William Frawley

William Frawley

Born: February 25, 1887
Died: March 3, 1966
in Burlington, Iowa, USA
William Frawley was born in Burlington, Iowa. As a boy he sang at St. Paul's Catholic Church and played at the Burlington Opera House. His first job was as a stenographer for the Union Pacific Railroad. He did vaudeville with his brother Paul, then joined pianist Franz Rath in an act they took to San Francisco in 1910. Four years later he formed a light comedy act with his new wife Edna Louise Broedt, "Frawley and Louise", touring the Orpheum and Keith circuits until they divorced in 1927. He next moved to Broadway and then, in 1932, to Hollywood with Paramount. By 1951, when he contacted Lucille Ball about a part in her TV show I Love Lucy (1951), he had performed in over 100 films. His Fred Mertz role lasted until the show ended in 1960, after which he did a five-year stint on My Three Sons (1960). Poor health forced his retirement. He collapsed of a heart attack on March 3, 1966, aged 79, walking along Hollywood Boulevard after seeing a movie. He is buried in San Fernando Mission Cemetery.

Movies for William Frawley...

I Love Lucy Christmas Special
Title: I Love Lucy Christmas Special
Released: December 2, 2016
Type: Movie
Celebrate the holidays with the I LOVE LUCY CHRISTMAS SPECIAL, a new one-hour special featuring two back-to-back colorized classic episodes of the series. In "The Fashion Show," Lucy's lifelong dream of appearing in a motion picture seems to have come true when Ricky arranges for her to play a showgirl in a new musical. Unfortunately, the enormous feathered headdress she is expected to wear as she descends a staircase proves to be too cumbersome. After numerous mishaps on the stairs, the musical's frustrated director decides to make a change.
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Title: The Lucy Show
Character: Trainer
Released: October 1, 1962
Type: TV
The Lucy Show is an American sitcom that aired on CBS from 1962–68. It was Lucille Ball's follow-up to I Love Lucy. A significant change in cast and premise for the 1965–66 season divides the program into two distinct eras; aside from Ball, only Gale Gordon, who joined the program for its second season, remained. For the first three seasons, Vivian Vance was the co-star. The earliest scripts were entitled The Lucille Ball Show, but when this title was declined, producers thought of calling the show This Is Lucy or The New Adventures of Lucy, before deciding on the title The Lucy Show. Ball won consecutive Emmy Awards as Outstanding Lead Actress in a Comedy Series for the series' final two seasons, 1966–67 and 1967–68.
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Title: The Tonight Show Starring Johnny Carson
Character: Self
Released: October 1, 1962
Type: TV
The Tonight Show Starring Johnny Carson is a talk show hosted by Johnny Carson under The Tonight Show franchise from 1962 to 1992. It originally aired during late-night. For its first ten years, Carson's Tonight Show was based in New York City with occasional trips to Burbank, California; in May 1972, the show moved permanently to Burbank, California. In 2002, The Tonight Show Starring Johnny Carson was ranked #12 on TV Guide's 50 Greatest TV Shows of All Time.
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Safe at Home!
Title: Safe at Home!
Character: Bill Turner
Released: April 13, 1962
Type: Movie
A Florida boy (Bryan Russell) tells his Little League buddies that his father knows two New York Yankees (Mickey Mantle, Roger Maris).
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Title: My Three Sons
Character: Bub O'Casey
Released: September 29, 1960
Type: TV
A widower and aeronautical engineer named Steven Douglas raises three sons with the help of his father-in-law, and later the boys' great-uncle. An adopted son, a stepdaughter, wives, and another generation of sons join the loving family in later seasons.
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Title: Westinghouse Desilu Playhouse
Released: October 6, 1958
Type: TV
Westinghouse Desilu Playhouse is an American television anthology series produced by Desilu Productions. The show ran on CBS television between 1958 and 1960. Two of its 48 episodes served as pilots for the 1950s television series The Twilight Zone and The Untouchables.
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Title: The Lucy–Desi Comedy Hour
Character: Fred Mertz
Released: November 6, 1957
Type: TV
The Lucy–Desi Comedy Hour is a collection of thirteen one-hour specials airing occasionally from 1957 to 1960, and originally served as part of Westinghouse Desilu Playhouse. Its original network title was The Ford Lucille Ball-Desi Arnaz Show for the first season, and The Westinghouse Desilu Playhouse Presents The Lucille Ball-Desi Arnaz Show for the following seasons. It was the successor to the classic comedy, I Love Lucy, and featured the same major cast members. The production schedule avoided the grind of a regular weekly series. Desilu produced the show, which was mostly filmed at their Los Angeles studios with occasional on-location shoots at Lake Arrowhead, Las Vegas and Sun Valley, Idaho. CBS reran the show under the "Lucy-Desi" title during the summers of 1962-1967, after which it went into syndication.
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Lucy's Really Lost Moments
Title: Lucy's Really Lost Moments
Character: Fred Mertz
Released: January 1, 1956
Type: Movie
The legendary Lucille Ball as you've never seen her before! Laugh along with Lucy and Desi in these extremely rare television appearances, beautifully restored! Includes a rare appearance of the I Love Lucy cast on the Bob Hope Show and the lost Lucy pilot. A must-have collection of gems from the first lady of comedy! - The I Love Lucy cast on the Bob Hope Show - Westinghouse special with Lucy and Desi - Segment with Lucy on the game show I've Got a Secret with panelist Johnny Carson - A rare lost Lucy pilot directed by Desi.
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The Dirty Look
Title: The Dirty Look
Released: January 1, 1954
Type: Movie
The Dirty Look is a 1954 comedy-short film, directed by Robert Altman, with Leonard Belove and William Frawley. Duration 24 minutes. This 1954 film was used by the Gulf Oil Company as a training film on keeping your Gulf Oil filling station clean.
