Bonita Granville

Bonita Granville

Born: February 2, 1923
Died: October 11, 1988
in New York City, New York, USA
Daughter of Bernard 'Bunny' Granville and Rosina Timponi, Bonita Granville was born into an acting family on 2 Febuary 1923, in New York, New York. It's not surprising that she herself became a child actor, first on the stage and, at the age of 9, debuting in movies in Westward Passage (1932). She was regularly cast as a naughty little girl, as in These Three (1936) where she played Mary, an obnoxious girl spreading lies about her teachers. Her performance left an impression on the audience, and she was nominated for a Best Supporting Actress award.

In 1938-39 came the movies she is now best remembered for -- playing the bright and feisty detective/reporter Nancy Drew in the Nancy Drew series. She also appeared with Mickey Rooney in a few Andy Hardy movies. She never really had a movie breakthrough, and after marrying oil millionaire and later producer Jack Wrather, she retired from acting in the middle of the 1950s, although she went on to produce the Lassie (1954) TV series.

After her marriage to oil millionaire Jack Wrather in 1947, she appeared in only three more movies. She became an executive in the Wrather Corp., and first associate producer, then executive producer of the Lassie (1954) TV series. After Wrather's death in 1984, she took over as chairman of the board. She was also involved in many civic and cultural groups, and she was chair of American Film Institute, trustee of John F. Kennedy Center, as well as other well known organizations and charities.

Walt Disney personally convinced the Wrathers to build the Disneyland Hotel when Disney could not raise the money to do so -- his credit was all tied up in building the theme park itself. After the phenomenal success of Disneyland, Disney attempted to buy the hotel; but the Wrathers steadfastly refused to sell. Long after Jack and Bonita Wrather's and Walt Disney's deaths, the Disney Company bought the Wrather Corporation. The Disney Company thus acquired the Disneyland Hotel, the Queen Mary and Spruce Goose attractions in Long Beach, California, the rights to The Lone Ranger (1949) TV series, as well as other properties.

Bonita Granville Rather died of cancer on 11 October 1988, in Santa Monica, California. She and Wrather had four children (two from Wrather's first marriage).

Movies for Bonita Granville...

Hollywood’s Children
Title: Hollywood’s Children
Character: Self
Released: February 24, 1982
Type: Movie
A documentary about child actors, since the beginning of motion pictures (narrated by Roddy McDowell).
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The Legend of the Lone Ranger
Title: The Legend of the Lone Ranger
Character: Woman (uncredited)
Released: August 20, 1981
Type: Movie
When the young Texas Ranger, John Reid, is the sole survivor of an ambush arranged by the militaristic outlaw leader, Butch Cavendich, he is rescued by an old childhood Comanche friend, Tonto. When he recovers from his wounds, he dedicates his life to fighting the evil that Cavendich represents. To this end, John Reid becomes the great masked western hero, The Lone Ranger. With the help of Tonto, the pair go to rescue President Grant when Cavendich takes him hostage.
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Title: V.I.P. Schaukel
Character: Self
Released: May 9, 1971
Type: TV
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Title: The Mike Douglas Show
Character: Self
Released: December 11, 1961
Type: TV
The Mike Douglas Show is an American daytime television talk show hosted by Mike Douglas that originally aired only in the Cleveland area during much of its first two years on the air. It then went into syndication in 1963 and remained on television until 1982. It was distributed by Westinghouse Broadcasting and for much of its run, originated from studios of two of the company's TV stations in Cleveland and Philadelphia.
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The Velvet Alley
Title: The Velvet Alley
Character: Mrs. Kirkley
Released: January 22, 1959
Type: Movie
Ernie Pandish has tried to be a writer for years and has never made much money out of it. But now he seems likely to hit the big-time.
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The Lone Ranger
Title: The Lone Ranger
Character: Welcome Kilgore
Released: February 25, 1956
Type: Movie
The territorial governor asks the Lone Ranger to investigate mysterious raids on settlers by Indians who ride with saddles. Wealthy rancher Reese Kilgore wants to mine silver on Spirit Mountain which is sacred to the Indians.
