Charles King Movies
Though never officially billed as Charles "Blackie" King, American actor Charlie King played so many "Blackies" in B-westerns that one is astounded to discover that it wasn't his middle name. Drifting into films in the '20s, the squat, stubble-chinned, mustachioed King picked up minor roles as chauffeurs, interns and bridegrooms in the two-reel comedies of such performers as Our Gang, the Three Stooges and Leon Errol. It was during the B-western boom of the early talkie era that King really came into his own, showing up in virtually every other poverty-row oater as a gang boss, lynch-mob leader or sinister henchman. Evidently King felt the day was wasted if he wasn't dynamiting a dam, setting fire to homesteaders' shacks, or engaging the hero in a fistic battle. Outtakes of these westerns have revealed that this "human monster" was actually shy and soft-spoken, never reverting to profanity when blowing his lines (more than can be said for some of the "clean-living" western heroes of the era). In fact, King's private life was governed by his formidable wife, who had spies posted at the studio to make certain that King came home right away with his paycheck without any side trips to bars or gaming tables. Gaining a beard and excess weight in the late '40s, King began appearing less frequently as villains and more often as roly-poly comedy relief. King literally died with his boots on, suffering a heart attack after shooting a 1957 episode of Gunsmoke -- in which he played a corpse! William K. Everson's 1964 coffee-table book The Bad Guys was affectionately dedicated to the scurrilously prolific Charles "Blackie" King. ~ Hal Erickson, All Movie Guide- 1930
Lawman Dan Barton (Ken Maynard) is framed for the murder of his partner. Even the dead man's sister (Jeanette Loff) believes him to be guilty, leaving her inheritance in the hands of an unscrupulous lawyer who, the hero later proves, is the real murderer. Beautiful blonde Jeanette Loff enjoyed quite a vogue in early talkies after appearing in the Paul Whiteman extravaganza The King of Jazz (1930). But fame was fleeting for Loff, who died completely forgotten in 1943. ~ Hans J. Wollstein, All Movie Guide
- Starring:
- Ken Maynard, Jeanette Loff, (more)
- 1929
In the third of five inexpensive silent crime melodramas produced by Universal, former B-Western ace Bill Cody played Wellsley, a wealthy young clubman forced at gunpoint to drive a pretty art thief (Duane Thompson) to her apartment. The place is raided by the cops, and young Wellsley is mistaken for a member of the crime ring. He manages to elude the law, however, returning to confront the long-fingered Kate. This time around, the unfortunate young man earns a swift conk to the head from Kate's accomplice, the nasty Donovan (Wilbur Mack). Regaining consciousness, Wellsley gives chase, captures Donovan, and returns the painting to its rightful owner. When Kate repents, Wellsley asks her to be his wife. An aging cowboy hero, Cody was hoping to change his image by signing with Universal for this series of non-Westerns. Talkies got in the way of his efforts, however, and he was soon back in the saddle. ~ Hans J. Wollstein, All Movie Guide
- Starring:
- Duane Thompson, Arthur Morrison, (more)
- 1928
Originally released on April 7, 1928, "Barnum & Ringling, Inc." was the first "Our Gang" silent comedy to be released with a synchronized musical and sound-effects track. All of the action takes place at the fashionable Ritz-Biltmore hotel, where the Our Gang kids have elected to stage a circus. The fun really begins when the circus animals escape and begin roaming in and out of various hotel rooms. And when an ostrich manages to consume a full bottle of bootleg booze, it's "Katie Bar the Door." Watch for brief appearances by character actor Eugene Pallette as a house detective, future B-western heavy Charles King as a would-be Romeo, and comedian Oliver Hardy as a startled guest. (Ollie is in fact, so startled that he swallows a cork!) ~ Hal Erickson, All Movie Guide
- Starring:
- Joe Cobb, Farina Hoskins, (more)
- 1928
Though currently unavailable for viewing, the Hal Roach/MGM "Our Gang" silent comedy "Fair and Muddy" would seem to be a remake of the earlier two-reeler One Terrible Day. According to existing records, the plot concerns an elderly dowager who decided to "adopt" the Our Gang kids, much to the consternation of her flustered chauffeur (played by future B-western villain Charles King). When the kids all showed up in spotlessly clean white sailors suits, the audience knew well in advance that those outfits would end up stained beyond repair by the end of the film --- and thanks to one of those outsized mud puddles which existed exclusively in the world of Hal Roach comedies, that is exactly what happened! "Fair and Muddy" was originally released on May 5, 1928. ~ Hal Erickson, All Movie Guide