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Title: Letter to Loretta
Character: Sam
Released: September 20, 1953
Type: TV
Letter to Loretta is an American anthology drama series telecast on NBC from September 1953 to June 1961 for a total of 165 episodes. The filmed show was hosted by Loretta Young who also played the lead in various episodes. Letter to Loretta was sponsored by Procter & Gamble from 1953 through 1960. The final season's sponsor was Warner-Lambert's Listerine.
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I Love Lucy: The Movie
Title: I Love Lucy: The Movie
Character: Fred Mertz
Released: January 1, 1953
Type: Movie
The film plays out, with three first-season episodes edited together into a single story: "The Benefit", "Breaking the Lease", and "The Ballet", with new footage included between episodes to help transition the episodes into one coherent storyline. As the series routinely took the format of filming scenes in chronological order, this adds to the "show within a show within a show" format of the film, as viewers watch the cast perform the episodes live. The film itself ends with a "curtain call", as the cast comes out and Arnaz thanks the audience for their support.
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Title: This Is Your Life
Character: Self
Released: October 1, 1952
Type: TV
This Is Your Life is an American television documentary series broadcast on NBC, originally hosted by its producer, Ralph Edwards from 1952 to 1961. In the show, the host surprises a guest, and proceeds to take them through their life in front of an audience, including special guest appearances by colleagues, friends and family. Edwards revived the show in 1971-72, while Joseph Campanella hosted a version in 1983. Edwards returned for some specials in the late 1980s, before his death in 2005. The show originated as a radio show on NBC Radio airing from 1948 to 1952.
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Rancho Notorious
Title: Rancho Notorious
Character: Baldy Gunder
Released: March 6, 1952
Type: Movie
A man in search of revenge infiltrates a ranch, hidden in an inhospitable region, where its owner, Altar Keane, gives shelter to outlaws fleeing from the law in exchange for a price.
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Title: I Love Lucy
Character: Fred Mertz
Released: October 15, 1951
Type: TV
Cuban Bandleader Ricky Ricardo would be happy if his wife Lucy would just be a housewife. Instead she tries constantly to perform at the Tropicana where he works, and make life comically frantic in the apartment building they share with landlords Fred and Ethel Mertz, who also happen to be their best friends.
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Rhubarb
Title: Rhubarb
Character: Len Sickles
Released: August 29, 1951
Type: Movie
Rich, eccentric T.J. Banner adopts a feral cat who becomes an affectionate pet he names Rhubarb. Then T.J. dies, leaving to Rhubarb most of his money and a pro baseball team, the Brooklyn Loons. When the team protests, publicist Eric Yeager convinces them Rhubarb is good luck. But Eric's fiancée Polly seems to be allergic to cats, and the team's success may mean new hazards for Rhubarb.
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Abbott and Costello Meet the Invisible Man
Title: Abbott and Costello Meet the Invisible Man
Character: Det. Roberts
Released: April 12, 1951
Type: Movie
As novice detectives, Bud and Lou come face to face with the Invisible Man.
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The Lemon Drop Kid
Title: The Lemon Drop Kid
Character: Gloomy Willie
Released: April 2, 1951
Type: Movie
When the Lemon Drop Kid accidentally cheats gangster Moose Moran out of his track winnings, the Kid promises to repay Moose the money by Christmas. Creating a fake charity for "Apple Annie" Nellie Thursday, the Kid tricks his gang into donning Santa suits and "collecting dough for old dolls" like Nellie who have nowhere to live.
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Pretty Baby
Title: Pretty Baby
Character: Corcoran
Released: September 16, 1950
Type: Movie
A young woman living in Manhattan pretends to be the mother of an infant in order to get a seat on the subway.
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Kiss Tomorrow Goodbye
Title: Kiss Tomorrow Goodbye
Character: Byers
Released: August 19, 1950
Type: Movie
Ralph Cotter, a ruthless criminal, escapes violently from a farm prison. Then, he seduces a dead inmate’s sister, gets back quickly into the crime business, faces corrupt local cops who run the city’s underworld and meets a powerful tycoon’s whimsical daughter.
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Kill the Umpire
Title: Kill the Umpire
Character: Jimmy O'Brien
Released: April 27, 1950
Type: Movie
Ex-baseball player Bill Johnson, failing at many jobs when his ball-playing days are over, reluctantly takes the advice of his father-in-law, Jonah Evans, a retired umpire, and enters an umpire-training school. Assigned to the Texas League, he does fine until the championship play-offs when a riot develops over one of his calls. The involved player is knocked unconscious in the proceedings and cannot verify that Bill made the correct call. Despite lynch mob plans to at least tar-and-feather him, Bill's family - his daughters Lucy (Gloria Henry and Susan and his wife Betty - help Bill reach the ballpark safely the next day through a series of hair-raising encounters.
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Title: The Bob Hope Show
Character: Self
Released: April 9, 1950
Type: TV
The Bob Hope Show hosted by Bob Hope, debuted on April 9, 1950. During the 1952-1953 season, NBC rotated with other variety shows in a Sunday night block known as "The Colgate Comedy Hour" (Sept. 1950 to Dec. 1955). Also known as, "The Chevy Show with Bob Hope." When the first special debuted in October of 1950 it was the most expensive television program made up to that point - costing an astronomical $1,500 a minute to produce. Bob Hope had his own television show and radio show at the same time. For the next three seasons, The Bob Hope Show was broadcast once a month on Tuesday nights, giving Milton Berle a week off. Bob ended his radio show in April, 1956. Bob Hope also had another show by a similar name, "The Bob Hope Show (All Star Revue)". In addition, he performed in "Specials" for many years. It is the longest running variety program in television's history with a record of 45 years of televised entertainment.
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Blondie's Hero
Title: Blondie's Hero
Character: Marty Greer
Released: March 9, 1950
Type: Movie
Dagwood enters the Army Reserve and Blondie visits only to discover that he has caused all sorts of problems which lead to numerous conflicts.
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East Side, West Side
Title: East Side, West Side
Character: Bill the Bartender
Released: December 22, 1949
Type: Movie
A vain businessman puts strains on his happy marriage to a rich, beautiful socialite by allowing himself to be seduced by a former girlfriend.