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Title: Climax!
Character: Molly
Released: October 7, 1954
Type: TV
Climax! is an American anthology series that aired on CBS from 1954 to 1958. The series was hosted by William Lundigan and later co-hosted by Mary Costa. It was one of the few CBS programs of that era to be broadcast in color. Many of the episodes were performed and broadcast live.
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Title: Climax!
Character: Laura Jordan
Released: October 7, 1954
Type: TV
Climax! is an American anthology series that aired on CBS from 1954 to 1958. The series was hosted by William Lundigan and later co-hosted by Mary Costa. It was one of the few CBS programs of that era to be broadcast in color. Many of the episodes were performed and broadcast live.
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Title: Lassie
Released: September 12, 1954
Type: TV
Lassie is the pet of Jeff Miller, an 11-year-old farm boy. The two become best friends and enjoy family adventures in the American countryside, teaching each other about love, nature and commitment.
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Title: Schlitz Playhouse of Stars
Character: Ellen Morison
Released: October 5, 1951
Type: TV
Schlitz Playhouse of Stars is an anthology series that was telecast from 1951 until 1959 on CBS. Offering both comedies and drama, the series was sponsored by the Joseph Schlitz Brewing Company. The title was shortened to Schlitz Playhouse, beginning with the fall 1957 season.
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Title: Lux Video Theatre
Character: Joan
Released: October 2, 1950
Type: TV
Lux Video Theatre is an American anthology series that was produced from 1950 until 1959. The series presented both comedy and drama in original teleplays, as well as abridged adaptations of films and plays.
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Title: Lux Video Theatre
Character: Kitty
Released: October 2, 1950
Type: TV
Lux Video Theatre is an American anthology series that was produced from 1950 until 1959. The series presented both comedy and drama in original teleplays, as well as abridged adaptations of films and plays.
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Guilty of Treason
Title: Guilty of Treason
Character: Stephanie Varna
Released: February 20, 1950
Type: Movie
The story of Cardinal Josef Mindzhenty, a Roman Catholic cardinal from Hungary who spoke out against both the Nazi occupation of his country during World War II and the Communist regime that replaced it after the war.
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Strike It Rich
Title: Strike It Rich
Character: Julie Ann Brady
Released: December 1, 1948
Type: Movie
When not drinking and fighting, three wildcatters in search of a gusher are enthusiastically drilling for black gold. The trouble begins when one of them grows dissatisfied with their lifestyle and quits so he can be with his new wife. Unfortunately for him, soon after he leaves, the other two find their gusher and become filthy rich. The impoverished quitter is envious and begins looking for an obscure law that will force his pals to share.
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Title: Studio One
Character: Ann
Released: November 7, 1948
Type: TV
An American radio–television anthology series, created in 1947 by Canadian director Fletcher Markle, who came to CBS from the CBC. Studio One, presented by Westinghouse, was one of the first of the anthology TV programs. The episodes were often abridged remakes of movies from years gone by and many future well-known television and movie actors appeared in the productions.
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The Guilty
Title: The Guilty
Character: Estelle Mitchell / Linda Mitchell
Released: March 22, 1947
Type: Movie
Two friends land in hot water when they begin dating twins and one of the women ends up dead.
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Love Laughs at Andy Hardy
Title: Love Laughs at Andy Hardy
Character: Kay Wilson
Released: December 25, 1946
Type: Movie
Andy Hardy goes to college after serving in the war and finds his sweetheart is engaged to someone else.
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Suspense
Title: Suspense
Character: Ronnie
Released: June 15, 1946
Type: Movie
The proprietor of an ice-skating revue promotes a peanut-vendor at the show to a management position based on suggestions he made to improve the act of the show's star, who also happens to be the owner's wife. However, he soon begins to notice that his new manager is paying more attention to his wife than he believes is appropriate...
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The Truth About Murder
Title: The Truth About Murder
Character: Christine Allen
Released: April 1, 1946
Type: Movie
A young attorney (Bonita Granville) is convinced a murder suspect is innocent in the killing of his wife.
