William Demarest

An inventor needs cash to develop his big idea. His wife, who loves him, decides to raise it for him by divorcing him and marrying a millionaire. (imdb)

A director of escapist films goes on the road as a hobo to learn about Life...which gives him a rude awakening. (imdb)

Trudy Kockenlocker, a small-town girl with a soft spot for American soldiers, wakes up the morning after a wild farewell party for the troops to find that she married someone she can't remember--and she's pregnant (imdb)

Lucky Jackson arrives in town with his car literally in tow ready for the first Las Vegas Grand Prix - once he has the money to buy an engine... (imdb)

Returning from a year up the Amazon studying snakes, the rich but unsophisticated Charles Pike meets con-artist Jean Harrington on a ship... (imdb)

Woodrow is discharged from the military for hay fever, but fabricates receiving an heroic honorable discharge before returning home.

A horse trainer who has fallen on hard times looks to his horse, Broadway Bill, to finally win the big race. (imdb)

Joe, inventor in an American Small town of 1895 has problems with his new invention, a car, driven with a gasoline motor. Everybody is making fun about his "crazy invention", only his girl friend believes in him. (imdb)

Told in flashback, Depression-era bum Dan McGinty is recruited by the city's political machine to help with vote fraud. His great aptitude for this brings rapid promotion from "the boss," who finally decides he'd be ideal as a new, nominally "reform" mayor; but this candidacy requires marriage. His in-name-only marriage to honest Catherine proves the beginning of the end for dishonest Dan... (imdb)

Department store owner J.P. Merrick finds that several of his employees are unionizing to get more money and better working conditions. In order to find out who the organizers are, he gets a job at the store as a shoe salesman. Not realizing his true identity, he's befriended by Mary Jones and Joe O'Brien, the two ringleaders, and Elizabeth Ellis, a charming older woman with whom he develops a romance. (imdb)

A ruthless Union captain is renowned throughout his prison fort as the toughest soldier in the business, capable of capturing every escaped convict under his supervision. However, when he falls in love with a visiting woman some of the prisoners seize the advantage and try to escape while he is in a more "mellow" mood. (imdb)

An office clerk loves entering contests in the hopes of someday winning a fortune and marrying the girl he loves. His latest attempt is the Maxford House Coffee Slogan Contest. As a joke, some of his co-workers put together a fake telegram which says that he won the $25,000 grand prize. As a result, he gets a promotion, buys presents for all of his family and friends, and proposes to his girl. When the truth comes out, he's not prepared for the consequences. (imdb)

In the winter of 1868, Eben Frost (William Demarest) goes to a Boston pawnshop and redeems a silver medal, inscribed to "Dr. W.T.G. Morton, the Benefactor of Mankind, with the Gratitude of Humanity." Frost drives to a country farmhouse and gives the medal to Morton's widow, Elizabeth Morton (Betty Field) who explains to her daughter, Betty (Donivee Lee), that Frost was the first person given anesthesia by her father, Boston dentist Dr. W.T.G. Morton... (imdb)

Regarded by many as the best of the Charlie Chan series. The opera star Gravelle suffers amnesia. He is a recent escapee from an insane asylum, accused of murdering fellow performers (his wife and her lover). Included in the movie is the opera "Carnival", composed for the picture by Oscar Levant. (imdb)

In 1918 France, Captain Flagg commands a disreputable company of Marines; his new top sergeant is his old friendly enemy, Quirt. The two men become rivals for the favors of fair innkeeper's daughter Charmaine, but the rivalry goes into reverse when Charmaine proves to be angling for a husband. When the company is ordered to the front, this comedy interlude gives way to the grim realities of war. (imdb)

Professor Ned Brainard's discovery of flubber hasn't quite brought him - or his college - the riches he thought. The Pentagon has declared his discovery to be top secret and the IRS has slapped him with a huge tax bill, even if he has yet to receive a cent. He thinks he may have found the solution in the form of flubbergas, which can change the weather. It also helps Medfield College's football team to win a game. At home, his wife Betsy is jealous of the attention lavished on him by an old high school girlfriend. (imdb)

