You’ve seen Robert Warwick dozens of times. Born Robert Taylor Bien the aspiring opera singer went to Broadway and became a Silent Film Matinee idol long before talkies came into play.
Popular Posts
Movie Star Biographies
Louise Beavers – Biography of Imitation of Life’s Aunt Delilah
A 4,000 word biography of the African American actress Louise Beavers whose greatest fame came as Aunt Delilah in 1934’s Imitation of Life. She enjoyed a long career in mostly maid roles including a starring role on early 1950s television series Beulah.
Madge Evans – Typical American Girl is No Typical Classic Movie Star
A brief biography of silent child star and adult star of 1930’s talkies Madge Evans, who appeared in Dinner at Eight and David Copperfield. Heavily illustrated with vintage movie cards and collectibles.
Norman Kerry, Chaney’s co-star in The Hunchback of Notre Dame and The Phantom of the Opera
A brief biography of Norman Kerry, a silent film star you probably remember better than you think. Co-starred with Lon Chaney in The Hunchback of Notre Dame, The Phantom of the Opera and The Unknown.
Marian Marsh – Forever Trilby, Biography of the 1930s Screen Beauty
Marian Marsh will always be first recalled as John Barrymore’s Trilby in Svengali but don’t overlook her in Beauty and the Boss and Crime and Punishment. A biography of the gorgeous young actress of the 1930s.
Joe Donahue, “World’s Greatest Dancer” and Sunny Co-Star
Digging into Joe Donahue, talented vaudevillian dancer who replaced his late brother, Jack, opposite Marilyn Miller in the film version of Sunny. He also appeared in Expensive Women and two Dorothy Mackaill titles during his stay with First National, 1930-31. Piecing together some of the mysterious Donahue’s life and discovering, once and for all, the date he died.
Movie Reviews & Articles
Frank Capra’s Broadway Bill (1934) Starring Warner Baxter and Myrna Loy
A look at Frank Capra’s follow-up to It Happened One Night, the 1934 holiday release Broadway Bill starring Warner Baxter, Myrna Loy and a horse named Broadway Bill. With comparison to 1950 remake Riding High and explanation of why Bill wound up out of circulation until 1992.
Silver Dollar (1932) Starring Edward G. Robinson, Aline MacMahon and Bebe Daniels
Silver Dollar (1932) stars Edward G. Robinson in a part based on the life of silver king Haw Tabor. American history, economics, and pop culture are touched upon in this look at a largely forgotten film. Also starring Aline MacMahon and Bebe Daniels.
Merrily We Go to Hell starring Fredric March and Sylvia Sidney
“Merrily We Go to Hell,” a 1932 Paramount production starring Fredric March and Sylvia Sidney, is one of 6 movies featured in the Pre-Code Hollywood Collection released earlier this month by Universal.
Edward G. Robinson in The Sea Wolf (1941) with Alexander Knox
Is there a more brutal film from this period than Warner Brothers’ The Sea Wolf? Adapted by Robert Rossen from Jack London’s original story, directed by Michael Curtiz and starring Edward G. Robinson, John Garfield, Ida Lupino and Alexander Knox.
Downstairs (1932) Starring John Gilbert, From a Story by John Gilbert
Despite its poor reception in 1932, today Downstairs is often pointed to as John Gilbert’s best talkie and further evidence that his voice was not poor. A look at some key scenes with Virginia Bruce and Paul Lukas, plus just how bad of a guy was Gilbert’s Karl?
One Night at Susie’s (1930) – Movie Compared to Short Story, Plus Helen Ware Biography
A look at First National’s One Night at Susie’s, a 1930 crime film starring Billie Dove and Douglas Fairbanks Jr., but really showing off Helen Ware to advantage. Frederick Hazlitt Brennan’s 1929 short story from Liberty magazine is discussed and a biography of Miss Ware is also included. Plus, just exactly how long is this movie?