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The Lady Takes a Sailor
Title: The Lady Takes a Sailor
Character: Oliver Harker
Released: December 16, 1949
Type: Movie
Jennifer Smith heads a "Consumer Reports"-type company and her reputation for honesty is her greatest asset. While out boating one day she encounters a secret prototype submarine piloted by Bill Craig. Trying to explain her absence after her boat sinks becomes very difficult as Bill and his cohorts attempt to discredit her story.
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Title: The Ed Wynn Show
Character: Self
Released: October 6, 1949
Type: TV
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Red Light
Title: Red Light
Character: Hotel Night Clerk
Released: September 30, 1949
Type: Movie
Nick Cherney, in prison for embezzling from Torno Freight Co., sees a chance to get back at Johnny Torno through his young priest brother Jess. He pays fellow prisoner Rocky, who gets out a week before Nick, to murder Jess... who, dying, tells revenge-minded Johnny that he'd written a clue "in the Bible." Frustrated, Johnny obsessively searches for the missing Gideon Bible from Jess's hotel room.
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The Lone Wolf and His Lady
Title: The Lone Wolf and His Lady
Character: Inspector Crane
Released: August 11, 1949
Type: Movie
A newspaper man, and former jewel thief, is accused of gem theft.
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Home in San Antone
Title: Home in San Antone
Character: O'Fleery
Released: April 14, 1949
Type: Movie
Posing as unemployed musicians, Roy Acuff and his Smoky Mountain Boys, are being helped by Ted Gibson owner of the Harmony Inn in San Antonio, Texas. Gibson is impoverished because he keeps buying his kleptomaniac Uncle Zeke out of trouble, supports his Ma, and Grandpa. He wants to marry Jean Wallace, and doesn't know that Acuff and his musicians are traveling incognito for the radio show "Who Am I Helping?" If he guesses their identity, he wins $100,000.
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Chicken Every Sunday
Title: Chicken Every Sunday
Character: George Kirby
Released: January 18, 1949
Type: Movie
A woman takes in boarders to support her husband's harebrained financial schemes.
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The Girl from Manhattan
Title: The Girl from Manhattan
Character: Mr. Bernouti
Released: October 1, 1948
Type: Movie
A small-town girl who's made it big in New York as a fashion model returns home, only to find that her somewhat dotty uncle has mortgaged his boarding house to the hilt. In her efforts to help him keep his boarding house, she becomes involved with a handsome young minister and his superior, an older bishop.
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Joe Palooka in Winner Take All
Title: Joe Palooka in Winner Take All
Character: Knobby Walsh
Released: September 19, 1948
Type: Movie
Joe is scheduled for the big fight as usual. This one has more fight sequences than plot.
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The Babe Ruth Story
Title: The Babe Ruth Story
Character: Jack Dunn
Released: September 16, 1948
Type: Movie
The baseball player goes from wayward youth to Boston Red Sox pitcher to New York Yankees home-run hero.
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Good Sam
Title: Good Sam
Character: Tom
Released: September 1, 1948
Type: Movie
Sam Clayton has a good heart and likes to help out people in need. In fact, he likes to help them out so much that he often finds himself broke and unable to help his own family buy the things they need--like a house.
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Texas, Brooklyn & Heaven
Title: Texas, Brooklyn & Heaven
Character: Agent
Released: July 16, 1948
Type: Movie
Eddie Tayloe's grandfather leaves him six thousand dollars and the money belt it came in, freeing Tayloe to leave his dull newspaper job in Texas and move to New York to become a playwright. Along the way, his car breaks down and a girl walking along the highway asks for a lift. It turns out she's a nice girl, named Perry, running away from a job at a gasoline station. Soon they're off to New York together, but part ways once they arrive. Time passes and Eddie is failing to sell his play; Perry is failing to find a job. Odd circumstances, involving an old pickpocket named Mandy, bring them together again.
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Title: The Ed Sullivan Show
Character: Self
Released: June 20, 1948
Type: TV
The Ed Sullivan Show is an American TV variety show that originally ran on CBS from Sunday June 20, 1948 to Sunday June 6, 1971, and was hosted by New York entertainment columnist Ed Sullivan. It was replaced in September 1971 by the CBS Sunday Night Movie, which ran only one season and was eventually replaced by other shows. In 2002, The Ed Sullivan Show was ranked #15 on TV Guide's 50 Greatest TV Shows of All Time.
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My Wild Irish Rose
Title: My Wild Irish Rose
Character: William Scanlon
Released: December 24, 1947
Type: Movie
Musical biography of Irish 19th century tenor Chauncey Olcott.
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Blondie's Anniversary
Title: Blondie's Anniversary
Character: Sharkey the Loen Shark
Released: December 18, 1947
Type: Movie
Blondie finds a valuable watch that has been hidden by hubby Dagwood. She assumes that it's a surprise wedding gift, but the truth is that Dagwood has been guarding the watch on behalf of a client who bought the gift for his own wife, which soon leads to trouble with his boss, a loan shark, and crooked building contractors.
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Monsieur Verdoux
Title: Monsieur Verdoux
Character: Jean La Salle
Released: September 26, 1947
Type: Movie
The film is about an unemployed banker, Henri Verdoux, and his sociopathic methods of attaining income. While being both loyal and competent in his work, Verdoux has been laid-off. To make money for his wife and child, he marries wealthy widows and then murders them. His crime spree eventually works against him when two particular widows break his normal routine.
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Down to Earth
Title: Down to Earth
Character: Police Lieutenant
Released: August 21, 1947
Type: Movie
Upset about a new Broadway musical's mockery of Greek mythology, the goddess Terpsichore comes down to earth and lands a part in the show. She works her charms on the show's producer and he incorporates her changes into the show. Unfortunately, her changes also produce a major flop.
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Mother Wore Tights
Title: Mother Wore Tights
Character: Mr. Schneider
Released: August 20, 1947
Type: Movie
In this chronicle of a vaudeville family, Myrtle McKinley (class of 1900) goes to San Francisco to attend business school, but ends up in a chorus line. Soon, star Frank Burt notices her talent, hires her for a "two-act", then marries her. Incidents of the marriage and the growing pains of eldest daughter Miriam are followed, interspersed with nostalgic musical numbers.
