sadly, Christopher Bean was Marie Dressler's final film; she died of cancer not long after its completion. ~ Hal Erickson, All Movie Guide
- Starring:
- Marie Dressler, Lionel Barrymore, (more)
- 1949
This musical comedy stars William Powell as Emery Slade, who was once a major film star but lately isn't getting much work. Arrogantly determined to climb back to the top, Slade convinces studio chief Melville Crossman (Adolphe Menjou) to give him the male lead in the film version of a Broadway musical. However, Crossman's offer comes with a catch: Emery has to persuade the show's female lead to appear in the movie. Slade heads to New York to seal the deal, but instead he discovers a gifted young unknown named Julie Clark (Betsy Drake) and decides she's perfect for the role. Crossman is not too enthusiastic about this news, and neither is publicist Bill Davis (Mark Stevens), who is given his pink slip along with Slade. However, Slade is determined to make a career for Julie in Hollywood, though it's not until later that he realizes why he feels so strongly about her. Movie buffs will get a kick out of Menjou's performance, closely modeled on 20th Century Fox boss Darryl F. Zanuck. ~ Mark Deming, All Movie Guide
- Starring:
- William Powell, Mark Stevens, (more)
- 1925
After being raised in England, Ann Church (Laura La Plante) sails back to her parents in Bombay. She meets Major Anthony Seymour, a British officer (Eugene O'Brien), and falls for him. Years before, Seymour had fallen in love with Ann's mother (Hedda Hopper), not realizing she was married. The memories hurt, so he avoids Ann until Gilchrist (Jean Hersholt) puts her in a compromising situation. To save her, Seymour proposes and Ann accepts. Back home in India, however, the match causes problems because Mrs. Church, her pride damaged, asks that the marriage be delayed. Gilchrist tries to ruin Ann's romance by implying that Seymour only wants to marry her to remain close to her mother. Ann decides to go back to England, but Mrs. Church enlists the help of Seymour, who gives Gilchrist the thrashing he deserves. Gilchrist admits he was lying, and Ann reunites with Seymour. A side note: Star Laura La Plante married director William Seiter a year after making this picture with him. This romance was based on the popular novel Ann's an Idiot by Pamela Wynne. ~ Janiss Garza, All Movie Guide
- Starring:
- Laura La Plante, Eugene O'Brien, (more)
- 1931
A man who unthinkingly sullied the honor of a virtuous girl now must deal with his own ethical downfall in this drama. Willi Kasder (Ramon Novarro) is a lieutenant in the Austrian Army who one night picks up an innocent young woman named Laura Taub (Helen Chandler). Willi shares several drinks with the naive Laura and takes advantage of her; the next morning, she discovers to her horror that he left money for her and has no intention of seeing her again. Emotionally shattered, Laura soon becomes the mistress of Herr Schnabel (Jean Hersholt), a wealthy but corrupt gentleman with a taste for gambling. Willi begins gaming with Schnabel and soon falls deeply in debt; eventually Schabel gives Willi two options: pay the money you owe or kill yourself. Willi tries to find a way out of his dilemma while also hoping to free Laura from the corrupt lifestyle into which he led her. ~ Mark Deming, All Movie Guide
- Starring:
- Ramon Novarro, Helen Chandler, (more)
Based on the Broadway hit by George S. Kaufman and Edna Ferber, Dinner at Eight is a near-flawless comedy/drama with an all-star cast at the peak of their talents. Social butterfly Mrs. Oliver Jordan (Billie Burke) arranges a dinner party that will benefit the busines of her husband (Lionel Barrymore). Among the invited are a crooked executive (Wallace Beery), who is in the process of ruining Jordan; his wife (Jean Harlow), who is carrying on an affair with a doctor (Edmund Lowe); a fading matinee idol (John Barrymore), who has squandered his fortune on liquor and is romantically involved with the Jordan daughter (Madge Evans); and a venerable stage actress (Marie Dressler), who since losing all her money has become a "professional guest." Nothing goes as planned, due to various suicides, double-crosses, compromises, fatal illness, and servant problems. But dinner is served precisely at eight. The script by Herman Mankiewicz, Frances Marion, and Donald Ogden Stewart is a virtual enclyopedia of witty lines and scenes, right down to the unforgettable closing gag. ~ Hal Erickson, All Movie Guide
