Author Archive: Retro

Hyman Goldberger, the president of film studio Super-Colossal Pictures, is in trouble–his major backer is threatening to stop financing his pictures. He finds a group of six wealthy individuals who may want to become investors in the studio if his disgruntled backer pulls out. Unfortunately, his bumbling runner Albert picks that day to invite six of his street musician friends to be in the film that is currently shooting at the studio, and Hyman mistakes them for the potential investors. Complications ensue.

A young Irish immigrant gets a job as a conductor on a streetcar and fights off an attempt by crooks to take over the company, all the while pursuing the boss’ beautiful daughter.

Corporal Jack Borden, of the Northwest Mounted Police, trails the man who killed his partner to New York City. The killer is an unscrupulous promoter who is selling worthless stock in a gold mine. Borden, with the help of Blanche Hall, locates the man in a Bowery dive, but he escapes and Borden tracks him back to Canada. Along the way, he discovers that Blanche and his sweetheart, Milly, are long-separated sisters and brings about a reconciliation

Pete Seeger (who wrote a manual for playing steel drums) visiting steel drum makers and players in Trinidad. We found the process of tuning the pans particularly interesting.

This interview took place as Lugosi was coming back from a failed trip to Europe, but Bela tried to put a gam face on it.

Wealthy Argentinian cattle owner’s son, a painter in Paris, is persuaded to enlist in the war effort, spurred on by a recruiter who invokes the image of The Four Horsemen. Original music score by Blaine L. Gale.

Valentino as a Russian Robin Hood is out to avenge the murder of his father and to outwit the Czarina. Young Cossack lieutenant becomes the masked “Black Eagle” to avenge his father’s murder. Delightful romantic costume picture is referred to by some as one of Valentino’s finest performances. Based on a story by Alexander Pushkin. Original music score by Blaine L. Gale. Dir. Clarence Brown