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I Wonder Who's Kissing Her Now
Title: I Wonder Who's Kissing Her Now
Character: Jim Mason
Released: July 31, 1947
Type: Movie
A biopic of the career of Joe Howard (12 Feb.,1878 - 19 May, 1961), famous songwriter of the early 20th Century. Howard wrote the title song, Goodbye, My Lady Love; and Hello, My Baby among many others. Mark Stevens was dubbed by Buddy Clark, well known singer of the 30's and 40's
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Miracle on 34th Street
Title: Miracle on 34th Street
Character: Charlie Halloran
Released: June 4, 1947
Type: Movie
Kris Kringle, seemingly the embodiment of Santa Claus, is asked to portray the jolly old fellow at Macy's following his performance in the Thanksgiving Day parade. His portrayal is so complete that many begin to question if he truly is Santa Claus, while others question his sanity.
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Crime Doctor's Man Hunt
Title: Crime Doctor's Man Hunt
Character: Police Inspector Harry B. Manning
Released: October 24, 1946
Type: Movie
A criminal psychologist investigates the murder of a veteran with amnesia.
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The Inner Circle
Title: The Inner Circle
Character: Det. Lt. Webb
Released: August 7, 1946
Type: Movie
A fresh-faced young detective gets set up, framed for murder, and alibied by a smart blonde.
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Rendezvous with Annie
Title: Rendezvous with Annie
Character: General Trent
Released: July 22, 1946
Type: Movie
A homesick American soldier stationed in England during World War II makes an unauthorized trip to see his wife and returns to England with only two people knowing he was home for a few hours. When she learns that she is pregnant, she does not disclose that her husband had paid her a visit as to not get him into trouble. The townspeople are unanimous in their condemnation of her. But, after his discharge, he enlists the aid of a nightclub singer, the only other person who knew he came home.
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The Virginian
Title: The Virginian
Character: Honey Wiggen
Released: May 5, 1946
Type: Movie
Arriving at Medicine Bow, eastern schoolteacher Molly Woods meets two cowboys, irresponsible Steve and the "Virginian," who gets off on the wrong foot with her. To add to his troubles, the Virginian finds that his old pal Steve is mixed up with black-hatted Trampas and his rustlers...then finds himself at the head of a posse after said rustlers; and Molly hates the violent side of frontier life.
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Ziegfeld Follies
Title: Ziegfeld Follies
Character: Mr. Martin (segment A Sweepstakes Ticket)
Released: August 26, 1945
Type: Movie
The late, great impresario Florenz Ziegfeld looks down from heaven and ordains a new revue in his grand old style.
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Lady on a Train
Title: Lady on a Train
Character: Desk Sgt. Brennan
Released: August 3, 1945
Type: Movie
While watching from her train window, Nikki Collins witnesses a murder in a nearby building. When she alerts the police, they think she has read one too many mystery novels. She then enlists a popular mystery writer to help her solve the crime on her own, but her sleuthing attracts the attentions of suitors and killers.
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Hitchhike to Happiness
Title: Hitchhike to Happiness
Character: Sandy Hill
Released: July 16, 1945
Type: Movie
An aspiring playwright gets a job in a New York City restaurant favored by celebrities in hopes of getting a break. Unfortunately, most of them believe that the waiter lacks the talent to make it big. Only an aspiring songwriter, and a former waitress who has become a famous Hollywood radio star, really believe in him. When the ex-waitress drops by the restaurant to say hello, she and the others decide to play a trick on an arrogant producer by making him believe the waiter has written a sure-fire hit. They succeed and the producer puts on the show. The singer gets to be the star. When the show becomes a smash, everyone is surprised. Songs include: "Hitchhike To Happiness," "For You And Me," "Sentimental," and "My Pushover Heart."
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Flame of Barbary Coast
Title: Flame of Barbary Coast
Character: Wolf Wylie
Released: May 28, 1945
Type: Movie
Duke Fergus falls for Ann 'Flaxen' Tarry in the Barbary Coast in turn-of-the-century San Francisco. He loses money to crooked gambler Boss Tito Morell, goes home, learns to gamble, and returns. After he makes a fortune, he opens his own place with Flaxen as the entertainer; but the 1906 quake destroys his place.
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Lake Placid Serenade
Title: Lake Placid Serenade
Character: Jiggers
Released: December 23, 1944
Type: Movie
On a peaceful, pre-war winter in Czechoslovakia, the genial godfather, Jaroslav Haschek, of Vera Hascheck, presents the young girl with her first pair of ice skates. Soon, she astonished the warm-hearted people of her village with her skill, and she is acclaimed a marvel-on-ice.
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Going My Way
Title: Going My Way
Character: Max Dolan (Publisher) (uncredited)
Released: May 15, 1944
Type: Movie
Youthful Father Chuck O'Malley led a colorful life of sports, song, and romance before joining the Roman Catholic clergy. After being appointed to a run-down New York parish, O'Malley's worldly knowledge helps him connect with a gang of boys looking for direction, eventually winning over the aging, conventional Parish priest.
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The Fighting Seabees
Title: The Fighting Seabees
Character: Eddie Powers
Released: January 27, 1944
Type: Movie
Construction workers in World War II in the Pacific are needed to build military sites, but the work is dangerous and they doubt the ability of the Navy to protect them. After a series of attacks by the Japanese, something new is tried, Construction Battalions (CBs=Seabees). The new CBs have to both build and be ready to fight.
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Whistling in Brooklyn
Title: Whistling in Brooklyn
Character: Detective Ramsey
Released: December 1, 1943
Type: Movie
Radio crime show host "The Fox" finds himself on the trail of a serial killer while a suspect himself.
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Larceny with Music
Title: Larceny with Music
Character: Mike Simms
Released: September 10, 1943
Type: Movie
A former bootlegger is now the prosperous owner of a popular nightclub. A hustling promoter manages to pass off a young singer as the heir to a fortune and gets her booked at the club.