Riding into Payneville, easy-going cowboy Melody Jones is mistaken by the townsfolk for notorious gunman Monte Jarrad. The real Jarrad is hiding out wounded on the ranch of childhood sweetheart Cherry. She has the idea of sending Jones off to decoy the pursuing posse, but once he's met Cherry, Jones has other plans. (imdb)

A formula brawling-buddies western where one goes bad and then returns to the fold. Pete Menlo (Howard Duff) owns some gold claims in Nevada where he is joined by his old friend Andy Martin (Lex Barker.) Crooked mine-owner Bannon (John McIntire) wants to merge their interests so they can create a monoply but is turned down. Pete is interested in "Nevada" Wray (Mala Powers), daughter of mine-owner "Jackpot" Wray (William Demarest), but she has eyes only for Andy... (imdb)

A war comedy depicting Willie, a soldier frustrated by his lack of battle action, caught behind enemy lines and forced into heroism for his survival.

United States has just acquired Louisiana from France. An expedition led by Lewis and Clark is sent to survey the territory and go where no white man has gone before. Are they able to overcome the dangers with the help of Sacajawea? (imdb)

Smith as an iron-willed railroad detective. When his friend Murray is fired from the railraod and begins helping Rebstock wreck trains, Smith must go after him. He also seems to have an interest in Murray's wife (and vice versa). (imdb)

When heiress Jean Courtland attempts suicide, her fiancée Elliott Carson probes her relationship to John Triton. In flashback, we see how stage mentalist Triton starts having terrifying flashes of true precognition. (imdb)

Jazz drummer and aspiring actress become involved with racketeers, ending in violent tragedy.

A young woman enters a contest to be the first to swim the English Channel. (imdb)

A young couple inherits an old mansion inhabited by small demon-like creatures who are determined to make the wife one of their own. (imdb)

This movie shows the idealized career of the singer Al Jolson. A little Jewish boy comes up against the will of his father to be in showbiz (imdb)

Andy reads in the newspaper that dog catcher Wally Walrus is coming to collect $3.00 worth of dog tax from every dog owner. Being kind of a cheapskate, he hides his dog in the closet from Wally's presence but, upon entering Andy's house, Wally still suspects something is amiss. He uses a trained flea to reveal the dog who gets chased by Wally into a pond in the backyard. (imdb)

Bud and Lou star as Chicago bus drivers who end up shipwrecked on a South Pacific island when they get involved with notorious jewel thieves. The island natives think Lou is a god! Standard Abbott & Costello fare. (movieretriever.com)

A Major noted for advancing with his mouth before thinking is given a choice: to be drummed out of the Army, or take command of and shape up the ROTC program at Sheridan Academy before it fails its next inspection. At Sheridan he encounters three hundred pre-teen cadets who range from rascally to adorable, and a female doctor who has just the right prescription for him. (IMB)

Woody and Wally share an apartment building. Woody's favorite pastime is playing golf... it's just a shame he plays inside the house instead of outside. Finally, Wally breaks his club and tells him not to make any more noise. Woody decides to forget his troubles by taking a bath. His bathtub is coin-operated and when he inserts a dime for the water, it falls down the drain. (imdb)

Driving down a U.S. highway, Woody passes a billboard which reminds him that he should renew his drivers' license. He heads to the department of motor vehicles and asks Officer Wally Walrus, who takes an immediate dislike to Woody, to give him the test. He puts Woody through the eye test, the reflex test, and the fingerprint test...with Woody constantly making short work of the walrus' patience. (imdb)

Wally Walrus is a day sleeper and requires daily rest while his neighbor in the adjacent apartment, Woody Woodpecker, is a night sleeper who does his chores during the day. Needless to say, Woody's noisy chores tend to keep the hapless Wally from getting any slumber particularly when he burns his leaves in the backyard, the smoke from the burning pile travelling into Wally's room eventually turning the pipes in his bed into a musical organ! But Wally gets the last laugh... (imdb)

When ex-cop Steve Rollins is released from San Quentin after five years, his only thoughts are of revenge on the men who framed him for manslaughter. Back in San Francisco, his quest for the truth brings him up against ruthless waterfront gang boss Victor Amato. (imdb)