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Breakfast in Hollywood
Title: Breakfast in Hollywood
Character: Dorothy Larson
Released: February 26, 1946
Type: Movie
The goings on of a few members of a radio show's audience is the premise for this feature film derived from the popular ABC radio show of the 1940's. This film features Tom Breneman, the radio show's host, as well as Bonita Granville, Beulah Bondi, Zasu Pitts, Billie Burke and Hedda Hopper. Musical performances are provided by Nat King Cole and the King Cole Trio, along with Spike Jones and his City Slickers.
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Senorita from the West
Title: Senorita from the West
Character: Jeannie Blake
Released: October 12, 1945
Type: Movie
Determined to become a radio singer, a young girl runs away from her family. She hooks up with a man who is actually the real voice of a famous radio crooner, who actually can't sing at all.
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The Beautiful Cheat
Title: The Beautiful Cheat
Character: Alice
Released: July 20, 1945
Type: Movie
The title character, played by Bonita Granville, is the secretary at a boys' reformatory. Sociology professor Noah Beery Jr. shows up to study the juvenile-delinquent mindset. Not surprisingly, he ends up taking a post-grad course in amour from the winsome Ms. Granville.
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Youth Runs Wild
Title: Youth Runs Wild
Character: Toddy Jones
Released: September 1, 1944
Type: Movie
The teens of a defense-plant town hop on the road to juvenile delinquency while their parents are busy with the war.
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Song of the Open Road
Title: Song of the Open Road
Character: Bonnie
Released: June 21, 1944
Type: Movie
A beautiful child star tires of life in the spotlight and so disguises herself and sneaks off to join a Civilian Conservation Corps camp to work with normal kids. It doesn't take her long to discover that being "normal" isn't easy as it looks. When a crop is in danger of being ruined because there are not enough people to harvest it, the girl employs some of her famous colleagues to lend a hand. Songs include: "Too Much in Love," "Here It Is Monday," "Delightfully Dangerous," "Hawaiian War Chant" and "Notre Dame."
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Andy Hardy's Blonde Trouble
Title: Andy Hardy's Blonde Trouble
Character: Kay Wilson
Released: May 4, 1944
Type: Movie
Andy is going to Wainwright College as did his father. He sees a pretty blonde on the train and he is alternately winked at or slapped every time he sees her. Andy is clueless. On the train Andy meets Kay and Dr. Standish who are both headed for Wainwright. Andy likes Kay, but Dr. Standish also seems to take an interest in her. Things are going well at College with Kay, but the blonde is nice one minute and ignores Andy the next. When Andy finds out that the blonde is really identical twins, he tries to help them out with their father but gets caught at their rooming house after midnight.
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Hitler's Children
Title: Hitler's Children
Character: Anna Miller
Released: January 6, 1943
Type: Movie
This lurid exposé of the Hitler Youth follows the woes of an American girl declared legally German by the Nazi government.
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Seven Miles from Alcatraz
Title: Seven Miles from Alcatraz
Character: Anne Porter
Released: November 18, 1942
Type: Movie
After Pearl Harbor, convicts at Alcatraz prison live in fear of bomb attacks, driving Champ Larkin and his pal Jimbo to a desperate escape attempt which lands them on a tiny lighthouse island, where they take over. The five inhabitants are stymied in their efforts to summon aid. But the island also figures in the schemes of a big Nazi spy ring; which will win out, the gangsters' greed or their patriotism?
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Now, Voyager
Title: Now, Voyager
Character: June Vale
Released: October 22, 1942
Type: Movie
A woman suffers a nervous breakdown and an oppressive mother before being freed by the love of a man she meets on a cruise.
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The Glass Key
Title: The Glass Key
Character: Opal 'Snip' Madvig
Released: September 8, 1942
Type: Movie
A crooked politician finds himself being accused of murder by a gangster from whom he refused help during a re-election campaign.