- Starring:
- Joe Cobb, Farina Hoskins, (more)
- 1927
Second-string Universal cowboy Fred Humes starred in this familiar silent Western about a returning war veteran who finds himself falsely accused of murder. With the help of the rancher's pretty daughter (Gloria Grey) and a spunky 12-year-old (Dick Winslow), the veteran manages to unmask the real murderer, a supposed pillar of the community (William A. Steele). The familiar story by Gene Markey had been filmed previously by Universal as Blinky (1923), starring Hoot Gibson. ~ Hans J. Wollstein, All Movie Guide
- Starring:
- Fred Humes, Gloria Grey, (more)
- 1925
Produced and directed by low-budget entrepreneur Ward Lascelle, this obscure Western starred Lester Cuneo, an also-ran Western hero who had begun his career supporting Tom Mix in the 1910s. Cuneo played a young cowboy who joins a gang of cattle rustlers. More a Robin Hood character than a brutal bandit, Lester reforms for the sake of his kid sister. Playing only the hinterlands, the Cuneo Westerns were not successful, a circumstance that led to the veteran actor's November 1, 1925 suicide. Hearts of the West contains one of the earliest appearance by future B-Western villain Charles King. ~ Hans J. Wollstein, All Movie Guide
- Starring:
- Lester Cuneo, Charles King, (more)
Best known today as the film which cost director Erich Von Stroheim his job at Universal Studios, Merry Go Round contains enough Von Stroheim touches to suggest that "official" director Rupert Julian merely tied together the film's loose ends. The titular merry-go-round is owned by the unspeakable George Siegmann, who inflicts all sorts of casual cruelties upon organ-grinder Mary Philbin. In addition to enduring Siegmann, Philbin must decide whether or not Austrian-count Norman Kerry truly loves her, or is merely toying with her in the months before his arranged marriage with countess Dorothy Wallace. The latter seems to be the case when Kerry goes through with his marriage. While fighting in the Franco-Prussian war, Kerry fortuitously comes across Philbin's dying father (Cesare Gravina), who roundly chastises the count before expiring. After the war, an impoverished and widowed Kerry tries to make amends to Philbin, who by now is herself engaged to hunchbacked circus performer George Hackathorne. A happy ending is in store for all concerned except the villainous Siegmann (remember him?), who suffers an appropriately grisly demise. ~ Hal Erickson, All Movie Guide
- Starring:
- Norman Kerry, Mary Philbin, (more)
- 1922
This mystery is based on the novel by Louis Joseph Vance. While on vacation, Billy Kirkwood (Herbert Rawlinson) meets pretty Dorothy Calender (Virginia Valli) when she dashes alone into the restaurant where he is dining. Dorothy, who is in possession of a valuable necklace, is trying to avoid a strange man who seems to be pursuing her. Kirkwood attends a summer resort on Long Island so he can continue to see Dorothy, but he is told she is a crook. When he finds the necklace in Dorothy's room he really believes that she is a thief and steals it himself so that he can return it to the jewelry store. When Dorothy finds the necklace missing, she assumes that Kirkwood is a burglar and sets the police after him. Only after they take him in does the whole truth come out -- the strange man who was following Dorothy is the thief. The necklace is hers -- she got it from her uncle's jewelry shop. Incidentally, it was quite obvious to those who were familiar with Long Island that this picture was filmed in California. ~ Janiss Garza, All Movie Guide
- Starring:
- Herbert Rawlinson, Virginia Valli, (more)
- 1921
Early silent screen hero William Russell starred as a miner killing a claim jumper in self defence in this average Western from the Fox studios. Fleeing the scene of the crime, Russell is soon a wanted man but the sheriff's daughter (Vola Vale) believes in him and helps clear his name. Charles King, one of the legendary villains of B-Westerns, made one of his earliest screen appearances in this film. A popular star since playing Robin Hood in 1913, William Russell continued as an action adventure hero through the 1920s. His death at 42 in 1929 was attributed to a bout with pneumonia. He was survived by his wife and sometimes leading lady, Helen Ferguson. ~ Hans J. Wollstein, All Movie Guide
- Starring:
- William Russell, Clark Comstock, (more)