When a cute Welsh terrier follows Bill Denny home, little does he know that all gangland has its eye on that dog. Who will be bumbling Bill's undoing - the gangsters, the cops, or his suspicious mother-in-law? (imdb)

A multipart comedy linked by inquiring reporter Burgess Meredith. It is Meredith's job to interview several people, asking them what effect children have had on their lives. First he checks with two itinerant musicians, who earn extra under-the-counter money by fixing a music contest so the mayor's son will win. Next he meets Hollywood extras Dorothy Lamour and Victor Moore, who are hired to work with a precocious child star. Finally, the old "Ransom of Red Chief" twist is given to the tale of h (Answers.com)

Smalltime crookster and showman Jerry Flynn is desperately searching for a new act to promote in order to save him from ruin. He meets a boy on the street who claims to have a dancing caterpillar called Curly. Flynn seizes the opportunity for fame and fortune at Curly's expense. (imdb)

A young girl is left with the notoriously cheap Sorrowful Jones as a marker for a bet. When her father doesn't return, he learns that taking care of a child interferes with his free-wheeling lifestyle. Sorrowful must also evade crooked gangsters and indulge in a bit of horse-thieving. (imdb)

Rebecca's Uncle Harry leaves her with Aunt Miranda who forbids her to associate with show people. But neighbor Anthony Kent is a talent scout who secretly set it up for her to broadcast. (imdb)

Funloving Pearl White, working in a garment sweatshop, gets her big chance when she "opens" for a delayed Shakespeare play...with a comic vaudeville performance. Her brief stage career leads her into those "horrible" moving pictures, where she comes to love the chaotic world of silent movies, becoming queen of the serials. But the consequences of movie stardom may be more than her leading man can take. (imdb)

Arlene is involved with underworld types. Her society girl sister believes it is only innocent thrill seeking; her stepfather fears it may be more criminal than that. Kidnap and murder plots ensue. (imdb)

Bob Hope stars as an inept member of the chorus boy in a turn of the century stage show. After being fired, he finds himself starring acting as a decoy when a killer goes after the real star. (imdb)

A magician turns detective to investigate murder and a phony seance. (TCM.com)

In 1923, Gregory Vance, a widower with two children, is a former scholar who has turned from book-to-bottle. He works, slightly, as a night-watchman and his children, who know him for what he is and what he isn't, are his only admirers. Then, it is discovered that he is the only registered voter in a key precinct and the politicians, from both parties, arrive in droves bearing inducements. (imdb)

Detective Michael Shayne and his girlfriend Joanne leave a marriage bureau when shots fired in a nearby theatre draw his attention to a string of theatrical murders. (imdb)

A penniless veteran is mistaken for a millionaire playboy. (TCM.com)

Salty owes money to Doc Baxter; he and his pal Smitty have one month to pay up. They get a race horse and a disbarred jockey, Johnny Cates, who must fake his identity to race. Johnny and Salty both fall in love with Barbara Brooks and, to get even, Johnny considers throwing the horserace. (imdb)

An unusually matronly Jane Wyman plays the title character in Lucy Gallant. Adapted from a novel by Margaret Cousins, the story concerns the efforts by Lucy Gallant to make the wide-open spaces of Texas a mecca for High Fashion. Jilted at the altar, Lucy retreats to a booming oil town, where she courageously opens up a gown shop. Rancher Casey Cole (Charlton Heston) is disdainful of "working women", but he never hides the fact that he's madly in love with Lucy... (allmovie.com)

In this sequel to The Jolson Story, we pick up the singer's career just as he has returned to the stage after a premature retirement. But his wife has left him and the appeal of the spotlight isn't what it used to be. This time Jolson trades in the stage for life in the fast lane: women, horses, travel. It takes the death of Moma Yoelson and World War II to bring Jolson back to earth - and to the stage... (imdb)

The story of flamboyant Prohibition-era gangster, gambler and bootlegger Arnold Rothstein. (imdb)

