Welcome To Poverty Row

Here's a horror film with a sense of humor. From Monogram Pictures in 1940, we present Marcia Mae Jones and Jackie Moran starring in "Haunted House." The cast includes George Cleveland, Christian Rub, and Henry Hall. Original story by Jack K. Leonard and Monty Collins; screen play by Dorothy Reid. Directed by Robert McGowan.

From Majestic Pictures in 1933, we present "The Vampire Bat." This picture stars Lionel Atwill, Fay Wray, Melvyn Douglas, Maude Eburne, and George E. Stone. With screen story by Edward T. Lowe, with movie was produced by Phil Goldstone and directed by Frank Strayer.

Since it's Halloween, it's time for Bela Lugosi starring in the 1940 PRC horror film, "The Devil Bat." Suzanne Kaaren, Dave O'Brien (of "Refer Madness" fame), and Guy Usher were also in the cast. John Thomas Neville wrote the screenplay and George Bricker provided the original story. Directed by Jean Yarbrough.

From William Steiner's Commodore Pictures, we present Lon Chaney, Jr. starring in "The Shadow of Silk Lennox." In this 1935 entry, a crooked nightclub owner, pretending to go straight, is forced to rub out a henchman when the latter tries to run off with the gang's latest haul. Also in the cast were Dean Benton, Marie Burton, Jack Mulhall, and Eddie Gribbon. Script adaptation by Norman Springer. Produced and directed by Ray Kirkwood.

Time for a 1942 Monogram picture as Bela Lugosi stars in "Bowery At Midnight." John Archer, Wanda McKay, Tom ("Detour") Neal, and Vince Barnett are also in the cast here. Gerald Schnitzer wrote the original story and screenplay. Produced for Banner Productions by Sam Katzman and Jack Dietz. Directed by Wallace Fox.

From 1940, here's the opening film of Monogram Pictures' The Range Busters series entitled, appropriately, "The Range Busters." This movie stars Ray "Crash" Corrigan, John "Dusty" King, and Max "Alibi" Terhune (and his sidekick, Elmer). The cast also included Luana Walters, Leroy Mason, Earle Hodgins, Frank La Rue, and Kermit Maynard. With screenplay by John Rathmell, this George W. Weeks production was directed by Roy Luby.

Here's a very rare treat, a cartoon released by Republic Pictures! And in Trucolor, no less!! In this Jerky Journeys entry from Impossible Pictures, we have the story of "The Three Minnies: Sota, Tonka, and Ha-Ha," written by Leonard Louis Levinson. This 1948 cartoon was designed by Art Heinemann, painted by Peter Alvarado and Robert Gribbroek, and narrated by Frank Nelson, with sound effects by Miles Pike.

Time for a Martin Mooney production, "Blonde Ice." In this 1948 film noir entry, a blonde bombshell rises from humble beginnings to become a successful society columnist by romancing wealthy men. Trouble is, the guys all kick the bucket under mysterious circumstances. This Film Classics release stars Leslie Brooks, Robert Paige, and Russ Vincent. Screenplay by Kenneth Gamet, adapted from Whitman Chambers' novel Once Too Often . Produced by Martin Mooney and directed by Jack Bernhard.

From Nat Levine's Mascot Pictures in 1935, we present Heather Angel and Roger Pryor starring in "That Headline Woman." In this one, the daughter of a newspaper publisher is falsely charged with murder. Jack Natteford and Claire Church wrote the original story and screenplay. This picture was supervised by Victor Zobel and directed by William High.

From Victory Pictures in 1935, we present "Danger Ahead." In this one, a reporter witnesses a sea captain being robbed by crooks after delivering 40G's in silks. Paid in cash, this is nothing more than a plot to steal the money back. This picture stars Lawrence Gray, Sheila Mannors, J. Francis MacDonald, and Fuzzy Knight. Al Martin's screenplay was adapted from Peter B. Kyne's story  One-Eighth Apache . Supervised by Sam Katzman and directed by Al Herman.

Released by Ajax Pictures in 1935, we present four former members of the Our Gang cast--David Sharpe (whose original story was adapted by C. Edward Roberts), Gertrude Messinger, Mary Kornman, and Mickey Daniels---starring in "Roaring Roads," part of Ajax's Our Young Friends series. Produced by William Berke and directed by the aforementioned C. Edward Roberts and Ray Nazarro.

Time for a 1935 Chesterfield Pictures mystery as we present "A Shot In The Dark." In this one, an amateur sleuth three murders at his son's New England cottage. This one stars Charles (Durango Kid) Starrett, Robert Warwick, Edward Van Sloan, and Marion Schilling. Charles S. Belden adapted the screen play from Clifford Orr's College Humor serial and novel The Dartmouth Murders . Directed by Charles Lamont.