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Syncopation
Title: Syncopation
Character: Kit Latimer
Released: May 22, 1942
Type: Movie
A young trumpeter rises through the jazz world and finds love.
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H.M. Pulham, Esq.
Title: H.M. Pulham, Esq.
Character: Mary Pulham
Released: December 4, 1941
Type: Movie
A man who lived his life as he was told he should, not as he would have chosen to, is brought out of his shell by a beautiful young woman.
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Screen Snapshots Series 21 No. 1
Title: Screen Snapshots Series 21 No. 1
Character: Self
Released: August 15, 1941
Type: Movie
This edition of Screen Snapshots has more of a vaudeville flavor as opposed to Ralph Staub's usual candid-camera at home with the stars offerings. Ken Murray, assisted by the Brewer Twins, is the MC, while the Andrews Sisters sing "In Apple Blossom Time" and the pre-"Uncle Miltie" Milton Berle plays his clarinet. The rest of the players, with contract-player faces belonging to 20th-Century Fox, RKO Radio, Universal and Columbia, just pass through. Production Number 3851.
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Down in San Diego
Title: Down in San Diego
Character: Betty Haines
Released: August 1, 1941
Type: Movie
A group of neighborhood teenagers discover some suspicious goings-on near a naval base in San Diego, and suspect that a foreign espionage ring is at work trying to find out military secrets.
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The People Vs. Dr. Kildare
Title: The People Vs. Dr. Kildare
Character: Frances Marlowe
Released: May 2, 1941
Type: Movie
An ice skater sues Kildare (Lew Ayres) for malpractice after his roadside first aid leaves her paralyzed.
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The Wild Man of Borneo
Title: The Wild Man of Borneo
Character: Francine 'Frankie' Diamond
Released: January 24, 1941
Type: Movie
A medicine show man tries to con people into believing he's a legitimate stage actor.
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Gallant Sons
Title: Gallant Sons
Character: Kate Pendleton
Released: November 15, 1940
Type: Movie
When a teenager's father is accused of murder, the boy and his high-school classmates set out to find the real killer.
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Escape
Title: Escape
Character: Ursula
Released: November 1, 1940
Type: Movie
An American goes to Germany to find his mother and discovers her in a concentration camp. With the help of an American-born widowed countess he seeks to engineer her escape.
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Third Finger, Left Hand
Title: Third Finger, Left Hand
Character: Vicky Sherwood
Released: October 11, 1940
Type: Movie
Magazine editor Margot Merrick pretends to be married in order to avoid advances from male colleagues. Unfortunately, things don't go to plan when Jeff Thompson, a potential suitor, uncovers the deception and decides to show up at Margot's family home posing as her husband!
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Those Were the Days!
Title: Those Were the Days!
Character: Martha Scroggs
Released: July 14, 1940
Type: Movie
At a family gathering, an elderly man reflects on the follies of his youth during his freshman year at college.
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The Mortal Storm
Title: The Mortal Storm
Character: Elsa
Released: June 20, 1940
Type: Movie
The Roth family leads a quiet life in a small village in the German Alps during the early 1930s. When the Nazis come to power, the family is divided and Martin Brietner, a family friend is caught up in the turmoil.
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Forty Little Mothers
Title: Forty Little Mothers
Character: Doris
Released: April 26, 1940
Type: Movie
An out-of-work professor gets a break from an old college buddy to teach at an exclusive girl's school. But events conspire against him: he finds an abandoned child which he takes under his wing, despite the school's rules against teachers having a family; and the girls in the school resent his replacing a handsome and popular teacher, and do everything in their power to get him fired.
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Nancy Drew and the Hidden Staircase
Title: Nancy Drew and the Hidden Staircase
Character: Nancy Drew
Released: September 9, 1939
Type: Movie
Nancy helps two aging spinsters fulfill the byzantine provisions of their father's will, but the murder of their chauffeur complicates matters.
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Angels Wash Their Faces
Title: Angels Wash Their Faces
Character: Peggy Finnegan
Released: August 26, 1939
Type: Movie
A young man just released from a reformatory moves to a new neighborhood with his sister, intending to start a new life. However, he gets mixed up with the local mob boss and corrupt politicians and soon finds himself being framed for an arson and murder he didn't commit.