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We've Never Been Licked
Title: We've Never Been Licked
Character: Traveling Salesman
Released: July 29, 1943
Type: Movie
Young Brad Craig enters the military school with a chip on his shoulder which upperclassmen quickly knock off. Once adjusted, Craig falls in love with a professor's beautiful daughter, only to find she is in love with his roommate.
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Gentleman Jim
Title: Gentleman Jim
Character: Billy Delaney
Released: November 14, 1942
Type: Movie
As bare-knuckled boxing enters the modern era, brash extrovert Jim Corbett uses new rules and dazzlingly innovative footwork to rise to the top of the boxing world.
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The Yankee Doodler
Title: The Yankee Doodler
Released: November 8, 1942
Type: Movie
Ancestors of music videos, YANKEE DOODLER, ROSIE THE RIVETER, and DEAR ARABELLA were made during World War II for coin-operated jukebox devices found in restaurants, bars and train stations. On built-in glass screens, they projected 16mm films of artists performing popular tunes. These examples, although not in perfect condition, are time capsules of their era. William Frawley was a vaudevillian and musical comedy performer decades before he played Fred Mertz on I Love Lucy.
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Moonlight in Havana
Title: Moonlight in Havana
Character: Barney Crane
Released: October 16, 1942
Type: Movie
Allan Jones stars as hotshot baseball player Johnny Norton, in Havana for spring training. It turns out that Johnny has a beautiful singing voice, but only when he's suffering from a cold. Enterprising nightclub manager Barney Crane (William Frawley) attempts to inflict poor Johnny with cold germs, resulting in unchecked zaniness whenever our hero recovers sufficiently to lose his voice. The film's 63-minute running time manages to accommodate the drunken comedy relief of Hugh O'Connell and Jack Norton, and an abundance of musical numbers, courtesy of Allan Jones, Jane Frazee, the Horton Dancing Group, the Jivin' Jacks and Jills and Grace & Nicco.
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Wildcat
Title: Wildcat
Character: Oliver Westbrook
Released: September 3, 1942
Type: Movie
Wildcatter Johnny Maverick and his pal go to a town in oil country offering $25,000 to the person who brings in the first well. They find oil on the outskirts but have to sell a share to a promoter who hires Johnny's old enemy.
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Give Out, Sisters
Title: Give Out, Sisters
Character: Harrison
Released: September 1, 1942
Type: Movie
The Andrews Sisters headline this musical. They play the lead act at a popular nightclub. The trouble begins when they hire a few students from a financially foundering dance school for their newest production. One of the dancers, a rich young socialite, desperately wants to be in it too, but her prurient maiden aunts refuse to allow her to disgrace their family by becoming a common chorine. She and the club owner (who must have the aunt's permission because the girl is underage) try to convince them, but it's not easy.
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It Happened in Flatbush
Title: It Happened in Flatbush
Character: Sam Sloan
Released: May 28, 1942
Type: Movie
A washed up baseball player returns to Brooklyn to manage his old team but an old sports reporter is eager to prove that he is a loser.
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Roxie Hart
Title: Roxie Hart
Character: O'Malley
Released: February 20, 1942
Type: Movie
A café in Chicago, 1942. On a rainy night, veteran reporter Homer Howard tells an increasing audience the story of Roxie Hart and the crime she was judged for in 1927.
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Treat 'Em Rough
Title: Treat 'Em Rough
Character: 'Hotfoot'
Released: January 30, 1942
Type: Movie
When his father is accused of graft, a former boxer returns home to clear his name.
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Gangs Of The City
Title: Gangs Of The City
Character: Bang
Released: October 30, 1941
Type: Movie
Heiress Bonnie Parker, tired of newspaper stories about her society high-life, gives a false story to energetic reporter Bill Raymond, who has frequently pestered her for a scoop. When Bill is dismissed for the phony item, Bonnie realizes that she carried the prank too far.....
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Blondie in Society
Title: Blondie in Society
Character: Waldo Pincus
Released: July 17, 1941
Type: Movie
Dagwood brings home a pedigreed Great Dane which an important company client wants and which Blondie enters in the big dog show.
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The Bride Came C.O.D.
Title: The Bride Came C.O.D.
Character: Sheriff McGee
Released: July 12, 1941
Type: Movie
A financially-strapped charter pilot hires himself to an oil tycoon to kidnap his madcap daughter and prevent her from marrying a vapid band leader.
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Cracked Nuts
Title: Cracked Nuts
Character: James Mitchell
Released: July 2, 1941
Type: Movie
A young man in a small town wins $5000 in a radio contest. He goes to New York City to propose to his girlfriend, but gets mixed up with a crooked attorney and two con men...
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Footsteps in the Dark
Title: Footsteps in the Dark
Character: Det. 'Hoppy' Hopkins
Released: March 8, 1941
Type: Movie
A high-society gent has a secret life - he writes murder mysteries and hangs out with the police attempting to solve crimes. This causes him no end of problems when his wife wants to know about his little disappearances and exceptionally late nights out.
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Six Lessons From Madame La Zonga
Title: Six Lessons From Madame La Zonga
Character: Chauncey Beheegan
Released: January 17, 1941
Type: Movie
The brash, opinionated owner of a nightclub manages to drive everybody crazy on a boat trip to Havana.
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One Night in the Tropics
Title: One Night in the Tropics
Character: Roscoe
Released: November 15, 1940
Type: Movie
Jim "Lucky" Moore, an insurance salesman, comes up with a novel policy for his friend, Steve: a 'love insurance policy', that will pay out $1-million if Steve does not marry his fiancée, Cynthia. The upcoming marriage is jeopardized by Steve's ex-girlfriend, Mickey, and Cynthia's disapproving Aunt Kitty. The policy is underwritten by a nightclub owner, Roscoe, who sends two enforcers - Abbott and Costello - to ensure that the wedding occurs as planned.