Ben Matthews gives up the flashy life of a riverboat gambler, hoping to settle down in Galena with his girlfriend, luscious entertainer Zoe. But Galena's leading citizen is murdered on the boat; Ben, on arrival, finds a lynch mob after his neck, and flees. Three years of wandering later, Zoe's letters stop coming and Ben returns to find her and attempt the hopeless task of clearing himself. (imdb)

Jo March and her husband Professor Bhaer operate the Plumfield School for poor boys. When Dan, a tough street kid, comes to the school, he wins Jo's heart despite his hard edge, and she defends him when he is falsely accused. Dan's foster father, Major Burdle, is a swindler in cahoots with another crook called Willie the Fox. When the Plumfield School becomes in danger of foreclosure, the two con men cook up a scheme to save the home. (imdb)

An aspiring actress finds herself in a jam when a gangster, who is backing the show she is in, is found dead in her apartment. (imdb)

Tony Warrin has it all: a popular pianist who plays any style, he has money, great clothes, a penthouse overlooking Central Park, a rich blond fiancée, a loyal brunette secretary secretly in love with him, and a date at Carnegie Hall. On concert night, disease deafens him. While medical science works on a cure, he must find other ventures. He learns lip reading and, using high-powered binoculars, eavesdrops on conversations in the park. (imdb)

A young woman takes the rap for a jewellery theft committed by her husband and becomes a fugitive when the train carrying her to prison gets derailed.

Something of an oddity in the Sirk canon, in that it was shot on location and is unusually static and talky. It concerns various crises of religious faith suffered by a number of priests in a Jesuit seminary. (Time Out London)

Joe and Fay Wilson are a happily married vaudeville team. But when a reporter discovers, that one of the chorus girls in the troop is a slightly excentric heiress, who bugs sometimes out to do something strange (e.g. being a chorus girl in vaudeville), the manager decides that Joe had to do is act on Broadway -with the heiress- and the heiress falls in love with him, his marriage is threatened. (imdb)

Joslyn and Evelyn Keyes play Harry and Jane Craig, a road-company Nick and Nora Charles. A popular mystery writer, Harry occasionally indulges in amateur detective work, with wife Jane at his side; their friendly nemesis is Inspector Clinton (Frank Craven), who'd prefer that the Craigs would stay home and mind their own business. This proves impossible when Ralph McCormick (Edmund Lowe), the owner of a swank fashion studio, is accused of murdering his wife for the love of designer Julie Taylor (allrovi.com)

The story of legendary gambler Diamond Jim Brady and his romance with entertainer Lillian Russell. (imdb)

Produced by silent-film comedian Harold Lloyd, My Favorite Spy is a vehicle for bespectacled bandleader Kay Kyser, who resembles Lloyd more than somewhat. Just before embarking on his honeymoon with new bride Terry (Ellen Drew), Kyser is drafted into the Army. Proving to be a monumentally inefficient soldier, our hero is nonetheless pressed into service by US intelligence officer Major Allen (Moroni Olsen). (allrovi.com)

Kay Kingsley, a sophisticated and successful songwriter in New York City. falls in love with a widowed rancher, Chris Heyward, she meets at the Madison Square Gardem Rodeo and they get married, and leave for his ranch in the west. Her friends warn her of an early disillusionment with life on a ranch, far away from the glitter and bright lights of Broadway. (imdb)

Kathy lives in a cramped New York flat with her father Madden Thomas, a celebrated actor brought down by drink. Lame from an early age and feeling trapped with her father in her small world, Kathy is delighted to meet fellow tenant Robert. When Madden is offered the lead in a new King Lear and Robert lands a composing job in Hollywood, better times seem for a while to beckon. (imdb)

Two young men (Ameche and Young) try to wrest their father (Collier) from the clutches of a gold digger (Birell) but by mistake think the woman is a young nightclub singer (Simon) with whom they both fall in love. (imdb)

The members of a summer theater group get mixed up with spies and murder. (imdb)

Kelly Hansen, the tough boss of a timber crew clearing property owned by Jessie Crain and her niece, Sharon Wilks, is, unknown to anybody else, working to pay back money stolen by his brother, Joe Roberts, who has a changed name, and no love for his brother. Just as the debt is about paid-off, Joe is killed in a truck accident, which starts a blazing forest fire. (imdb)