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Nancy Drew... Trouble Shooter
Title: Nancy Drew... Trouble Shooter
Character: Nancy Drew
Released: June 17, 1939
Type: Movie
When a close friend of the Drew family is accused of murder in a rural community, Nancy, aided by boyfriend Ted, helps her lawyer father expose the real killers.
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Nancy Drew... Reporter
Title: Nancy Drew... Reporter
Character: Nancy Drew
Released: February 18, 1939
Type: Movie
While participating in a contest at a local newspaper in which school children are asked to submit a news story, local attorney Carson Drew's daughter Nancy intercepts a real story assignment. She "covers" the inquest of the death of a woman who was poisoned. Nancy doesn't think the young woman accused of the crime is guilty and corrals her neighbor Ted into searching for a vital piece of evidence and stumbles onto the identity of the real killer.
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Breakdowns of 1938
Title: Breakdowns of 1938
Character: Nancy Drew (archive footage) (uncredited)
Released: December 31, 1938
Type: Movie
Flubs and bloopers that occurred on the set of some of the major Warner Bros. pictures of 1938.
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Nancy Drew… Detective
Title: Nancy Drew… Detective
Character: Nancy Drew
Released: November 19, 1938
Type: Movie
After a wealthy dowager who has made a substantial donation to her alma mater suddenly disappears, Nancy Drew sets out to solve the mystery.
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Hard to Get
Title: Hard to Get
Character: Connie Richards
Released: November 5, 1938
Type: Movie
When spoiled young heiress Maggie Richards tries to charge some gasoline at an auto camp run by Bill Davis, he makes her work out her bill by making beds. Resolving to get even, she pretends to have forgiven him, and sends him to her father to get financing for a plan Bill has. What happens next was not part of her original revenge plan.
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My Bill
Title: My Bill
Character: Gwen Colbrook
Released: July 8, 1938
Type: Movie
An impoverished widow fights scandal for the sake of her four children.
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White Banners
Title: White Banners
Character: Sally Ward
Released: June 23, 1938
Type: Movie
A homeless woman named Hannah drifts into the lives of the kindly Ward family, in a small Indiana town in 1919. Hannah makes herself useful as a cook and housekeeper and stays with the Wards... but her real interest is in meeting their neighbor, teenager Peter Trimble. It turns out that Peter is the son she bore out of wedlock and gave up for adoption, and now Hannah has returned to town to see what sort of young man her son has become.
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The Beloved Brat
Title: The Beloved Brat
Character: Roberta Morgan
Released: April 30, 1938
Type: Movie
Roberta Morgan is being raised in a wealthy home where her mother is occupied with her society-club activities and her father is immersed in his business activities. She also feels that the household staff is against her and that no one understands her needs and problems. Things spiral out of control.
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Merrily We Live
Title: Merrily We Live
Character: Marian Kilbourne
Released: March 4, 1938
Type: Movie
Society matron Emily Kilbourne has a habit of hiring ex-cons and hobos as servants. Her latest find is a handsome tramp who shows up at her doorstep and ends up in a chauffeur's uniform. He also catches the eye of Geraldine.
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It's Love I'm After
Title: It's Love I'm After
Character: Gracie Kane
Released: October 8, 1937
Type: Movie
An infatuated debutante renews a Shakespearean actor's running feud with his leading lady.
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Call It a Day
Title: Call It a Day
Character: Ann Hilton
Released: April 17, 1937
Type: Movie
The various members of the middle-class Hilton family have a series of romantic misadventures during one eventful spring day.
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Quality Street
Title: Quality Street
Character: Isabella
Released: March 26, 1937
Type: Movie
In the 1810s, an old maid poses as her own niece in order to teach her onetime beau a lesson.
