Rian James Movies
Writer/director Rian James came to Hollywood in 1932 to adapt his novel Love is a Racket to the screen. Thereafter, James trafficked in racy crime yarns and mysteries at Fox, Warner Bros., Paramount and Hal Roach. In 1946, he ventured to Mexico to script La Otra, wherein Dolores Del Rio played good and bad twins; the film was remade in 1964 as Dead Ringer, with Bette Davis. In addition, Rian James turned director for a 1933 Charles "Buddy" Rogers vehicle, Best of Enemies. ~ Hal Erickson, All Movie Guide
Though he's most famous for his portrayal of Victor Laszlo in 1942's Casablanca, actor Paul Henreid took a few turns behind the camera as evidenced by this 1964 thriller starring Bette Davis as twins Margaret DeLorca and Edith Phillips. After landing the beau they both sought after by falsely claiming she was pregnant, Margaret lives a life of luxury as the wife of a wealthy man. Now, 20 years later, a broke and lonely Edith has returned for revenge. After killing the recently widowed Margaret, Edith assumes her identity with plans of living the life she feels she's deserved all along. But in order to pull it off, she'll have to play the role of Margaret connivingly enough to fool her servants as well as a local playboy and the police. Dead Ringer was remade in 1986 as Killer in the Mirror, a made-for-television movie starring Ann Jillian. ~ Matthew Tobey, All Movie Guide
- Starring:
- Bette Davis, Karl Malden, (more)
In an on-the-run investigation, a female reporter is in a race against time to capture a prominent attorney who has been implicated in a murder committed years before when she receives an inside tip. As she collects evidence, she must stay one step ahead of him so that she doesn't become his latest victim. Good scripting and direction makes this a suspense-filled movie. ~ Tana Hobart, All Movie Guide
- Starring:
- Helmut Dantine, Mary Anderson, (more)
The lovely Dolores Del Rio has an acting field day in the Mexican La Otra (The Other). Del Rio plays twin sisters, one the wife of a millionaire and the other a poverty-stricken manicurist. Seething with jealousy, the manicurist kills her wealthy sister and takes her place. Little does the "bad" sister know the mess she's inherited from the "good" sister-who as it turns out wasn't so good after all. Scripted by Hollywood veteran Rian James, La Otra was remade in 1964 as Dead Ringer, with Bette Davis taking over the Dolores Del Rio part (or parts); this film in turn was remade as the 1986 Ann Jillian TV movie The Killer in the Mirror. ~ Hal Erickson, All Movie Guide
- Starring:
- Dolores Del Rio, Victor Junco, (more)
- 1945
Eve Knew Her Apples is an pinchpenny musical reworking of Frank Capra's Oscar-winning It Happened One Night. Musical star Ann Miller takes over the Claudette Colbert role; this time she's not a runaway heiress but a runaway radio star, escaping her stuffy fiance rather than her autocratic father. William Wright assumes the Clark Gable part as the man who helps the girl on her flight for his own mercenary interests, but who eventually falls in love with her. Clocking in at 64 minutes rather than It Happened One Night's 105, Eve Knew Her Apples is more successful as a showcase for the terpsichorean talents of Ann Miller than as a romantic comedy. Columbia Pictures would attempt to musicalize It Happened One Night again with 1956's You Can't Run Away From It, filmed with ten times the budget but only half the entertainment value of Eve Knew Her Apples. ~ Hal Erickson, All Movie Guide
- Starring:
- Ann Miller, William Wright, (more)
- 1942
This Time for Keeps is a followup to 1940's Keeping Company, with Ann Rutherford repeating her role from the earlier film. Rutherford is cast as newlywed Katherine White, at present undergoing a rocky "period of adjustment" with her husband Lee (Robert Sterling, replacing the original film's John Shelton). Having trouble landing a good job, Lee is persuaded to go to work for his father-in-law Harry Bryant (Frank Morgan in the first film, Guy Kibbee in the second). Unfortunately, Harry doesn't believe in allowing his employees to think for themselves, resulting in even more friction between Katherine and Lee. It's up to Harry's all-knowing wife (Irene Rich, another carryover from Keeping Company) to smooth everyone's ruffled feathers. ~ Hal Erickson, All Movie Guide
- Starring:
- Ann Rutherford, Robert Sterling, (more)
- 1942
