Saturday Matinee - Four Our Gang Short Films
This week’s Saturday Matinee features a collection of four short films from Hal Roach’s Our Gang (also known as the Little Rascals) comedy film series. The collection also includes a theater advertisement featuring Our Gang star Spanky McFarland.
The Our Gang films began in the silent era, in 1922. Production of these films continued into the 1940s (Roach’s involvement in the Our Gang series continued until 1938).
The four films in this collection range chronologically from Dogs of War (1923), to the Our Gang Follies of 1938. The theater ad is from 1931, and advertises a bicycle giveaway promotion by the theater..
Enjoy the Saturday Matinee!
Film Noir - Detour
For our final Film Noir Week movie, we’ve selected the 1945 classic, Detour, starring Tom Neal and Ann Savage.
Neal portrays nightclub pianist Al Roberts, who decides to hitchhike to Hollywood to join his girlfriend Sue Harvey (portrayed by Claudia Drake). When the driver who offers Roberts a ride mysteriously dies, Roberts gets rid of the body and takes on the driver’s identity. Intrigue and blackmail result when Robert picks up another hitchhiker, a woman named Vera (Ann Savage).
Also in the cast are Edmund MacDonald, Tim Ryan, Esther Howard, and Pat Gleason. Detour was directed by Edgar G. Ulmer, and produced by Leon Fromkess.
Film Noir - Fear in the Night
DeForest Kelley makes his screen debut in today’s featured film noir classic — Fear in the Night (1947).
Kelley portrays Vince Grayson, a bank teller who dreams that he killed someone. But when he awakes from the nightmare, he becomes concerned that it is not a dream after all.
The cast also includes Paul Kelly, Ann Doran, and Kay Scott. The film was directed by Maxwell Shane. Fear in the Night is based on a Cornell Woolrich story, Nightmare.
We hope you enjoy this featured film, a part of Film Noir Week here at iMovieCinema.
Film Noir - Too Late for Tears
It’s Day Four of Film Noir Week here at iMovie Cinema. Today’s movie is a 1949 film noir classic starring Lizbeth Scott and Dan Duryea — Too Late for Tears.
Lizbeth Scott portrays the scheming Jane Palmer, whose husband Alan Palmer (portrayed by Arthur Kennedy) accidentally comes across a suitcase stuffed with $60,000. Jane demands that they keep the money. Dan Duryea portrays private detective Danny Fuller, who attempts to recover the money from the Palmers.
Also in the cast are Don DeFore, Kristine Miller, and Barry Kelley. Too Late for Tears was directed by Byron Haskin and produced by Hunt Stromberg. Roy Huggins wrote the screenplay, which is based on his serial which appeared in the Saturday Evening Post magazine.
Film Noir - Brian Donlevy in Impact
We’ve reached mid-point in iMovieCinema’s Film Noir Week, and we’ve got a great movie for you today. Watch Brian Donlevy and Ella Raines in the 1949 film noir classic, Impact.
Donlevy portrays millionaire businessman Walter Williams, who survives an attempt on his life by his wife Irene (portrayed by Helen Walker) and her lover. Dazed and wounded , Williams climbs in a moving van, and ends up in a small town in Idaho. Williams takes a job at a gas station which is owned by Marsha Peters (Ella Raines), and he falls in love with Marsha.
The cast also includes Charles Coburn, who portrays a police detective investigating the death of Irene Williams’ lover, who died in a crash while driving Wiliams’ car. The film was directed by Arthur Lubin and produced by Leo C. Popkin.
Film Noir - The Scar - Hollow Triumph
It’s Day Two of Film Noir Week here are iMovieCinema, and time to bring you our Movie of the Week - Paul Henreid and Joan Bennett in the 1948 film noir classic, The Scar (also known as Hollow Triumph).
Henreid has the role of John Muller, a crook and medical school dropout who goes into hiding from gangsters after a robbery he had planned falls apart. Muller takes on a new identity as a psychiatrist. Joan Bennett has the role Evelyn Hahn, the psychiatrist’s secretary.
Also in the cast are Eduard Franz, Leslie Brooks, Mabel Paige, Herbert Rudley and John Qualen. The film was directed by Steve Sekely.
Film Noir - The Strange Love of Martha Ivers
It’s Film Noir Week here at iMovieCinema. Movies in the the film noir genre will be added here all week long. We’re kicking off Film Noir Week today with a classic 1946 film - The Strange Love of Martha Ivers.
The story begins in 1928 in Iverstown, where the young heiress Martha Ivers is caught while attempting to run away with her friend Sam Masterson. Martha’s mean-spirited aunt (portrayed by Judith Anderson) suffers an untimely death at the hand of Martha. Walter O’Neil, the son of Martha’s tutor, is a witness. Eighteen years later, Martha Ivers (portrayed by Barbara Stanwyck) is now in a loveless marriage with Walter (portrayed by Kirk Douglas), who is the district attorney. Sam Masterson returns to Iverstown, where he meets Antonia Marachek (portrayed by Lizbeth Scott). Martha and Walter are concerned that Masterson may have blackmail in mind.
The Strange Love of Martha Ivers was produced by Hal B. Wallis, and directed by Lewis Milestone.
Zorro’s Fighting Legion - Cliffhanger Serial - 1939
Here’s a great treat for this week’s Saturday Matinee — all 12 episodes of the 1939 cliffhanger serial from Republic Pictures, Zorro’s Fighting Legion.
Reed Hadley portrays Zorro, who must counter the fiendish Don Del Oro’s efforts to rule all of Mexico. This cliffhanger serial was directed by John English and William Witney.
Sci Fi Double Feature - Prehistoric Planet, and Prehistoric Women
Here’s a sci-fi double feature for your viewing enjoyment - Voyage to the Prehistoric Planet (1965), and Voyage to the Planet of Prehistoric Women (1967).
The 1965 film, Voyage to the Prehistoric Planet, was adapted from a Soviet film, Planeta Bur. Curtis Harrington (listed in the film credits as “John Sebastian”) wrote and directed this film, which starred Basil Rathbone and Faith Domergue. The story, set in the year 2020, centers on the launch of three spaceships to explore Venus.
Voyage to the Planet of Prehistoric Women was directed by Peter Bogdanovich, and was adapted from Voyage to the Prehistoric Planet. This 1967 film stars Mamie Van Doren, Mary Marr, and Paige Lee. The story involves astronauts landing on Venus, and the women they encounter and the events that occur there.
Enjoy this double serving of sci-fi films!
Walter Lantz Cartoon Collection
Two Walter Lantz cartoons are included in this classic cartoon collection, Woody Woodpecker in Pantry Panic, and Boy Meets Dog.
Walter Lantz, an American animator and cartoonist, introduced the Woody Woodpecker cartoon character. Lantz is also credited with the first Technicolor cartoon. He formed his own animation studio, Walter Lantz Productions, which was in business from 1929 to 1972.
Enjoy the cartoons!
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