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Sandy Gets Her Man
Title: Sandy Gets Her Man
Character: Police Chief J. A. O'Hara
Released: November 8, 1940
Type: Movie
A young widow lets her baby be the deciding factor as to which eligible bachelor she should marry.
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Dancing on a Dime
Title: Dancing on a Dime
Character: Mac
Released: November 1, 1940
Type: Movie
Director Ted Brooks and comedians Jack Norcross, Dandy Joslyn and Phil Miller are part of a troupe of promising young players rehearsing for a WPA show at the Garrick Theater in New York and are stunned when the government withdraws their funding on the day of the show's dress rehearsal. Destitute, the troupe plans to return home when Mac, the stage doorman, offers to allow four of the men, Phil, Dandy, Jack and Ted, to use the theater for a boardinghouse. After accepting Mac's offer, the men improvise bedrooms out of the set pieces and meet amateur actress Lorie Fenton from Cleveland, who is eager to audition for them. When the men learn she recently received a small inheritance, they allow her to audition, hoping she will back the show.
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The Quarterback
Title: The Quarterback
Character: Coach
Released: October 15, 1940
Type: Movie
A comedy featuring Morris in a dual role as a dumb twin and a star football player, and a smart twin studying to become a college professor. They both are smitten with Kay Merrill as well. Of course, gamblers are also involved.
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Rhythm on the River
Title: Rhythm on the River
Character: Mr. Westlake
Released: August 28, 1940
Type: Movie
Popular songwriter Oliver Courtney has been getting by for years using one ghost writer for his music and another for his lyrics. When both writers meet at an inn, they fall in love and then try to sell their songs under their own name. The problem is every song publisher thinks they're copying Courtney's style.
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Golden Gloves
Title: Golden Gloves
Character: Emory Balzar
Released: August 2, 1940
Type: Movie
An amateur boxer's girlfriend inspires him to face a ring pro entered by a gangster.
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Untamed
Title: Untamed
Character: Les Woodbury
Released: July 24, 1940
Type: Movie
A courageous doctor braves a fierce blizzard in the Canadian wilderness to save a remote community from a deadly epidemic. He has come North to visit and ends up stealing a wife from her husband. When the epidemic hits, he and the wife begin their arduous journey.
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Those Were the Days!
Title: Those Were the Days!
Character: Prisoner
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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Opened by Mistake
Title: Opened by Mistake
Character: Matt Kingsley
Released: May 10, 1940
Type: Movie
A wise-guy reporter and a tippling sportswriter acquire an unclaimed trunk with a corpse inside.
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The Farmer's Daughter
Title: The Farmer's Daughter
Character: Scoop Trimble
Released: March 29, 1940
Type: Movie
Broadway producer Nickie North and press agent Scoop Trimble find an investor for their next show who insists that they cast his ex-girlfriend, Clarice Sheldon, in the lead role and rehearse out of town. The crew set up on a family farm, and all is well until the leading man falls for the farmer's daughter, Patience Bingham. When flighty starlet Sheldon finds out he has a new girlfriend, she takes off, leaving North and Trimble to find a new leading lady.
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Stop, Look and Love
Title: Stop, Look and Love
Character: Joe Haller
Released: September 22, 1939
Type: Movie
Daughter has trouble holding onto boyfriends because of her critical mother until understanding father comes to her aid.
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Night Work
Title: Night Work
Character: Bruiser Brown
Released: August 4, 1939
Type: Movie
The Fitch family is managing an apartment building when the grandfather of their adopted son Butch decides the family isn't worthy of raising his grandson.
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Grand Jury Secrets
Title: Grand Jury Secrets
Character: Bright Eyes
Released: June 23, 1939
Type: Movie
A newspaper reporter gets involved with shady stock promoters when he listens in on a jury room session.
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Ex-Champ
Title: Ex-Champ
Character: Mushy Harrington
Released: May 11, 1939
Type: Movie
A former prizefighter tries to help his son pay off his gambling debts.
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Rose of Washington Square
Title: Rose of Washington Square
Character: Harry Long
Released: May 5, 1939
Type: Movie
Rose Sargent, a Roaring '20s singer, becomes a Ziegfeld Follies star as her criminal husband gets deeper in trouble.
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Persons in Hiding
Title: Persons in Hiding
Character: Alec Inglis
Released: February 10, 1939
Type: Movie
During a stick-up, a woman is excited by the criminal and joins him on his crime spree.
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The Adventures of Huckleberry Finn
Title: The Adventures of Huckleberry Finn
Character: The 'Duke'
Released: February 10, 1939
Type: Movie
Huckleberry Finn, a rambunctious boy adventurer chafing under the bonds of civilization, escapes his humdrum world and his selfish, plotting father by sailing a raft down the Mississippi River.
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St. Louis Blues
Title: St. Louis Blues
Character: Major Martingale
Released: February 3, 1939
Type: Movie
A Broadway musical comedy star tires of the same old grind and flees the city. She runs into the skipper of a showboat who befriends her, and they make plans to put together a musical revue. But a competing carnival owner hatches a scheme to put an end to the show before it begins.
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Ambush
Title: Ambush
Character: Inspector J.L. Weber
Released: January 20, 1939
Type: Movie
Four bandits swoop down on a California bank and flee with $98,000, leaving a truck as the only clue to their identity. Jane Hartman, bank secretary, recognizes the truck as one on which her brother Charles worked. Fleeing to her brother, she is trapped by the gang, composed of its master-mind, Gibbs, Sidney, a gunman, and Randall, a blackballed airplane pilot. Under threat of bodily harm to her brother, she lures truck-driver Tony Andrews to the hideout, and he is forced to help them in their escape attempt.
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Sons of the Legion
Title: Sons of the Legion
Character: Uncle Willie Lee
Released: September 18, 1938
Type: Movie
Sons of The Legion is a film about a group of young men looking to start a squadron in their Legion Post. However, because the boy's father wrongfully received a dishonorable discharge after World War I, his father cannot join the Legion and in turn his son cannot join the squadron [wikipedia]
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Touchdown, Army
Title: Touchdown, Army
Character: Jack Heffernan
Released: August 4, 1938
Type: Movie
Prep football star Jimmy Howal gets a reception far different from what he expected when he enters West Point.