- Starring:
- Marie Dressler, John Barrymore, (more)
- 1925
Douglas Fairbanks returns as the great Spanish swashbuckler in this sequel to The Mark of Zorro. Don Cesar de Vega (Douglas Fairbanks) is the son of the famous masked avanger, Zorro; he's been sent to Spain to continue his education and learn the ways of his homeland. He soon becomes a favorite of the local dignitaries, but this does him little good when he's falsely accused of murder. Faking his own suicide, Don Cesar goes underground, and posing as Zorro, begins his own investigation of the killing; eventually his father arrives, giving us two Zorros for the price of one. Mary Astor plays Dolores de Muro, Don Cesar's love interest, with Warner Oland and Jean Hersholt highlighting the supporting cast; Donald Crisp, who plays Don Sebastian, also directed. ~ Mark Deming, All Movie Guide
- Starring:
- Douglas Fairbanks, Mary Astor, (more)
The third of six feature films based on radio's popular Dr. Christian series, Dr. Christian Meets the Women once more stars Jean Hersholt as the kindly eponymous medico. In this entry, the tiny community of River's End is invaded by Professor Kenneth Parker (Rod La Rocque), a charming charlatan who is promoting a "miracle" diet pill. Despite Dr. Christian's warnings, Parker's wares are ravenously consumed by the female population, whereupon the pill's dangerous side effects begin to manifest themselves. Dr. Christian comes to the rescue with a sensible diet formula which, according to studio publicity, was an amalgam of suggestions from 100 leading American doctors. Its health benefits aside, Dr. Christian Meets the Women was only a fair-to-middling series entry. ~ Hal Erickson, All Movie Guide
- Starring:
- Jean Hersholt, Dorothy Lovett, (more)
- 1930
In this romance, men board "The Love Boat" (no, not the TV boat) and set sail for China with the hope of buying a Chinese bride. The hero disembarks and immediately finds himself in the midst of an auction of women. There he spies a beautiful girl being sold by her father. The hero saves her. She is taken to San Francisco by a friendly elder. In San Francisco, she immediately snubbed by the local elite. Her old guardian sells her to the Chop Suey King. The hero finds her, rescues her and proposes. His socially prominent family is firmly against the match. The day is saved when the girl discovers that she is not really Chinese. She was only raised by a Chinese family after her missionary parents were murdered. ~ Sandra Brennan, All Movie Guide
- Starring:
- Lupe Velez, Lew Ayres, (more)
- 1932
Emma is a turn-of-the-century domestic drama completely dominated by star Marie Dressler. She plays the maid of an upper middle class family, keeping her wits about her as her employers suffer crisis after crisis. When the master of the house (Jean Hersholt), a prominent inventor, is widowed, he proposes marriage to Emma. Shortly afterward, Hersholt dies, and Emma, who has married "out of her class", is accused of murder by Hersholt's jealous children. Cleared of the accusation, Emma turns over her inheritance to the selfish children and heads off to work for another family, once again making the best of any and all bad situations. Emma very nearly won Marie Dressler her second Academy Award; five minutes into the film, the modern viewer will be amazed that Ms. Dressler lost--even taking in consideration that the winner in 1932 was Katharine Hepburn. ~ Hal Erickson, All Movie Guide
- Starring:
- Marie Dressler, Richard Cromwell, (more)
- 1925
Isobel Ludani (Mary Philbin) supports herself and her father -- an unsuccessful artist (Josef Swickard) -- by working at a modiste's shop. When she is pressed into service as a mannequin, she gets into a knock-down, drag-out fight with one of the other models and ruins her dress. The modiste threatens to throw her in jail unless she pays for the expensive dress. To save her, her father tries to steal a valuable painting and is arrested himself. But all is not lost for Isobel. She has caught the eye of art dealer Francis Doran (Norman Kerry), who pays for the dress and hires her as his secretary. Isobel doubts that his love for her is honorable, but Doran proves himself when he helps out her father. Mr. Ludani has created a masterpiece while in jail, and Doran offers to show it. Ludani becomes a success overnight, and Doran wins Isobel's love and gratitude. This romance was based on a Saturday Evening Post story, "The Best in Life", by Muriell Hine. ~ Janiss Garza, All Movie Guide