Though released before Atlantic Convoy, Columbia's Parachute Nurse didn't make it to New York until after Convoy had already made the rounds. Typical of Columbia's B-grade wartime melodramas, the film trots out the old "girls in training" plot device that the studio would later apply to films about policewomen and airline stewardesses. Among the lissome lovelies training to be parachute nurses are Marguerite Chapman, Louise Allbritton, Kay Harris, Catherina Craig and Shirley Patterson, all of whom emerge from their grueling responsibilities looking as fresh as if they'd spent the afternoon at the beauty parlor. The film's dramatic conflict arises from the presence of a German-American nurse whose brother is currently fighting for the Nazis; also thickening the plot is nurse Glenda White's (Marguerite Chapman) sudden attack of nerves as she's make her first parachute chump. William Wright, a newcomer to films, plays the nominal male lead; Wright would later move to PRC, where he briefly starred in that studio's Philo Vance series. ~ Hal Erickson, All Movie Guide
- Starring:
- Marguerite Chapman, William Wright, (more)
- 1941
Two of Hal Roach's short-subject stalwarts, Patsy Kelly and ZaSu Pitts, are teamed in the Roach-produced feature Broadway Limited. The whole story unfolds on a Chicago-to-Manhattan express train; among the passengers are Hollywood starlet April (Marjorie Woodworth), her producer Ivan (Leonid Kinskey) and her wisecracking secretary Patsy (Kelly). Hoping to stir up publicity for April, Patsy and Ivan conspire to adopt a baby for their client. Trouble is, the authorities are convinced that the child has been kidnapped, causing no end of trouble for such innocent bystanders as engineer Mike (Victor McLaglen), bookish young doctor Harvey North (Dennis O'Keefe) and garrulous clubwoman Myra (Pitts). The film is stolen by infant performer Gay Ellen Dakins, who spends most of her scenes smiling at the camera, oblivious of the adult slapstickery. ~ Hal Erickson, All Movie Guide
- Starring:
- Victor McLaglen, Marjorie Woodworth, (more)
Hollywood's handful of Technicolor cameras got a real workout on 20th Century-Fox's Down Argentine Way. Don Ameche stars as Ricardo Quintana, the charming son of a less charming Argentine horse breeder (Henry Stephenson). Betty Grable is vacationing American heiress Glenda Crawford, who "collects" horses as a hobby. Separated by a family feud, Ricard and Glenda must endure all sorts of setbacks and misunderstandings before crossing the romantic finish line. Filmed on location, Down Argentine Way served to introduce Brazilian bombshell Carmen Miranda, performing a variety of sizzling South American numbers with her own band. Also on hand are the Nicholas Brothers, whose show-stopping dance number has been spotlighted innumerable times in various "best of Hollywood musicals" compilations. ~ Hal Erickson, All Movie Guide
- Starring:
- Don Ameche, Betty Grable, (more)
- 1940
One of several "naughty" screwball comedies based on the works of Thorne Smith (of Topper fame), Hal Roach's Turnabout stars Carole Landis and John Hubbard as unhappily married couple Sally and Tim Willows. Bored with her humdrum existence, Sally spends most of her time figuring out ways of spending her husband's money, while hard-working Tim plots and plans to "step out" on the Missus in the company of his business associates Manning (Adolphe Menjou) and Clare (William Gargan). All of this changes when an effigy representing an Oriental deity comes to life and exchanges Sally and Tim's personalities. As a result, Sally awakens with a deep voice and dons Tim's business suit, while Tim speaks in a falsetto and favors Sally's frilly frocks. The complications ensuing from this role-reversal are much better seen than described, while the film's hilarious denouement was tipped by United Artists' ad campaign, which heralded that "The man's had a baby instead of the lady." Though not nearly as risque as it seemed to be back in 1940, Turnabout is full of wonderful vignettes, including a priceless bit involving veteran screen "pansy" Franklin Pangborn. ~ Hal Erickson, All Movie Guide
- Starring:
- Adolphe Menjou, Carole Landis, (more)
When Fox bought the rights to Ralph Spence's warhorse stage mystery-comedy The Gorilla for the Ritz Brothers, they walked out en masse, refusing to work on the picture until their contracts were renegotiated and the script heavily rewritten. The finished product features an escaped circus gorilla apparently perpetrating a series of murders. Imperiled lawyer Walter Stevens (Lionel Atwill) may well be the next victim, so he summons detectives Garrity, Harrigan and Mullivan (Jimmy, Harry and Al Ritz) to provide protection. It turns out that (a) the murderer is human rather than simian, (b) Stevens is hardly a paragon of virtue, and (c) the person really in danger is young heiress Norma Denby (Anita Louise). Long unavailable for reappraisal, The Gorilla resurfaced on the public-domain market in 1976. ~ Hal Erickson, All Movie Guide
- Starring:
- Jimmy Ritz, Harry Ritz, (more)
