The Sky Raider -- May 6, 2025

Moving Picture World, 02-May-1925

Captain Charles Nungesser was a high-scoring French ace during World War One. In 1924, he toured America with a barnstorming show. Film producers offered him the lead in The Sky Raider, a movie about flying. T Hayes Huynter directed and Jacqueline Logan was the leading lady. The film is probably lost.

Nungesser disappeared in 1927 during an attempt to make a transatlantic flight.

Saint Louis Star and Times, 03-July-1925

 

Richard Arlen 125 -- September 1, 2024

 

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Richard Arlen was born 125 years ago today, on 01-September-1899. An American, he volunteered to serve in the Royal Flying Corps during World War One.

Motion Picture Magazine, November, 1928

His most famous film was probably William Wellman's World War One epic, Wings. Arlen and Buddy Rogers starred with Clara Bow and Buddy Rogers.

I was able to introduce several people to silent movies in a great environment by taking them to the Friday night shows at San Francisco's Avenue Theater.  Several friends saw silent movies accompanied on the Mighty Wurlitzer by Bob Vaughn. Wings made a big hit with my high school friends.

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Island of Lost Souls is a fun movie. The "Panther Woman" was Kathleen Burke, who had won a contest to get the part. Charles Laughton bit off huge chunks of scenery.

During World War Two, Arlen was a US Army Air Force flight instructor.

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He was married to Jobyna Ralston from 1927 to 1945. 

Charlie Chaplin -- Keep You Cool -- July 16, 2024

Omaha Bee, 03-July-1924

This ad has a couple of interesting features. "No War Tax on Tickets" -- The entertainment tax imposed during World War One had just been repealed. "Rialto Cooling System Now in Perfect Operation." This implies to me that their air conditioning did not work properly at first. Before air conditioning, many movie theaters had to close down during the summer.

I also like the image of Charlie.

Betty Compson was a popular leading lady. Miami, directed by WW Hodkinson, is believed to be lost.

Photoplay, July, 1924

People were also anxious to see Charlie's new movie, which would be released as The Gold Rush.

Fred Thomson and His Wonderful Horse Silver King -- April 11, 2024

Motion Picture News, 26-April-1924

Fred Thomson (no relation) had a diverse career. While attending the Princeton Theological Seminary, he earned the Amateur Athletic Union's All-Around Champion trophy in 1910, 1911 and 1913. After being ordained as a Presbyterian minister, he joined the Army and served as a chaplain during World War One. He went into the movie business after he married director and screenwriter Frances Marion. In time, he became a major western star. Sadly, he died of tetanus in 1928.

FBO announced plans to release six movies starring Thomson. Number One was The Mask of Lopez. Number Three was Galloping Gallagher (great title). Number Two must have been North of Nevada, but I haven't found an ad that calls it Number Two. 

Motion Picture News, 12-April-1924

Silver King is a good name for a cowboy star's horse. 

Photoplay, April, 1924

"Boyish, lovable, with a sense of humor. Hoot Gibson, whose pictures are consistently good." That is a nice description of Old Hoot. 

Motion Picture News, 19-April-1924

Forty-Horse Hawkins is a good title. Eddie Sedgewick directed. Hoot winds up in New York City. We see him driving a cab in the middle image. 

Motion Picture News, 12-April-1924

Universal purchased a western novel for Hoot's next production. I was surprised to learn that they kept the title: The Ridin' Kid from Powder River. 

Photoplay, April, 1924

Art Acord and Hoot Gibson were friends. 

Film Daily, 28-April-1924

You might expect that "Buddy Roosevelt" was not this actor's real name. Kenneth Sanderson had a long career as an actor and a stuntman. He starred in a series of silent westerns and played small parts in many talkies. 

Film Daily, 29-April-1924

And you might question whether this guy's real name was Buffalo Bill, Jr. Jay Wilsey starred in a series of silent and early sound westerns. 

Photoplay, April, 1924

Jack Hoxie was a real cowboy and rodeo performer who became a star in the early 1920s.

Motion Picture News, 12-April-1924

Universal must have liked his work. They gave him a five-year contract.

Stockton Daily Evening Record, 30-April-1924

Stockton Daily Evening Record, 30-April-1924

Film Daily, 13-April-1924

I thought it was interesting that an outbreak of hoof and mouth disease in Southern California wreaked havoc on production schedules. 

Wellman to Direct -- June 27, 2023

Film Daily, 30-June-1923

William Wellman, often called Wild Bill, got his first opportunity to direct in 1923, making The Twins of Suffering Creek, starring Dustin Farnum. Wellman directed his last movie in 1959. He was married to actress Helene Chadwick.

Film Daily, 20-September-1926

Wellman was a veteran of World War One, where he flew as an American volunteer for the French Lafayette Flying Corps. After the French gave him a medical discharge because of an accident, he joined the United States Army Air Service.

Fred Thomson World's Champion Athlete -- June 11, 2023

Motion Picture News, 09-June-1923

The Eagle's Talons and In the Days of Daniel Boone were Universal serials. Fred Thomson, star of The Eagle's Talons had a diverse career. While attending the Princeton Theological Seminary, he earned the Amateur Athletic Union's All-Around Champion trophy in 1910, 1911 and 1913. After being ordained as a Presbyterian minister, he joined the Army and served as a chaplain during World War One. He went into the movie business after he married director and screenwriter Frances Marion. In time, he became a major western star. Sadly, he died of Tetanus in 1928.

