Friday, December 13, 2013
Thursday, October 3, 2013
Mr. Boggs Steps Out
For a movie you can watch for free on The Internet Archive this was actually kind of fun. Mr. Boggs is an unambitious fact-and-statistics professional who wins a bean counting contest and is convinced to use his prize money to pursue a more adventurous life. Apparently to Boggs this means buying a cooperage in a small town economically dominated by a failing pickle factory. I know, I know... what could possibly be done to spice up this worn out story line. The writing is mediocre except for periodic zingers from office girl Oleandar Tubbs. It's only an hour long. Watch it.
Sunday, September 29, 2013
Child Bride
Although the entire internet agrees that this was a 1938 film, the copy I watched from Amazon had a 1942 copyright notice. Twelve-year-old actress Shirley Mills does a nude scene, and there are a few ripped bodice moments for a couple of the adult actresses. Those hillbillies in the Ozarks were marrying their women too young.
The Return of the Scarlet Pimpernel
The Scarlet Pimpernel is the original hero with a secret identity, I guess. He is a seemingly foppish English aristocrat who dons disguises and leaves taunting poems as the Scarlet Pimpernel, rescuing Frenchmen who are headed toward beheading during Robespierre's Reign of Terror. This movie is "the return" because there had previously been another successful Pimpernel movie starring Leslie Howard and Merle Oberon. James Mason plays a secondary character.
Sunday, September 15, 2013
Condemned Women
A women in prison movie. Louis Hayward is really fun to watch. There are still a couple of 1938 movies with him that I haven't seen.
Monday, September 2, 2013
Barefoot Boy
True to the title, the lead character played by Jackie Moran was barefoot the entire movie. Toward the end he almost kills Toto.
Familiar faces: Ralph Morgan. Also J. Farrell MacDonald, who had the line "You must mean two other trees" from It's a Wonderful Life.
Familiar faces: Ralph Morgan. Also J. Farrell MacDonald, who had the line "You must mean two other trees" from It's a Wonderful Life.
Sunday, August 25, 2013
The Masseurs and a Woman
In Japanese with subtitles. The masseurs are blind. I think this finishes up everything that Hulu has in their Criterion collection for 1938.
Sunday, August 18, 2013
Bulldog Drummond's Peril
Another Bulldog Drummond movie. This one has John Barrymore as Col. Nielsen. I thought it needed more of Drummond's valet, Tenny. Every time Drummond remarks that one of Tenny's suggestions has merit Tenny responds "I rather liked it, sir".
Friday, August 16, 2013
Bulldog Drummond in Africa
Until now, all I knew about Bulldog Drummond was a lyric from the Coaster's song "Searchin'". This was a fun movie. The entertainment is all in the dialog between characters. Don't worry too much about plot. The strongest relationship is between Hugh 'Bulldog' Drummond and his valet, Tenny. Anthony Quinn plays a minor tough guy. H.B. Warner (IAWL's Mr. Gower) has a good role as a kidnapped Scotland Yard Colonel.
Thursday, August 15, 2013
Saturday, August 10, 2013
Sunday, August 4, 2013
Mad About Money
A movie musical about making a movie musical. Part of the plot involves a new color process for movies but the movie is entirely in black and white.
Saturday, August 3, 2013
Friday, August 2, 2013
Next Time I Marry
Lucille Ball must marry a common man in order to fulfill the conditions of her father's will. James Ellison's character is named Anthony J. Anthony.
Saturday, July 27, 2013
Shine On Harvest Moon
Roy Rogers began his career with that name in 1938. I think this is his fourth film using that name.
Santa Fe Stampede
Another "Three Mesquiteers" movie. This one has John Wayne replacing Robert Livingston as lead Mesquiteer Stony Brooke.
Sailing Along
A musical that doesn't take itself too seriously. The most familiar actor is Roland 'Topper' Young. At one point a character uses the cockney rhyming slang "Here comes the storm and strife!" to warn someone that his wife is coming.
Friday, July 26, 2013
Wednesday, July 24, 2013
Monday, July 22, 2013
Saturday, July 20, 2013
Down in "Arkansaw"
The benevolent New Dealers from the government fight the evil local power company while trying to convince hillbillies to allow themselves to be relocated from a proposed dam site to a life that any reasonable person would see as an improvement.
Friday, July 19, 2013
Call the Mesquiteers
This is a B-Western that is part of a franchise called "The Three Mesquiteers". There were more than fifty of these movies. There were only nine in 1938 and Netflix only has four of those. I will try to work my way through them.
Saturday, July 13, 2013
Army Girl
Lots of recognizable character actors, including Neil Hamilton who played Commissioner Gordon on the old Batman TV series, H.B. Warner who was druggist Mr. Gower in It's a Wonderful Life, Billy Gilbert playing his usual immigrant restaurateur, and Ralph Morgan who always reminds me so much of his brother Frank, the Wizard of Oz.
Saturday, July 6, 2013
I Met My Love Again
Henry Fonda makes up a little for my bad experience with Blockade. No more 1938 movies in my TiVo's "Now Playing"! That hasn't happened for years!
Wednesday, July 3, 2013
Saturday, June 29, 2013
Torchy Gets Her Man
The sixth of nine Torchy Blane movies, and the third of three from 1938. Torchy is reportedly (ha) the inspiration for Lois Lane.
Monday, June 24, 2013
Thursday, June 20, 2013
Sunday, June 16, 2013
Saturday, March 23, 2013
Sunday, March 3, 2013
Ballerina
In French, with subtitles, Ballerina tells of Rose Souris, a young ballet student. Rose idolizes Mlle. Beaupre, the star of the ballet company. When a new Russian ballerina is given the lead in the next production, Rose contrives for her to have an "accident" to clear the way for Beaupre to play the lead. Beaupre proves unworthy of admiration, and Karine, who can no longer dance, becomes Rose's mentor.

















