Barry Granville (Ross Alexander) and Pinky Blair (Lee Dixon) are writers and wannabe theatrical producers. They’ve had trouble scrounging up funding for their latest production, but they’re finally able to secure a backer… who will give them the dough as long as they hire British actress Jane Clarke (Winifred Shaw) to take on the starring role. J. Van Courtland (Allen Jenkins) is a theatrical agent, … Continue reading Ready, Willing and Able (1937)
When I think of character actors, Allen Jenkins is always the first person that comes to mind. With over 150 credits to his name in the worlds of film and television, Jenkins is a favorite of mine thanks to his many “sidekick” roles from the ’30s and ’40s. Today we’ll be taking a look at some of those roles for the wonderful, fourth annual What … Continue reading Allen Jenkins: What a Character!
Gay Lawrence (George Sanders) is a gentleman sleuth, known by the nickname of “The Falcon.” He’s popular with the ladies but has supposedly given his heart to one: Elinor Benford (Anne Hunter), his fiancée. Elinor wants Gay to give up his clue-hunting crime work for a more respectable job, so he and his right-hand man Goldy (Allen Jenkins) open up a brokerage office. He’s giving … Continue reading The Gay Falcon (1941)
Glory Eden (Ginger Rogers, in her first film for RKO) is a radio celebrity, famous for being the “Purity Girl,” the lead vocalist in a musical program sponsored by Ippsie Wippsie Wash Clothes. She’s become frustrated with Ippsie Wippsie head honcho Sam Ipswich (Gregory Ratoff) because the contract he keeps her bound to forces her to live a very dull, pristine life. The time has … Continue reading Professional Sweetheart (1933)
Bill Denny’s (Farley Granger) life isn’t as wonderful as it could be. He’s been happily married for two years, but he’s living with his grumpy, critical mother-in-law (Margalo Gillmore) while trying to jump-start his career as an accountant. Bill and his wife, Kate (Shelley Winters), love each other… but they’ve encountered their share of troubles since they wed. In celebration of his second wedding anniversary, … Continue reading Mill Creek Musings: Behave Yourself! (1951)
Ace Detective Agency has been hired… to babysit an infant. What they don’t know is that he baby is just a cover. They’ve really been hired by a couple of jewel thieves who want their loot protected, so they hire someone to “watch the baby” and make sure that no one enters the room where the jewels are hidden. Lambert Hillyer directs The Case of … Continue reading 3 Days of “Forgotten Noir”: The Case of the Babysitter (1947)
Anne Brooks (Kay Francis) is unintentionally polyandrous. She’s happily married to the older, very rich Schuyler Brooks (Henry Kolker) and thinks that he’s her only husband. But her old dancing partner and supposed ex-husband, Maurice (Monroe Owsley), blackmails her by revealing that he never filed for the dissolution of their marriage. Maurice wants Anne to shell out big bucks to keep him quiet, in order … Continue reading The Keyhole (1933)