- Starring:
- Mary Philbin, Norman Kerry, (more)
- 1917
This amusing film is an absurd blend of two genres popular in the late 1910's -- the western and the mythical kingdom adventure. Jack Mulhall plays Jim, an Arizona cowboy who, along with his college-bred Indian pal (Noble Johnson), strike gold. With their newfound wealth they decide to go to Europe and happen upon the aforementioned mythical kingdom. Jim climbs over the wall to the Queen's palace -- he's never seen a queen before. In fact, he doesn't recognize her (Ruth Stonehouse) when he sees her, but he does fall instantly in love. The Queen, Sylvia, tells him she must marry the dissipated King Ferdinand (Jean Hersholt), who rules the neighboring kingdom; if she doesn't there will be war. Jim and the Indian take at look at the King's forces and tells Queen Sylvia that they're a sorry bunch. He knows a group of rough riders who fought in the Spanish War who could whup them. So Jim sends for his buddies and they vanquish the King's forces, enabling the Queen to marry the cowboy. ~ Janiss Garza, All Movie Guide
- 1938
The financial exploitation of Canada's Dionne Quintuplets rolled ever forward with 20th Century-Fox's Five of a Kind, the third Dionne feature-length vehicle. Under the watchful eye of kindly obstetrican Dr. Dafoe (Jean Hersholt), the lovable quints, now 4 1/2 years old, play with their pets and toys, and even sing and dance. Meanwhile, reporter Christine Nelson (Claire Trevor) and radio commentator Duke Lester (Cesar Romero) battle over the exclusive rights to the Dionne girls' life story. The story ends with an experimental television broadcast, a rarity for a 1938 film. Knowing what we know now about the Dionne Quintuplets' far from happy home lives and difficult transitions to adulthood, it is hard to watch Five of a Kind objectively today. ~ Hal Erickson, All Movie Guide
- 1926
This melodrama -- one of the last gasps from Associated Exhibitors -- features an excellent cast, with Jean Hersholt taking most of the kudos. Railroad builder James Travers (George Nichols) wants his pretty daughter, Anne (Virginia Valli), to marry Herbert Landis, a young engineer (Eugene O'Brien). Unfortunately, Anne loves Landis...like a brother, and his rival, Hilary Fenton (Bryant Washburn), stands ready to snatch her up. Ole Bergson, the camp boss (Hersholt) is pals with Landis and is determined to help him win the girl. Disguised as a notorious bandit, Bergson kidnaps Anne so that Landis can rescue her and win her admiration. But the real bandit, Black Blanchette (Boris Karloff), happens to be hiding in the cabin where Bergson takes Anne. Fenton proves to be a coward, and Landis fights not only the bandit, but a raging forest fire to save Anne. Needless to say, Anne discovers she loves Landis as more than a brother and they are united. ~ Janiss Garza, All Movie Guide
- Starring:
- Virginia Valli, Eugene O'Brien, (more)
- 1932
Flesh was one of the few big-studio films to deal with the subject of professional wrestling--at least until Hulk Hogan came along in the 1980s. Wallace Beery stars as a thickheaded waiter in a German beer garden who uses his muscles to clear out rowdy patrons. Beery channels his strength into a wrestling career, grappling his way up to the championship. His wife Karen Morley enjoys the creature comforts of Beery's success, but her heart belongs to her ex-lover Ricardo Cortez, and soon Karen is stepping out on her husband. Beery finds out and exacts a terrible revenge on Cortez--just minutes after Karen wises up and realizes she loves Beery after all. John Ford directed Flesh in a heavy Germanic fashion reminiscent of the Emil Jannings "cuckolded husband" melodramas of the 1920s. ~ Hal Erickson, All Movie Guide
- Starring:
- Wallace Beery, Karen Morley, (more)
- 1929
In this comedy-drama, The owner of a cannery tries to avert a potentially devastating strike from his employees. He is assisted by a friendly millionaire who saves the struggling cannery when he makes a large order. Unfortunately, the millionaire is actually an escapee from a local mental hospital. Fortunately, his insanity is but an act. He really is rich, and quite sane. ~ Sandra Brennan, All Movie Guide
- Starring:
- Jean Hersholt, George Sidney, (more)