- 1939
In this comedy, a gangster's moll gets tired of the mob scene and returns to her mother's house. Her mom is a wealthy family's housekeeper. One of the rich children dreams of being a reporter; he is eager to get his first big scoop. He gets his chance when he stumbles upon a series of clues to a murder that may involve the ex-moll's former lover. He is assisted a seasoned reporter and his photographer who have been hanging around to get a chance to meet the moll. The boy's investigation leads him into a dangerous situation where the mobster begins to shoot at him. ~ Sandra Brennan, All Movie Guide
- Starring:
- Joan Bennett, Adolphe Menjou, (more)
- 1938
Set during World War I, Submarine Patrol stars Preston S. Foster as a naval officer demoted for dereliction of duty. He is forced to commandeer a battered old submarine chaser and its ragtag crew. Anxious to redeem himself, Foster transforms his loser underlings into a crack combat team, chalking up numerous enemy sinkings. Richard Greene costars as Foster's junior officer, a rich wastrel who matures into a worthwhile individual during his tour of duty. Deftly directed by John Ford, Submarine Patrol was enthusiastically received by audiences and critics alike in 1938. ~ Hal Erickson, All Movie Guide
- Starring:
- Richard Greene, Nancy Kelly, (more)
- 1937
Frances Farmer plays the daughter of an honest and ethical newspaper publisher (Charlie Ruggles). She wants to become a reporter herself, but when her Dad refuses to give her an easy break, Frances goes to work for a rival "tell all" tabloid. Her irresponsible reporting causes a highly respected citizen to commit suicide, and also loses her the respect of her father. But when Frances gets "over her head" in tracking down a killer, her father comes to the rescue. Taking a bullet meant for his daughter, Ruggles dies in her arms, but not before advising her in how to report this late-breaking event: "Write it simply and clearly and keep the paragraphs short." ~ Hal Erickson, All Movie Guide
- Starring:
- Fred MacMurray, Frances Farmer, (more)
- 1937
Pulp fiction writer Max Brand's 1936 creation Dr. Kildare made his screen debut in the amiable person of Joel McCrea in this well-received Paramount production. Aided by Janet (Barbara Stanwyck, young Dr. Kildare saves the life of gangster boss Hanlon (Lloyd Nolan), who awards the intern $1,000 for his troubles. Janet, who is being blackmailed by Innes (Stanley Ridges), one of Hanlon's rivals, attempts to steal the money but Kildare catches her and, disillusioned, returns the loot to Hanlon. But when Janet agrees to Innes' lascivious terms, Kildare thinks better of his decision and arranges for Hanlon to take care of the matter. M-G-M later starred Lew Ayres in a series of 17 "Dr. Kildare" programmers and the character resurfaced in the early 1960s in a television series featuring Richard Chamberlain. ~ Hans J. Wollstein, All Movie Guide
- Starring:
- Joel McCrea, Barbara Stanwyck, (more)
- 1936
With her RKO Radio contract nearing an end, Ann Harding had little choice but accept such trifles as The Witness Chair. Engaged to widower Trent (Walter Abel), Paula (Harding) discovers to her horror that Trent's daughter Connie (Frances Sage) intends to elope with no-good embezzler Whittaker (Douglass Dumbrille). Unable to talk Whittaker out of ruining Connie's life, Paula murders the cad then does her best to destroy all the evidence. Alas, she succeeds only in convincing the authorities that Trent is the guilty party! The courtroom finale, which should have been the film's highlight, is not, due to funereal pacing and unimaginative camera angles. The Witness Chair convinced Ann Harding that she was through in Hollywood, whereupon she packed her bags and headed to London, briefly retiring from films the following year upon her marriage to symphony conductor Werner Janssen. ~ Hal Erickson, All Movie Guide
- Starring:
- Ann Harding, Walter Abel, (more)
- 1936
In this musical comedy, a strong-willed young woman hires a student to impersonate a boorish French count and brings him home to meet her parents. She wants him to be as appalling as possible so they will hate him and allow her to date the man she really loves who has recently been divorced. Romantic mayhem ensues as she finds herself really falling for the student. Songs include: "Cabin on a Hilltop" (Bert Kalmar, Harry Ruby), "Let's Make a Wish," and "My Heart Wants to Dance" (Kalmar, Ruby, Sid Silvers). ~ Sandra Brennan, All Movie Guide
- Starring:
- Gene Raymond, Ann Sothern, (more)
- 1936
