William Rowland Movies
- 1970
- R
The slimy underbelly of psychiatry is revealed in this nasty exploitation drama that centers on a female psychiatrist who talks about her tawdriest cases, examples of which, including incest, masochism, impotency and prostitution, are illustrated. When not talking, the doctor and her daughter get involved in a few wild adventures of their own including an orgy and a campus riot. ~ Sandra Brennan, All Movie Guide
- 1960
Race hatred and drug trafficking threaten to tear apart a California high school in this teen drama. Frank White (Mark Damon) and Don Walters (Doug Hume) are a pair of undercover police officers who are sent to a high school dominated by three gangs. Don, who is white, tries to infiltrate the Anglo gang the Royals, led by Buck (Richard Rust), while Frank, who is of Hispanic and African-American heritage, is to make his way into the school's black gang, the Ebonys, while also keeping his eye on a Mexican-American club, the Caballeros. Frank soon finds he's not welcomed by the Black or Mexican gangs, and when he strikes up a friendship with Lola (Rita Moreno), a pretty Mexican-American girl, he gains a fierce enemy in her brother Manuel (Richard Laurier), one of the leaders of the Caballeros. Meanwhile, Buck and the Royals have started dealing dope as a way to make money, and he's pressuring Manuel and his gang to do the same, something Manuel fiercely opposes. Manuel is also not happy about rumors that Lola is secretly dating one of the Royals, while the Ebonys have it in for Buck when they find out the secret hidden by his sexy girlfriend, Wiggles (Dyan Cannon, then still spelling her first name "Diane"). This Rebel Breed was first released in 1960; five years later, producer William Rowland added some incongruous inserts filled with nudity and re-released the film to grindhouses and drive-ins under the titles Black Rebels, Lola's Mistake, and Three Shades of Love. ~ Mark Deming, All Movie Guide
- Starring:
- Rita Moreno, Mark Damon, (more)
- 1948
The scene is Shanghai: the time, WW II. An international group of women left stranded during the Japanese invasion are rounded up by the local authorities to act as "comfort girls" for high-ranking Nazi and Japanese officials. Bridling at this degrading treatment, the ladies secretly work on behalf of the Chinese Underground, relaying vital information to the Allies and, at one point, committing murder in the name of Democracy. The plot thickens with the introduction of a Nazi "cosmic ray" device, which OSS operative Van Arnheim (William Henry) hopes to destroy before it can be used in battle. Van Arnheim's courageous wife is played by Virginia Christine, light-years removed from her stint as "Mrs. Olsen" in the Folger's Coffee TV commercials. ~ Hal Erickson, All Movie Guide
- Starring:
- Tala Birell, William Henry, (more)
In this low-budget espionage adventure, an ex-FBI agent is convinced by an active agent to help him find a stolen map showing the location of invaluable uranium deposits located on a remote South Pacific island. Later the two, and a few others, end up in a hotel in Death Valley with the maps. Murder ensues as different people vie to get their hands on the valuable documents. ~ Sandra Brennan, All Movie Guide
- 1945
In this musical, two writers endeavor to write an innovative operetta in order to establish themselves. They end up writing a libretto about a mid-19th-century fellow with a secret past. He was a real person, and the authors begin looking to discover the nature of his secret. Later, the man's last living relative shows up and tries to stop them from producing the show. Fortunately, she eventually gives in and even lets them stage the first production in her palatial plantation manor. In the end, the show ends up a hit on Broadway. Songs include: "It All Could Have Happened Before," "What I Like About You," "The Country Ain't the Country Anymore" and "I Love to Remember" (Marla Shelton, Louis Herscher). Also included is "Bayou Calls." ~ Sandra Brennan, All Movie Guide
- Starring:
- Shirley Ross, Barton Hepburn, (more)
- 1943
Though Wendy Barrie never quite achieved stardom in A pictures, she could always count on top billing in Hollywood's B product. In PRC's Follies Girl, Barrie plays dress designer Anne Merriday, who becomes the object of middle-aged millionaire J. B. Hamlin's (J.C. Nugent) affections. To save his dad from throwing his life away on a supposed golddigger, Hamlin's son, Army private Jerry Hamlin (Gordon Oliver), begins courting Anne-and, of course, falls genuinely in love with her himself. Meanwhile, the rogueish J.B. tries to mount a Broadway burlesque show, with costumes designed by Our Heroine. The titular "Follies Girl" is burlesque queen Francine La Rue (Doris Nolan), who never strips when singing will do (worse luck for the male moviegoers of the era!) ~ Hal Erickson, All Movie Guide
- Starring:
- Wendy Barrie, Doris Nolan, (more)
- 1941
International Forum was the first of a series of informational 2-reelers offering discussions of current events by well-known pundits. The featured speakers in this inaugural entry are journalists Dorothy Thompson, Wyrthe Williams, William L. Shirer and Linton Wells. Nothing of earth-shattering importance is discussed herein, though Shirer makes several pointed comments concerning the ever-increasing threat of Hitler's Third Reich. To add a few visual dynamics to the proceedings, producer-director William Rowland includes newsreel clips and animated maps to put the panel's comments in context. The series was released theatrically by Columbia Pictures. ~ Hal Erickson, All Movie Guide
- Starring:
- Dorothy Thompson, William L. Shirer, (more)
- 1937
This British musical comedy boasts one of the most eclectic casts in film history. Brash Wallace Ford and smoothie Ben Lyon play Jackson and Hartley, a couple of fly-by-night producers hoping to slap together a movie project. They hire showgirl Carla (Lupe Velez) as their leading lady, enhancing her publicity value by passing her off as an Argentinian cattle heiress. When the deception is revealed and the movie's backers pull out, bumbling brewery heir Otto (Harry Langdon) comes to the rescue. ~ Hal Erickson, All Movie Guide
- Starring:
- Lupe Velez, Wallace Ford, (more)
- 1935
Filmed on location in New York, Sweet Surrender takes place in a variety of landmark locations, including the NBC radio studios at Rockefeller Center, Jack Dempsey's Restaurant, and the S. S. Normandie (several years before it capsized in New York Harbor, of course!) Radio tenor Frank Parker heads the cast as radio tenor Danny O'Day, who gets involved in a robbery-impersonation plot. The late Ukranian singer and Broadway actress Tamara Drasin (billed here as simply 'Tamara') plays a dual role as Danny's dancer sweetheart Delphine and her gun-moll look-alike Maizie Marshall. Also playing "masquerade party" is Maizie's gangster beau Jerry Burke (Russ Brown), who pretends to be a schoolteacher. It's up to Danny to figure out which girl is which, and why Maizie and Jerry are going to all this trouble. In addition to Frank Parker, several other New York habitues make brief appearances, including boxer-turned-restaurateur Jack Dempsey and Abe Lyman and his Orchestra. ~ Hal Erickson, All Movie Guide
- Starring:
- Franklin Parker, Tamara, (more)
