Big V Riot Squad

Saturday, February 27, 2021

Doug's Greatest Picture -- February 27, 2021

Motion Picture News, 05-February-1921

Douglas Fairbanks' The Mark of Zorro was the first movie made from Johnston McCulley's novel The Curse of Capistrano. Learn more here:

Big V Riot Squad: Zorro: From Douglas Fairbanks to Antonio Banderas -- July 14, 2017

Motion Picture News, 19-February-1921

Motion Picture News, 12-February-1921

The Nut was Doug's last modern-dress movie until his second talkie, Reaching for the Moon, in 1930. Doug's next six films were all swashbucklers: The Three Musketeers (1921), Robin Hood (1922), The Thief of Bagdad (1924), Don Q, Son of Zorro (1925), The Black Pirate (1926) and The Gaucho (1927). Each was a big hit.

Motion Picture News, 19-February-1921

Doug was starting to promote his next movie, The Three Musketeers.

Friday, February 26, 2021

Betty Hutton 100 -- February 26, 2021

listal.com

Actress Betty Hutton was born 100 years ago today, on 26-February-1921. She was very talented and very energetic, a little too energetic for my taste.

Many years ago we were driving somewhere and listening to an old radio show on tape. Charlie McCarthy was hitting on Betty Hutton. My daughter still remembers it.

Betty Hutton appeared in Preston Sturges' The Miracle of Morgan Creek and a highly inaccurate biopic of Pearl White called The Perils of Pauline.

listal.com

Thursday, February 25, 2021

Billy West -- The Conquering Hero -- February 25, 2021

listal.com

Billy West had closely imitated Charlie Chaplin in a long series of comedies for different studios. By the time he was working for the Joan Film Sales Company, he had moved on to other characters.

listal.com

Wednesday, February 24, 2021

Washington Under the American Flag -- February 24, 2021

Moving Picture World, 20-June-1909

In honor of George Washington's birthday, here is an ad for a pair of short films produced by The Vitagraph Company of America. "Washington Under the British Flag" covered George Washington's early life, and "Washington Under the American Flag" covered the American Revolution and Washington's time as president. Joseph Kilgour played George Washington.

Abe Vigoda 100 -- February 24, 2021

www.listal.com

Actor Abe Vigoda was born 100 years ago today, on 24-February-1921. He was good in everything I saw him in.

I remember him in The Godfather as Sal Tessio. "Tell Mike it was only business. I always liked him."

www.listal.com

I remember him in Barney Miller as Fish. I didn't know he was only in his 50s.

Tuesday, February 23, 2021

Chaplin -- The Kid -- February 23, 2021

Motion Picture News, 12-February-1921

Charlie Chaplin's first self-directed feature film, The Kid, starred Jackie Coogan. They made a wonderful team.

listal.com

Monday, February 22, 2021

Guilietta Masina 100 -- February 22, 2021

listal.com

Actress Guilietta Masina would have been 100 years old today. She was born near Bologna on 22-February-1921. She met Federico Fellini while appearing on radio shows. He was a writer. They moved on to movies together, and she appeared in many movies written and/or directed by Fellini. They married and stayed together for 50 years.

She is most famous for La Strada and Nights of Cabiria. La Strada breaks my heart.