Warren William

  • William Dieterle – Satan Met a Lady (1936)

    USA1931-1940ComedyMysteryScrewball ComedyWilliam Dieterle

    Synopsis:
    Sardonic detective Shane, thrown out of one town for bringing trouble, heads for home and his ex-partner’s detective agency. The business is in a sad way, and Shane, who has had the forethought to provide himself with a 250-dollar commission from an old lady on the train, is welcomed with open arms. When pretty Valerie Purvis walks in the next day willing to pay over the odds to put a tail on the man who did her wrong, Shane’s way with the ladies looks like paying off yet again. But things start to go wrong when his partner is murdered, and Shane himself comes home to find his apartment wrecked by a gentlemanly crook who comes back to apologise — and to tell him a fascinating fairy-story about the fabled Horn of Roland that looks like not being so mythical after all. Miss Purvis wants protection. The police want answers. And all sorts of people want the ‘French horn’… but Shane is one jump ahead of everyone all the way. Well, almost.Read More »

  • H. Bruce Humberstone – The Dragon Murder Case (1934)

    1931-1940H. Bruce HumberstoneMysteryThrillerUSA

    Plot:
    Wonderful idea to give a party with people who dislike each other. Late at night, everyone decides to go into the pool, except Stamm, who is drunk. Montague dives in as does Greeff and Leland, but only Greeff and Leland come out. Montague is no where to be found so Leland suspects foul play and calls the cops. Luckily, Philo is with the D.A. and comes along, but they do not find Montague. When they drain the pool the next day, they find nothing except what looks like dragon prints. Philo has his suspicions and tries to piece the clues together to find out what has happened.Read More »

  • Archie Mayo – The Case of the Lucky Legs (1935)

    Archie Mayo1931-1940ClassicsMysteryUSA

    Frank Patton is the promoter of the Lucky Legs Contest. The problem is that he always skips town before paying the $1000 to the winner. Mr. Bradbury, suitor of Cloverdale winner Margie, hires intoxicated Perry Mason to find Frank. Perry knows the scheme that Patton is using and has Spudsy find him, but Frank is dead when Perry arrives. The how is a surgeons scalpel, but the who is not yet known.Read More »

  • George Waggner – The Wolf Man [+Commentary] (1941)

    1941-1950ClassicsGeorge WaggnerHorrorUSA

    Upon the death of his brother, Larry Talbot returns from America to his ancestral home in Wales. He visits a gypsy camp with village girl Jenny Williams, who is attacked by Bela, a gypsy who has turned into a werewolf. Larry kills the werewolf but is bitten during the fight. Bela’s mother tells him that this will cause him to become a werewolf at each full moon. Larry confesses his plight to his unbelieving father, Sir John, who then joins the villagers in a hunt for the wolf. Transformed by the full moon, Larry heads for the forest and a fateful meeting with both Sir John and Gwen Conliffe.Read More »

  • Alfred Zeisler – Fear (1946)

    1941-1950Alfred ZeislerFilm NoirMysteryUSA

    Quote:
    A broke medical student who’s in desperate need of tuition money sells everything he owns to a dishonest professor. When the student’s scholarship is suddenly taken from him, he flies into a rage and kills the professor, whom he feels is responsible for his situation. His life then begins to improve, but as the student grows more reckless, police suspicion continues to grow.Read More »

  • Cecil B. DeMille – Cleopatra (1934)

    1931-1940Cecil B. DeMilleClassicsEpicUSA

    Synopsis:
    In 48 BC, Cleopatra, facing palace revolt in her kingdom of Egypt, welcomes the arrival of Julius Caesar as a way of solidifying her power under Rome. When Caesar, whom she has led astray, is killed, she transfers her affections to Marc Antony and dazzles him on a barge full of DeMillean splendor. But the trick may not work a third time…Read More »

  • William Dieterle – The Secret Bride (1934)

    1931-1940ClassicsDramaUSAWilliam Dieterle

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    Plot: Before Ruth Vincent, daughter of a state governor, and state attorney general Robert Sheldon can announce their marriage, the governor is accused of bribe-taking. To avoid the appearance of conflict of interest, they decide to keep their marriage secret. The political intrigue becomes more involved, and no one is quite what they seem. Soon Sheldon and Ruth must decide between saving the governor’s career and an innocent person’s life. Written by Rod CrawfordRead More »

  • Frank Capra – Lady for a Day (1933)

    USA1931-1940ComedyFrank Capra

    29f7c043f76a2bde437fd0d52a185152

    Synopsis:
    Apple Annie is an indigent woman who has always written to her daughter in Spain that she is a member of New York’s high society. With her daughter suddenly en route to America with her new fiancé and his father, a member of Spain’s aristocracy, Annie must continue her pretense of wealth or the count will not give his blessing. She gets unexpected help from Dave the Dude, a well-known figure in underground circles who considers Annie his good luck charm, and who obtains for her a luxury apartment to entertain the visitors – but this uncharacteristic act of kindness from a man with a disreputable reputation arouses suspicions, leading to complications which further cause things to not always go quite as planned. Read More »

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