Author Archive: Retro

The People’s Choice was one of a handful of mid-1940s attempts to launch a series of 16-millimeter “mainstream” feature films (16mm had previously been limited to the home-movie and industrial-film market). Drew Kennedy stars as a small-town milquetoast who gains confidence when he runs for mayor. Coming face to face with local corruption and graft, Kennedy proves that he’s a man and not a mouse. The supporting cast includes such familiar Hollywood faces as George Meeker, Fred Kelsey, Ernie Adams and Rex Lease, while Louise Arthur does a nice job as leading lady. Filmed in Kodachrome Color, The People’s Choice was amusing, but not considered saleable enough to warrant a major studio release.

Talented but struggling songwriter forges a letter to gain admittance to a wealthy songwriter’s apartment.

The children of quarreling neighbors fall in love. Dir. Ralph Murphy.

Mary Lou manages to escape abduction by a prostitution ring. She tells the Chief of Detectives they were planning to take her to the Berrywood road house, a well-known den of iniquity. Jim Murray and beautician Belle Harris are using her beauty shop to recruit floozies for their road house circuit. Dona Lee, who works at the beauty salon, is falling in love with young reporter wanna-be Phillip, but Murray gets jealous and makes life rough for him. Meanwhile Dona begins to figure out the racket, but becomes threatened by Murray’s unwanted advances.

Singer encounters pirates when she stows away on Carey’s freighter to avoid a murder rap. Dir. Frank Strayer.

Massie is a fugitive from justice and Marion turns in a killer.

Tragedy strikes when young newlyweds adopt a child. Dir. Carol Reed.

The British sleuth (John Howard) enters a castle of horrors and catches a man of many faces (Leo G. Carroll).

Comedy on campus as mild-mannered Joe E. Brown becomes a football star after accidently ingesting a serum which gives him super-strength. Trouble arises when it wears off right before a wrestling match with Man Mountain Dean. Dir. Edward Sedgwick.