From 1936, here are Pinky Tomlin and Toby Wing (sigh!) starring in "With Love and Kisses." Also in the cast are Kane Richmond, Arthur Housman, and Russell Hopson. With original story by Al Martin and Sherman Lowe (who authored the screenplay), this picture, made by Melody Pictures and released theatrically by Ambassador-Conn, was produced by Maurice Conn and directed by Leslie Goodwins. TV syndication print.

From Monogram Pictures in 1940, we present Marcia Mae Jones and Jackie Moran in "The Old Swimmin' Hole." The cast includes Terry the Dog, best remembered for his portrayal as Toto in "The Wizard of Oz." Dorothy Reid wrote the screenplay and Gerald Breitigam wrote the original story. A Scott R. Dunlap production, this movie was directed by Robert F. McGowan. TV syndication print.

From Republic Pictures in 1936, we present Ole Olsen and Chic Johnson get into all sorts of hijinx while starring in "Country Gentlemen." With screenplay by Joseph Hoffman and Geraldine Orr and original story by Milton Raison, Jack Harvey, and Jo Graham, plus additional dialogue by John P. Medbury, this picture was produced by Nat Levine and directed by Ralph Staub. Who said Republic only made John Wayne, Gene Autry, and Roy Rogers Westerns as well as serials.

Time for a pre-Code Hollywood mystery movie, "Stangers of the Evening." In this one, when corpses disappear from the local morgue, an investigator tries to find out what in Sam Hill is going on. This film stars Zasu Pitts, Lucien Littlefield, and Eugene Pallette. Adapted from Tiffany Thayer's book The Illustrious Corpse . Stuart Anthony and Warren B. Duff wrote the adaptation and dialogue. This 1932 movie was produced by Sam Bischoff and directed by H. Bruce Humberstone (his directorial debut). A Quadruple Film Corporation production originally released by Tiffany Productions (this is a re-issue print).

From PRC in 1941, we present Neil Hamilton, Doris Day (not THAT one), Victor Varconi, and Charles Wilson in "Federal Fugitives." Martin Mooney wrote both the original story and screenplay. Produced by John T. Coyle and directed by William Beaudine.

From Republic Pictures in 1937, we have Gene Autry and Smiley Burnette in "Round Up Time In Texas." In this one, Gene and Frog arrive with a herd of horses for Gene's brother, a diamond prospector whose work has attracted the attention of nogoodniks. Besides Gene and Smiley, the cast included Maxine Doyle, the Cabin Kids, and Gene's horse Champion. With original screen play by Oliver Drake and with Armand Schaefer as associate producer, this film was produced by Nat Levine and directed by Joseph Kane. This is a TV syndication print.

Time for a PRC mystery movie as we present "The Panther's Claw." This was the opening film of a planned series based on Foulton Osler's stories; it alas turned out to be the series' swan song. In this 1942 movie, Police Commissioner Thatcher Colt (played by Sidney Blackmer) and his associate Anthony Abbot (Ricki Vallin) set out to solve the murder of an opera singer. Byron Foulger and Herbert Rawlinson were also in the cast. Martin Mooney wrote the screenplay adaption of Anthony Abbot's ( a nom de plume  for Foulton Osler)original story. With George R. Batcheller in charge of production, this movie was produced by Lester Cutler (on behalf of Motion Picture Associates, Inc.) and directed by William Beaudine.

From Chesterfield Motion Pictures Corporation in 1935, we bring you "False Pretenses." This film stars Irene Ware, Sidney Blackmer, Russell Hopton, Betty Compson, and Edward Gargan. Story by Betty Burbridge and screenplay by Ewart Adamson. This picture was produced by George R. Batcheller and directed by Charles Lamont.

From Tiffany Productions in 1930, we present "Extravagance." June Collyer, Lloyd Hughes, and Owen Moore star in this one. With story by A.P.Younger, this movie was produced by Phil Goldstone and directed by Phil Rosen.

From Grand National Pictures (formerly Grand National Films) in 1938, we present Sally Rand starring in "Sunset Murder Case." In this one, small time showgirl Sally, loved by two decent men, poses as a stripper to infiltrate a nightclub whose owner is believed to be responsible for her father's murder. Esther Muir, Vince Barnett, Sugar Kane, and Henry King and His Orchestra join Sally in the cast. With the original story from a Liberty magazine story by Harold Joyce, Arthur Hoerl and Paul Franklin wrote the screenplay while Lawrence Meade wrote the additional dialogue. This motion picture was produced by George Hirliman and directed by Louis Gasnier (who produced and directed "Reefer Madness" respectively. Yes, Sally is fully clothed in this film!

From PRC in 1944 we present "Bluebeard," with John Carradine in the title role. This film also stars Jean Parker, Nils Asther, and Ludwig Stossel. Original story by Arnold Phillips and Werner H. Furst and screenplay by Pierre Gendron. Musical score composed and conducted by Leo Erdody. This motion picture was produced by Leon Fromkess and directed by Edgar G. Ulmer.