Motion Picture News, 09-June-1923

William Duncan played in, wrote and directed many serials and other westerns. Jack Mower continued to work until the 1960s, but played small parts after the silent era. Eileen Sedgwick starred in many serials. Her brother Eddie Sedgwick directed many westerns and also most of Buster Keaton's silent two-reelers. Jack Hoxie was a real cowboy and rodeo performer who became a big star in the early 1920s.

Motion Picture News, 09-June-1923

Priscilla Dean starred in many serials. Hoot Gibson was one of my favorite western stars.

Film Daily, 03-June-1923

Leo Maloney directed several movies with Hoot Gibson, but he also starred in a series of two-reel Range Rider westerns, which he co-directed with Ford Beebe.

Motion Picture News, 02-June-1923

Motion Picture News, 02-June-1923

Motion Picture News, 16-June-1923

Lawrence of Arabia -- May 29, 2023

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Happy Memorial Day, everyone. 

Peter O'Toole played TE Lawrence in Lawrence of Arabia. Lawrence did not die during the war, but he probably died because of his experiences during the war.

Featuring Rin-Tin the Dog Hero -- January 16, 2023

Moscow, Idaho Daily Star-Mirror, 17-January-1923

Rin-Tin-Tin was the biggest dog star of all. During the last days of World War One, Lee Duncan, an American soldier who loved dogs, found Rinty and his sister with their dying mother in a damaged German kennel. Duncan tried to bring the puppies to America, but the female died. Duncan trained Rinty and got him into the movies, where he showed great natural talent.

The Man from Hell's River was Rinty's first movie. Note that he is billed as "Rin-Tin the Dog Hero." Irving Cummings wrote, directed and co-starred. I like the image of the dog.

Rin-Tin the Dog Hero -- April 26, 2022

Moving Picture World, 15-April-1922

Rin-Tin-Tin was the biggest dog star of all. Lee Duncan, an American soldier who loved dogs, found Rinty and his sister with their dying mother in a damaged German kennel. Duncan tried to bring the puppies to America, but the female died. Duncan trained Rinty and got him into the movies, where he showed great natural talent. 

The Man from Hell's River was Rinty's first movie. Note that he is billed as "Rin-Tin the Dog Hero." Irving Cummings directed.

Tom Mix -- The Amazing Tale of Three Strange Comrades -- June 15, 2021

 

East Oregonian, 07-June-1921

100 years ago this month, Tom Mix was appearing in The Untamed, "The Amazing Tale of Three Strange Comrades -- a Man, a Horse and a Dog."

Albuquerque Evening Herald, 14-June-1921

Tom drives a stagecoach in A Ridin' Romeo. "The Romance of a Cowboy Who Tried to Do Right but Always Got Wrong."

Imperial Valley Express, 17-June-1921

Tom Mix means business in A Ridin' Romeo.

Clovis News, 09-June-1921

Tom and dog in The Road Demon. I wonder if it is the same dog who appeared with Tom and Tony in The Untamed.

Albuquerque Evening Herald, 14-June-1921

I thought Tom might not mind if I threw in a contemporary western star and a kid. Art Acord appeared in many silent films, but did not make the transition to talkies. He served in France during World War One and was decorated for bravery. "That Wonderful Boy," Breezy Eason was B Reeves Eason Jr, son of director B Reeves Eason Sr.

La Grande Illusion -- May 31, 2021

 

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Happy Memorial Day, everyone. 

World War One veteran Jean Renoir made La Grande Illusion in 1937. A group of French POWs wants to escape, but class differences get in the way. Pierre Fresnay is an aristocrat and Jean Gabin is a working man. They land in a prison commanded by a crippled German officer, played by Erich von Stroheim.

I watched it several times on our local PBS station, KQED-Channel 9. 

Howard Hawks 125 -- May 30, 2021

 

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Director Howard Hawks was born 125 years ago today, on 30-May-2021. He could direct films in any genre. He learned to fly before World War One. When America entered the war, he enlisted in the Signal Corp's aviation section. He trained pilots. Many of his movies centered around aviation. 

In the image above, he chats with Angie Dickinson, one of many actors whom he is credited with discovering. 

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I Am a Fugitive From a Chain Gang -- November 11, 2020

 

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Happy Veterans Day, everyone. In I Am a Fugitive From a Chain Gang, Paul Muni played James Allen, who was an NCO in the AEF during World War One. When he returned to his civilian life, he was unhappy with his dull office job. He wanted to become an engineer, but wound up taking jobs as an unskilled laborer. An acquaintance forced James to take part in a robbery, and James was sentenced to prison for it. He escapes from the chain gang, but is betrayed and tricked into surrendering himself. he winds up back on the chain gang. He escapes again.

If you have never seen the movie, be sure to watch until the end. 

The film was based on an autobiographical book by Robert Elliot Burns. Paul Muni consulted with Burns while preparing to play the part, 

Johnny Got His Gun -- May 25, 2020

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Happy Memorial Day, everyone. 

One summer while I was in high school, I read Dalton Trumbo's book Johnny Got His Gun, the story of a wounded soldier who lost his limbs, his eyes, his ears and his mouth. It scared the heck out of me.   Later, I saw the 1971 movie adaption, starring Timothy Bottoms, on television.  It scared me, too. 

Wilson or the Kaiser -- February 17, 2020

Moving Picture World, 07-December-1918

Happy Presidents' Day everyone.

The Great Victory, Wilson or the Kaiser? The Fall of the Hohenzollerns was the ungainly of a movie about World War One. It was anti-German propaganda produced during the war, but released after the Armistice.