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Professor Beware
Title: Professor Beware
Character: Snoop Donlan
Released: July 29, 1938
Type: Movie
Egyptologist, Dean Lambert, accused of car-theft, skips bail and begins a cross-country trek to join a group in New York headed for Egypt. With the police close on his trail he gets in and out of scrapes along the way.
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Mad About Music
Title: Mad About Music
Character: Dusty Turner
Released: February 27, 1938
Type: Movie
A young woman at a girl's school in Switzerland makes up stories about and writes herself letters from an imaginary explorer-adventurer father; and is eventually put in a position where she has to produce him. Interesting things happen as she talks a visiting Englishman into helping her out.
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Blossoms On Broadway
Title: Blossoms On Broadway
Character: Francis X. Rush
Released: November 19, 1937
Type: Movie
A young singer hopes to become a success on Broadway.
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Something to Sing About
Title: Something to Sing About
Character: Hank Mayers
Released: September 30, 1937
Type: Movie
James Cagney has a rare chance to show his song-and-dance-man roots in this low-budget tale of a New York bandleader struggling with a Hollywood studio boss.
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Double or Nothing
Title: Double or Nothing
Character: John Pederson
Released: September 17, 1937
Type: Movie
A philanthropist's will dictates that four people receive $5,000 apiece, with the stipulation that the first one who can double the amount -- without dishonesty-- will win a cool million. Hindering the four are the avaricious relatives of the late millionaire.
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High, Wide and Handsome
Title: High, Wide and Handsome
Character: Mac
Released: July 21, 1937
Type: Movie
The setting is a small town in 1870s Pennsylvania. Sally Waterson and her father have stopped in town with their traveling medicine show, but when their wagon catches fire, they find themselves stranded. They're taken in by Mrs. Cortlandt and her grandson, Peter, who is trying to set up a pipeline that will supply oil throughout the state. Sally and Peter soon fall in love and marry. Neither their marriage nor Peter's pipe dreams flow too smoothly.
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Rose Bowl
Title: Rose Bowl
Character: 'Soapy' Moreland
Released: November 30, 1936
Type: Movie
Paddy O'Riley and Ossie Merrill, Bellport high school football heroes, enroll in distant colleges; Paddy at a small school in the East, where he is barely a substitute, and Ossie at a powerhouse-football school, where he is an instant star and all-American candidate. They leave behind Cheers Reynolds, who is fond of Paddy, who works in her family's drugstore, but she loves Ossie almost as much as he loves himself. Paddy makes friends with team fullback Dutch Schultz, who accompanies him on vacation, and they arrive back in Bellport just as Ossie is also coming home on break. Florence Taylor is also in town on a film junket. Unknown to any of the others, Paddy and Florence had gone to high school together. Back at school and three years later, Paddy and Dutch learn that their football team could get invited to the coveted Rose Bowl to play against Ossie's team, if it could get enough publicity (pre-BCS days) that would attract a large crowd...
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The General Died at Dawn
Title: The General Died at Dawn
Character: Brighton
Released: November 17, 1936
Type: Movie
China, 1930s, during the ravaging civil war. General Pen entrusts O'Hara, an intrepid American adventurer, with the mission of providing a large sum of money to Mr. Wu with the task of buying weapons in Shanghai to help end General Yang's tyranny that keeps an entire province under his ruthless iron boot.
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Three Married Men
Title: Three Married Men
Character: Bill Mullins
Released: September 24, 1936
Type: Movie
Jennie Mullins and her fiancé Peter Cary are happily in love but their families are miserable about their relationship. The Carys and Mullinses have been feuding for years over the apparent failure of the Carys' business which was caused by the now-deceased Mr. Mullins. Despite familial pressure to the contrary, Jennie and Peter proceed with their wedding. Just before the wedding, Peter receives advice from his soon-to-be brothers-in-law, Jeff and Bill Mullins. Both men warn him about the drudgery of marriage, ply him with drink, and destroy his fantasy of an ideal, romantic marriage.
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The Princess Comes Across
Title: The Princess Comes Across
Character: Benton
Released: May 22, 1936
Type: Movie
A Swedish princess boards an ocean liner in Europe en route to an acting career in America and finds herself getting inconveniently attached to a bandleader returning home. To complicate matters, a blackmailer on board apparently knows she is not who she claims to be - and he has his sights set on other passengers with secrets of their own. In the meantime an escaped killer has stowed away under someone else's identity, and is killing again to cover his tracks; five international police detectives on board are heading the investigation to find him. When evidence points to the princess and bandleader, they must find the killer themselves - before he finds them.
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F-Man
Title: F-Man
Character: Detective Rogan
Released: May 2, 1936
Type: Movie
Johnny Dime has aspiration of becoming a "G-Man" , gums up the work of Rogan, an actual government agent is his pursuit of Public Enemy No. 1. Dimes ambitious goal is to improve his "F" rating to a "G". His sweetheart, Evelyn hopes to not get shot in the process.
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Desire
Title: Desire
Character: Mr. Gibson
Released: April 11, 1936
Type: Movie
Madeleine steals a string of pearls in Paris and uses US engineer Tom, who is driving on his vacation to Spain, to get the pearls out of France. But getting the pearls back from him proves to be difficult without falling in love.
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Strike Me Pink
Title: Strike Me Pink
Character: Mr. Copple
Released: January 24, 1936
Type: Movie
Meek Eddie Pink becomes manager of an amusement park beset by mobsters.
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Ship Cafe
Title: Ship Cafe
Character: Briney O'Brien
Released: November 9, 1935
Type: Movie
The singing stoker and the vamp.
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Harmony Lane
Title: Harmony Lane
Character: Edwin P. 'Ed' Christy
Released: October 22, 1935
Type: Movie
The life and loves of composer Stephen Foster, from his early success through his decline, degradation, and death from alcoholism.
