The Man on the Flying Trapeze Posted by David on January 13, 2013

"Vot are you looking at?" Of all the actors and actresses who appeared in 1930s movies, Joseph Cawthorn (1868-1949) was certainly one of them. To get an idea of the wide range of roles he played, just look at the character names: Dourfuss, Kleber, Selzer, Schlemmer, Krausemeyer, Schmidt, Kruger,   read more

The Man on the Flying Trapeze Posted by David on January 13, 2013

"Vot are you looking at?" Of all the actors and actresses who appeared in 1930s movies, Joseph Cawthorn (1868-1949) was certainly one of them. To get an idea of the wide range of roles he played, just look at the character names: Dourfuss, Kleber, Selzer, Schlemmer, Krausemeyer, Schmidt, Kruger,   read more

The Man on the Flying Trapeze Posted by David on January 9, 2013

Barbara Stanwyck enters the 1930 film "Ladies of Leisure" -- and film history -- in a rowboat. The oars squeak. Her face is marked by mascara-streaked tears and she's clutching a broken dress strap. She's Kay, a party girl who just left a wild one on a yacht. On shore...   read more

The Man on the Flying Trapeze Posted by David on January 9, 2013

Barbara Stanwyck enters the 1930 film "Ladies of Leisure" -- and film history -- in a rowboat. The oars squeak. Her face is marked by mascara-streaked tears and she's clutching a broken dress strap. She's Kay, a party girl who just left a wild one on a yacht. On shore...   read more

The Man on the Flying Trapeze Posted by David on January 4, 2013

"If the wages of sin is death I've got a lot of back pay coming!" Corinne Griffith says this about halfway through the 1930 film "Back Pay," and if you understand what it means, you're ahead of me. "Back Pay," which is a remake of a 1922 film, is about...   read more

The Man on the Flying Trapeze Posted by David on January 4, 2013

"If the wages of sin is death I've got a lot of back pay coming!" Corinne Griffith says this about halfway through the 1930 film "Back Pay," and if you understand what it means, you're ahead of me. "Back Pay," which is a remake of a 1922 film, is about...   read more

The Man on the Flying Trapeze Posted by David on December 23, 2012

Olsen and Johnson give them the slip. Years from now, when scholars are trying to understand the success of the comedy team of Olsen and Johnson, they will take a look at their 1931 film "Fifty Million Frenchmen" and gain practically no insight at all. The team experienced phenomenal success...   read more

The Man on the Flying Trapeze Posted by David on December 23, 2012

Olsen and Johnson give them the slip. Years from now, when scholars are trying to understand the success of the comedy team of Olsen and Johnson, they will take a look at their 1931 film "Fifty Million Frenchmen" and gain practically no insight at all. The team experienced phenomenal success...   read more

The Man on the Flying Trapeze Posted by David on December 19, 2012

As the scion of one of Hollywood's first families, Douglas Fairbanks Jr. was born in the spotlight, and in the 1932 film "It's Tough to Be Famous," he spends all his time trying to get out of it. YOU'RE hot! I'm wearing a turtleneck and wool blazer! Fairbanks plays Scotty...   read more

The Man on the Flying Trapeze Posted by David on December 19, 2012

As the scion of one of Hollywood's first families, Douglas Fairbanks Jr. was born in the spotlight, and in the 1932 film "It's Tough to Be Famous," he spends all his time trying to get out of it. YOU'RE hot! I'm wearing a turtleneck and wool blazer! Fairbanks plays Scotty...   read more

The Man on the Flying Trapeze Posted by David on December 11, 2012

Of all the actresses who appeared in 1930s movies, Noel Francis (1906-59) was certainly one of them. Noel Francis Madison Not to be confused with Noel Madison, who was a guy, Noel Francis was an attractive blonde with a winsome expression. She had been a dancer on Broadway, appearing in...   read more

The Man on the Flying Trapeze Posted by David on December 11, 2012

Of all the actresses who appeared in 1930s movies, Noel Francis (1906-59) was certainly one of them. Noel Francis Madison Not to be confused with Noel Madison, who was a guy, Noel Francis was an attractive blonde with a winsome expression. She had been a dancer on Broadway, appearing in...   read more

The Man on the Flying Trapeze Posted by David on December 8, 2012

To steal a line from his best-known work, "The Philadelphia Story," Philip Barry's plays were often about "the privileged class enjoying its privileges." But they also showed the other side of the coin: how easy it was to lose your self-respect -- and yourself, for that matter -- by getting...   read more

The Man on the Flying Trapeze Posted by David on December 8, 2012

To steal a line from his best-known work, "The Philadelphia Story," Philip Barry's plays were often about "the privileged class enjoying its privileges." But they also showed the other side of the coin: how easy it was to lose your self-respect -- and yourself, for that matter -- by getting...   read more

The Man on the Flying Trapeze Posted by David on December 4, 2012

The 1932 film "The Mummy" opens in 1921 in Egypt, where an expedition from the British Museum is digging up stuff from around the pyramids. They have found a mummy, and researcher Ralph Norton (Bramwell Fletcher) is badgering his boss, Sir Joseph Whemple (Arthur Byron), into opening a box that...   read more

The Man on the Flying Trapeze Posted by David on December 4, 2012

The 1932 film "The Mummy" opens in 1921 in Egypt, where an expedition from the British Museum is digging up stuff from around the pyramids. They have found a mummy, and researcher Ralph Norton (Bramwell Fletcher) is badgering his boss, Sir Joseph Whemple (Arthur Byron), into opening a box that...   read more

The Man on the Flying Trapeze Posted by David on November 30, 2012

Like "Life Begins" and "Union Depot," the 1933 film "From Headquarters" is another slice-of-life panorama brought to you by Warner Bros. and filled with studio contract players. The nominal hero of the movie is Warner stalwart George Brent, as a detective investigating the murder of a wealthy, deca   read more

The Man on the Flying Trapeze Posted by David on November 30, 2012

Like "Life Begins" and "Union Depot," the 1933 film "From Headquarters" is another slice-of-life panorama brought to you by Warner Bros. and filled with studio contract players. The nominal hero of the movie is Warner stalwart George Brent, as a detective investigating the murder of a wealthy, deca   read more

The Man on the Flying Trapeze Posted by David on November 27, 2012

"Me and My Gal," released in 1932, is a little movie with a lot going on. It's a showcase for a young Spencer Tracy, already relaxed and assured onscreen as police detective Danny Dolan. It's a showcase for an even younger Joan Bennett as his gal, a gum-chewing waitress named...   read more

The Man on the Flying Trapeze Posted by David on November 27, 2012

"Me and My Gal," released in 1932, is a little movie with a lot going on. It's a showcase for a young Spencer Tracy, already relaxed and assured onscreen as police detective Danny Dolan. It's a showcase for an even younger Joan Bennett as his gal, a gum-chewing waitress named...   read more