In this action film, a rebellious cop doesn't hesitate to bend the rules when it comes to roughing up prisoners and bringing in deadly gangsters. His insistence on working alone and on using excessive violence causes conflict with his superiors. They change their minds when he engages in a great shoot-out with a notorious gun-toting gang leader and brings him to justice. ~ Sandra Brennan, All Movie Guide
- Starring:
- Preston S. Foster, Jane Wyatt, (more)
- 1935
Hugh Herbert plays a middle-aged bumbler who is about to inherit a multimillion dollar estate. But there's a catch: Herbert must be married to a widow--any widow--within three days. Roger Pryor plays a suicidal young man who offers to marry young Phyllis Brooks, then kill himself and make Brooks a widow, leaving the field clear for Herbert to move in! Bandleader Fred Keating, who stands to get the money if Herbert doesn't marry, appoints himself Pryor's "protector." To Beat the Band is no worldbeater in the field of comedy, but it does feature Johnny Mercer, Joy Hodges, Sonny Lamont and Nick Condos on the musical end. ~ Hal Erickson, All Movie Guide
- Starring:
- Hugh Herbert, Helen Broderick, (more)
- 1935
A famous movie actress takes a trip to New York City. While there, she gets involved with a wisecracking cab driver who is in need of $200. Recognizing her, he devises a plan to get the money he needs from her. ~ Brian Gusse, All Movie Guide
- Starring:
- Lyle Talbot, Gertrude Michael, (more)
- 1935
One of the last Fox releases before the studio's merger with 20th Century, Redheads on Parade stars John Boles and Dixie Lee as washed-up movie star John Bruce and aspiring singer Ginger Blair. The couple is given the opportunity to co-star in a film financed by Augustus Twill (Raymond Walburn), who has a crush on Lee. Not wishing to rock the boat, press agent Peter Mathews (Jack Haley) assures Twill that Ginger is crazy about him, without bothering to consult the girl beforehand. The plot isn't straightened out until the film's premiere, by which time Twill has gone broke and Mathews has had to work overtime to scare up new "angels." Leading lady Dixie Lee was, of course, the real-life Mrs. Bing Crosby. ~ Hal Erickson, All Movie Guide
- Starring:
- John Boles, Dixie Lee, (more)
- 1934
Dedicated to "the memory of Florence Nightingale," White Parade might have been better dedicated to the cliche experts at Fox Studios who put this highly entertaining, highly predictable film together. The film chronicles the probationary period of a new team of student nurses in a midwestern hospital. Loretta Young has top billing, so we know she'll make first cut. In fact, Young is so magnificent she practically walks on water; even when offered the opportunity of marrying wealthy John Boles, she chooses to devote her life to nursing. Adapted from a novel by Ryan James, The White Parade managed to cop an Academy Award Nomination for Best Picture of 1934--one of eleven nominees that lost to It Happened One Night. ~ Hal Erickson, All Movie Guide
- Starring:
- Loretta Young, John Boles, (more)
- 1934
Having previously played dishonest politicians, lawyers, and businessmen, Warren William is cast as a fraudulent doctor in Warner Bros.' Bedside. Riding on the crest of a publicity wave, Dr. Louis (William) is able to move in the finest social circles with impunity. Only when he is unable to provide proper medical care for his own sweetheart Caroline (Jean Muir) does the truth come out: William "earned" his diploma by providing illegal drugs to a dope-fiend doctor (David Landau). Eventually, our "hero" comes to realize the gravity of his lies and rather belatedly vows to redeem himself. Reviewers in 1934 noted that the screenwriters worked so hard to make Warren William's character a heel that his last-minute reformation was thoroughly unconvincing; more to the point, William is more fun to watch when he's a louse. ~ Hal Erickson, All Movie Guide
- Starring:
- Warren William, Jean Muir, (more)
- 1934
Warren William delivers a curiously subdued performance as dilettante sleuth Philo Vance in The Dragon Murder Case. The plot centers around a mysterious "dragon pool" on the Stamm estate, which figures prominently in the deaths of several unsympathetic society types. As usual, Inspector Markham (Robert McWade) and Sergeant Heath (Eugene Pallette) are all for snapping the cuffs on the most obvious suspect, but Philo Vance knows full well that appearances are deceiving. The all-suspect cast includes Margaret Lindsay, Lyle Talbot, Helen Lowell, Dorothy Tree, Robert Barrat and George Meeker, many of whom thoughtfully remove themselves from suspicion by getting killed themselves. Not a particularly mysterious mystery, The Dragon Murder Case works better on a melodramatic level, with some genuinely spooky camerawork courtesy of the ever-reliable Tony Gaudio. ~ Hal Erickson, All Movie Guide
- Starring:
- Warren William, Margaret Lindsay, (more)