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Maid of Salem
Title: Maid of Salem
Character: Ann
Released: February 12, 1937
Type: Movie
When a young woman named Barbara Clarke has an affair with adventurer Roger Coverman, it causes a scandal in the Puritanical town of Salem, Massachusetts. After a meddling girl arouses their suspicions, the town's elders accuse Barbara of being a witch. She is tried, convicted of sorcery and sentenced to death. As the townspeople prepare to burn Barbara at the stake, Roger tries desperately to save the woman he loves.
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The Plough and the Stars
Title: The Plough and the Stars
Character: Mollser Gogan
Released: December 26, 1936
Type: Movie
A husband clashes with his wife over his membership to the Irish citizen army during the Easter rebellion.
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The Garden of Allah
Title: The Garden of Allah
Character: Convent Girl (uncredited)
Released: October 14, 1936
Type: Movie
The star-crossed desert romance of a cloistered woman and a renegade monk.
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These Three
Title: These Three
Character: Mary Tilford
Released: March 18, 1936
Type: Movie
Martha and Karen graduate from college and turn an old Massachusetts farm into a school for girls. The friends are aided in their venture by local doctor Joe Cardin, who begins a relationship with Karen, and a prominent woman whose granddaughter, Mary, later enrolls in the new school. Mary soon reveals herself to be a spiteful child and tells a scandalous lie about Martha and Joe that threatens to destroy the lives of all involved.
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Song of the Saddle
Title: Song of the Saddle
Character: Jen as a Child
Released: February 28, 1936
Type: Movie
Frank Sr. sells his supplies to Hook, but then Hook has the Bannion Boys bushwhack his wagon to get the money back. Frank is murdered, but Junior gets away. He comes back 10 years later to settle the score as the Singing Cowboy. He finds that Hook is still doing his dirty deeds on the unsuspecting people. Along the way, Frank meets the lovely Jen, who came out in the same wagon train 10 years before.
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Ah, Wilderness!
Title: Ah, Wilderness!
Character: Mildred Miller
Released: December 25, 1935
Type: Movie
At the turn of the century, a young man graduates high school and realizes the joys and sorrows of growing up, with some loving help and guidance from his wise father. A tender, coming-of-age story, with a wonderful look at a long-gone, but fondly remembered, small town America.
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The Life of Vergie Winters
Title: The Life of Vergie Winters
Character: Joan Shadwell as a Child (uncredited)
Released: June 14, 1934
Type: Movie
A small town politician, kept from marrying the love of his life, eventually marries another woman and his career ascends, but he secretly continues the relationship with his true love.
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Little Women
Title: Little Women
Character: Amy's Classmate (uncredited)
Released: November 24, 1933
Type: Movie
Little Women is a coming-of-age drama tracing the lives of four sisters: Meg, Jo, Beth and Amy. During the American Civil War, the girls father is away serving as a minister to the troops. The family, headed by their beloved Marmee, must struggle to make ends meet, with the help of their kind and wealthy neighbor, Mr. Laurence, and his high spirited grandson Laurie.
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Cradle Song
Title: Cradle Song
Character: Carmen (uncredited)
Released: November 19, 1933
Type: Movie
In a deeply cloistered convent, nun Dorothea Wieck (Mädchen in Uniform) raises a foundling to be Evelyn Venable. But at 17, what if, guided by a kindly doctor, she sees the world and finds love?
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Cavalcade
Title: Cavalcade
Character: Young Fanny
Released: February 8, 1933
Type: Movie
A cavalcade of English life from New Year's Eve 1899 until 1933 is seen through the eyes of well-to-do Londoners Jane and Robert Marryot. Amongst events touching their family are the Boer War, the death of Queen Victoria, the sinking of the Titanic, and the Great War.
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Silver Dollar
Title: Silver Dollar
Character: Liddy (uncredited)
Released: December 22, 1932
Type: Movie
A farmer strikes it rich out West, then leaves his wife for a young beauty.
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Westward Passage
Title: Westward Passage
Character: Little Olivia Allen (age 9)
Released: May 27, 1932
Type: Movie
A struggling writer divorces his wife to pursue his career without interference, but they meet in Europe years later after she has remarried.