Comin' Round the Mountain was a tailor-made vehicle for bucolic radio humorist Bob "Bazooka" Burns. After striking out in New York, backwoods musician Jed Blower (Burns) and his hillbilly family band return to their native Tennessee. Here they land a job at a tinker-toy radio station in a community plagued by a long-standing family feud. Also causing local headaches is a continuing political tug of war over the maintence of the city's poorhouse. (allrovi.com)

Football scout for the Chicago Packers Rusty Walker signs Harry Lynn, a legendary broken-field runner. Harry won't leave his home town without his girlfriend Maizie Williams. He gets tangled up with gamblers and Rusty's girl Evelyn Corey makes a play for him. (imdb)

A seasoned con artist and his associates discover that their scheme to get rich by selling stock in a worthless gold mine is fraught with obstacles. (imdb)

This comedy is set in "Duffy's Tavern," a favorite watering hole. The trouble begins when the proprietor discovers that one of his regulars, the owner of a record company, is going broke. This means that many veterans will soon be unemployed and therefore, unable to pay their tabs. (allrovi.com)

Broadway producer Nickie North, and his press agent Scoop Trimble, land a backer for a new show, but their "angel" requires that they rehearse the show out-of-town and star Clarice Sheldon, an ex-flame whose flickerings have become unwelcome. North and Trimble establish the company on the way-out-of-town Bingham farm but are unaware the site contains a hazard...Patience Bingham, the farmer's daughter. (imdb)

An arrogant young actress doesn't want to play "young" parts anymore, and runs off. The studio replaces her with the president of her fan club, who just happens to be a lookalike. Meanwhile, some other former child actors, trying to put on a show for the GIs, will be able to do it only if they can get the young actress to be in it, so they set out to persuade her to be in their show--not knowing that she's isn't who they think she is.

A police raid on a night club results in the entire cast of the club's floor show being hauled into court, where they must perform their routines for the judge. (imdb)

Marathon Pictures is stuck with Billy Doran, Whiz Quiz radio show star but a flop in Hollywood. Ex-child star Tiny Barlow suggests that the studio remake "Skippy", the film that made him famous, with himself as coach for little Billy. A. J. Colder, Marathon's Mighty Mogul, agrees. Joan Winslow, a contract player who has never had a part, is picked to replace balky Brenda Lee in Marathon's monster musical of the year. Tiny poses as a big shot and takes credit for getting Joan the role. (imdb)

Dumb but honest insurance agent Henry Twinkle (Lew Ayres) is in love with Mary Blake (Rita Johnson), the secretary of Henry's boss. To impress Mary, Henry sells a huge policy to wealthy Gus Fender (Lloyd Nolan), who turns out to be a notorious gangster on the lam from the law. If he wants to save his job, Henry will have to protect Fender from being killed. (allmovie.com)

A millionaire is found murdered in his apartment. Suspicion falls on a variety of suspects, including his fiancé and her parents, the butler, and a professional mentalist known as The Great Gambini. (imdb)

When gangsters threaten the life of the brother of a nurse, she and her superintendent make it look as if he died while a hospital patient. (imdb)

Agent Pete Garland is fired by society singer Monica Barrett after he got her a new radio contract, because she thinks her lawyer friend Teddy Leeds fits in better with her social status. To get even, Pete wants to make an unknown singer into a star. He finds Ruth Allison, drives her hard through rehearsals and makes her a star. But she is worried about her past, something she hasn't told Pete: She's an ex-convict and jumped bail in order to keep her partners in crime out of it. (imdb)

Freddie Frisby is informed by Bob Sears that he can't marry Bob's daughter, Judy, as he is only a fumbling failure as an orange picker, and Judy can do better. Freddie's prospects brighten up when he learns his uncle has left him his entire estate, but he learns that the estate consists entirely of a magician's paraphernalia. He decides to become a magician with Judy as his assistant, but while they are rehearsing, they are kidnapped by a band of payroll robbers. (imdb)