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It's a Great Life
Title: It's a Great Life
Character: Lt. McNulty
Released: October 4, 1935
Type: Movie
Desperate for work, Johnny Barclay leaves Ma and Grandpop to join the newly formed Civilian Conversation Corps. On the way he meets cynical young hobo Roscoe "Rockie" Johnson, and, although Rockie believes that hopping freight trains is a great life, Johnny convinces him to join the Corps.
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Welcome Home
Title: Welcome Home
Character: Painless
Released: August 9, 1935
Type: Movie
A con artist attends a reunion in his hometown and discovers that his former classmates are trying to trick an old millionaire into returning to build a factory.
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College Scandal
Title: College Scandal
Character: Chief of Police Magoun
Released: June 21, 1935
Type: Movie
Julie Fresnel is a co-ed at Redgate University and her father, Dr. Henri Fresnel, is the new French professor. Julie attraction from the make students drops a bit when two of her admirers are found murdered. When an attempt on the life of a third one is made. Seth Dunlap, an instructor at the school, decides to turn detective and find the killer. Assisted by his sister, who is in love with the third student, Dunlap begins to follow the the small trail of clues left by the killer.
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Alibi Ike
Title: Alibi Ike
Character: Cap
Released: June 15, 1935
Type: Movie
Idiosyncratic new recruit Francis "Ike" Farrell tries to help the Cubs to the pennant with his pitching and hitting.
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Hold 'Em Yale
Title: Hold 'Em Yale
Character: Sunshine Joe
Released: April 27, 1935
Type: Movie
A pretty young socialite falls for a charming but shady hustler, who abandons her when he finds that she has been disowned by her wealthy father. Three of the hustler's partners, who have also been left high and dry by heir former associate, come up with a plan to get her to the annual Yale-Harvard football game to reunite with her former sweetheart, an honest but nerdy bookworm.
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Roberta
Title: Roberta
Character: Bartender
Released: March 7, 1935
Type: Movie
Football player John Kent tags along as Huck Haines and the Wabash Indianians travel to an engagement in Paris, only to lose it immediately. John and company visit his aunt, owner of a posh fashion house run by her assistant, Stephanie. There they meet the singer Scharwenka (alias Huck's old friend Lizzie), who gets the band a job. Meanwhile, Madame Roberta passes away and leaves the business to John and he goes into partnership with Stephanie.
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Car 99
Title: Car 99
Character: Training Sgt. Barrel
Released: March 2, 1935
Type: Movie
A story of the Michigan State Police and the strong sense of loyalty and duty it instills in its men. It follows the career of a newly-inducted rookie, Ross Martin, who has joined the force at the urging of his sweetheart, Mary Adams. Martin soon distinguishes himself by his bravery in the apprehension of criminals. But when the leader of a gang of bank robbers falls into his hands and then escapes, because of carelessness on Martin's part, he is suspended from the force.
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Here Is My Heart
Title: Here Is My Heart
Character: James Smith
Released: December 28, 1934
Type: Movie
A rich and famous singer disguises himself as a waiter in order to be near the woman he loves, a European princess.
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The Lemon Drop Kid
Title: The Lemon Drop Kid
Character: William Dunhill aka The Professor
Released: September 27, 1934
Type: Movie
The Lemon Drop Kid is a fast-talking racetrack bum who swindles $100 from an old, ailing man. He takes it on the lam with his sidekick, The Professor.
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Shoot the Works
Title: Shoot the Works
Character: Larry Hale
Released: July 18, 1934
Type: Movie
The story of seedy sideshow barker Nicky, who uses everyone he meets to get ahead. Nicky isn't even above exploiting his singing sweetheart Lily to suit his purposes, but this time it is he who ends up the loser -- at least until he gets wise to himself.
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The Witching Hour
Title: The Witching Hour
Character: Jury Foreman
Released: April 26, 1934
Type: Movie
Jack Brookfield, a gambler with clairvoyant and hypnotic powers, is able to win at cards through his unique gift. But when he inadvertently hypnotizes young Clay Thorne, Thorne kills an enemy of Brookfield's while under a trance. No one believes Brookfield's protestations that Thorne is innocent of any murderous intent, so Brookfield teams up with retired lawyer Martin Prentice in hopes of saving the young man from the gallows.
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The Crime Doctor
Title: The Crime Doctor
Character: Fraser
Released: March 14, 1934
Type: Movie
When he finds out that his wife is having an affair, a criminologist commits the perfect murder--and pins the crime on his wife's boyfriend so well that the man is convicted of the murder.
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Bolero
Title: Bolero
Character: Mike DeBaere
Released: February 23, 1934
Type: Movie
The complicated relationship between an ambitious, ruthless nightclub dancer and the woman he loves.
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Miss Fane's Baby Is Stolen
Title: Miss Fane's Baby Is Stolen
Character: Captain Murphy
Released: January 12, 1934
Type: Movie
Miss Madeline Fane is a famous California screen star who has been devoted to her baby son Michael since her husband's death the previous year. One morning she awakens to find Michael has been kidnapped. After a day, she calls in the police, who instantly begin an all-out search.
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Moonlight and Pretzels
Title: Moonlight and Pretzels
Character: Mac
Released: August 1, 1933
Type: Movie
A song plugger is stranded in a small town. There he meets a girl who later helps him to put on a show on Broadway.
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Ventriloquist
Title: Ventriloquist
Character: 'Hoak' salesman
Released: January 1, 1927
Type: Movie
A street corner fast-pitch salesman for something called "Hoak" stops a girl walking by to give his spiel.
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Should Husbands Be Watched?
Title: Should Husbands Be Watched?
Character: Beat Cop
Released: March 14, 1925
Type: Movie
Mr. Jump has come into some money and informs his wife that they can now hire a maid and won't have to do anymore housework. Circumstances cause Mrs. Jump to suspect that Mr. Jump is cavorting with the new maid.
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Hell and High Water
Title: Hell and High Water
Character: Milton J. Bunsey
Released: December 31, 1969
Type: Movie
The life of an avowed bachelor who tows garbage is changed when he meets a runaway taxi dancer.