From Nat Levine's Mascot Pictures, we present Ann Rutherford starring in "Waterfront Lady." The cast includes Frank Albertson, J. Farrell MacDonald, Barbara Pepper, Charles C. Wilson, Grant Withers, and Ward Bond. Story and screenplay by Wellyn Totman, with additional dialogue by Joseph Fields. This 1935 film was supervised by Colbert Clark and directed by Joseph Santley

From Puritan Pictures in 1936, we present Ralph Forbes starring in "I'll Name The Murderer." In this one, when a nightclub singer is murdered, a local gossip columnist (played by Ralph Forbes) begins his own investigation. Also in the cast, Marion Schilling, Malcolm MacGregor, James Guilfoyle, John W. Cowell, Agnes Anderson, and an uncredited Margaret Hamilton. With story and screenplay by Philip Dunham and special dialogue by Edwin K. O'Brien, this picture was produced by C. C. Burr and directed by Raymond K. Johnson.

PRC: More than just Edgar G. Ulmer-directed Film Noir and low-budget Westerns. They made musicals too. From 1942, we present "The Yanks Are Coming." The film is headlined by bandleader Henry King (along with his orchestra), Mary Healy, Little Jackie Heller, (Slapsy) Maxie Rosenblum, William Roberts, and Harry (Parkyarkarkus) Einstein. Tom Stern, Lew Pollack, and Edward E. Kaye wrote the original story, which was adapted for the screen by Arthur St. Claire and Sherman Lowe; additional dialog was written by Edith Watkins. With Leon Fromkess in charge of production, this film was produced by Lester Cutler and directed by Alexis Thurn-Taxis.

From Republic Pictures in 1938, we present Donald Woods, Patricia Ellis, and Grace Bradley starring in "Romance on the Run." Among those in the cast is TV's future Uncle Charley (as seen on My Three Sons ),William Demarist. Screenplay by Jack Townley, based on Eric Taylor's story. With Herman Schlom as associate producer, this flick was directed by Gus Meins.

From Monogram Pictures in 1938, we present Anne Nagel (an American actress from Massachusetts---NOT to be confused with the British actress Anna Nagle) and Weldon Heyburn starring "Saleslady." Screenplay by Marion Orth, based on Kubec Glasmon's original story Nothing Down . Harry Davenport and Donald Barry were also in the cast. With Scott R. Dunlap in charge of production, this picture was directed by Arthur Greville Collins. 

Made in 1935 by Invincible Pictures Corporation, we present "Tango," starring Marian Nixon, Chick Chandler, and Marie Prevost. Screenplay by Arthur T. Horman, adapted from Vida Hurst's novel. Produced by Maury M. Cohen and directed by Phil Rosen.

From Victory Pictures in 1936, we present Rod La Rocque and Maxine Doyle in "Taming The Wild." The cast includes Barbara Pepper and Bryant Washburn. Adapted from Peter B. Kyne's story "Shipmates" with screenplay by Al Martin. Supervised by Sam Katzman and directed by Bob Hill.

From Majestic Pictures in 1934, we present "She Had To Choose," starring Buster Crabbe, Isabel Jewell, Sally Blane, and Regis Toomey. In this one, a young actress hits Hollywood, determined to be a movie star, only to see roadblocks in her way. Mann Page and Izola Forrester's original story was adapted by Houston Branch. Produced by Larry Darmour and directed by Ralph Cedar.

From Monogram Pictures in 1946, we present Sidney Toler as Charlie Chan in "Dark Alibi." This film included Mantan Moreland, Ben Carter, Benson Fong, Teala Loring, George Holmes, and Joyce Compton. Based on the Charlie Chan character created by Earl Derr Biggers with original screenplay by George Callahan. Produced by James S. Burkett and directed by Phil Karlson. Enjoy!!!

From Grand National Films in 1937, we present Tex Ritter and his horse "White Flash" in "Riders of the Rockies." Joining Tex in the cast are Louise Stanley, Horace Murphy, Snub Pollard (!), Yakima Canutt, and Tex Ritter's Tornadoes. With screenplay by Robert Emmett and Norman Leslie and with Frank Sanucci as musical director, this film------an Edward F. Finney "Boots and Saddles" production-------was supervised by Lindsley Parsons and directed by Robert North Bradbury.

From Producers Releasing Corporation (PRC) in 1943, we, as this newly-minted weblog's first video entry,  present Buster Crabbe starring as Billy the Kid in "Blazing Frontier." This film also stars Al (Fuzzy) St. John. Marjorie Manners, I. Stanford Jolley, Milton Kibbee, and Kermit Maynard were also in the cast. Story and screenplay by Patricia Harper with Robert Cline as director of photography. Bert Sternbach was production manager here. Produced by Sigmund Neufeld. Directed by Sam Newfield.