For her birthday Ritchie Connors gives his wife Nora a coat from the store where he works. His workday gloom is made even worse when their friend from next-door shows up that evening in a mink. To try and make things right Nora goes out and buys four live mink to raise. But the attempt at grow-your-own-coat is none too popular with husband or neighbors. (imdb)

Four former actresses decide to restart their careers by opening up a nightclub. (imdb)

Gracie Allen assumes the "management" of the shop owned by her papa Horatio Allen, turning it into a radio station and then an aviary---with the usual Gracie Allen logic---while distracted Papa is trying to get younger daughter, beauty contest winner Florence, married before she can head to Hollywood and get into the movies. (imdb)

A Story about the rich McCulloch Family, their overbearing father and the children's misguided blaming him for everything that doesn't go right. (imdb)

Trouble-prone Billy Peck and his gang descend on a traveling circus that has just hit town, and before long their antics are causing the circus owner all kinds of problems. (imdb)

A (rather shady?) private detective specializing in recovering highly insured items gets involved in recovering a stolen necklace. In the process also gets involved with a secretary at the insurance company. (imdb)

Newspaperman (Whalen) looks into the deaths of bond-carriers while romancing a show girl (Rogers). (imdb)

A private eye's (David Janssen) search for a missing heiress leads him to a woman (Dina Merrill) from his Korean War past. (moviefone.com)

Widower Steve Douglas raises three sons with the help of his father-in-law, and is later aided by the boys' great-uncle. An adopted son, a stepdaughter, wives, and another generation of sons join the loving family in later seasons.

When four men disappear after withdrawing large sums from the same bank, crime student and son of the police chief (Baldwin) and newspaper reporter (Lang) try to uncover a possible extortion ring.

A girl (Trevor) escapes marriage and hitchhikes with a young man (Whalen) in whose car a jewel thief has planted his loot. (imdb)

Honest robber Cisco despises kidnapping and aids the law in unearthing a kidnapping gang. He also flirts with a dance hall girl. (imdb)

A district attorney tackles the "Wolf of New York" who is the mastermind behind a multitude of murders and robberies plaguing the city. (imdb)

One of the members of a sorority is found murdered. Although the police are called in to investigate, fellow sorority girl Mary O'Ryan decides to do some sleuthing on her own to unmask the killer. (imdb)

"Specs" White owns a garage in town and is the local baseball team's #1 pitcher--but he's more interested in working on his latest invention, a new and improved gas pump, than pitching on the team. A scout for the Los Angeles Angels professional baseball team offers Specs a contract. He accepts, but only so he can use the money he gets to work on his invention. However, Specs has a secret he dare not tell anyone--he's scared to death of large crowds.

While doing her tight-rope act in a local circus, Daisy Hawkins, sees the owner shot by gangsters. The gangsters are after her to eliminate the only eye witness and the police chase her to testify against the gangsters. Daisy goes to the nearby army camp where her sweetheart, J. Wethersby "Pinky" Fothergill, is the chief carrier pigeon trainer. Rehearsal for the big army show is being held by Private Stephen Chandler.

A girl is desperate to get to Washington D.C. to be with her lonesome brother, a wounded G.I. She persuades Bing Crosby to let her join his caravan.

When a plane crashes on a mountaintop Chris wants to plunder the wreckage. His older brother Zachary has given up mountain guide work but goes along rather than letting his brother risk it alone. The only survivor is a Hindu girl who Chris wants to kill. Zachary fights him off. While Chris steals from the dead passengers, Zachary prepares a sled to take the girl down the mountain. (imdb)

William Harris is an old-time music publisher who made his daughter Pat a partner. Harris hates rock'n'roll and rejects all popular music submitted. His son-in-law, Steve, is more progressive and this leads to many fights between the two men. Sophie is Harris' secretary and Stubby is a song plugger who performs many of the songs submitted to the publisher.

Cornelia and Emily, at college in the early 1920s, have triangle trouble with their beaus. Their affairs become entangled with those of a chance-met, kindly bootlegger. Much of the humor derives from pre-Roaring Twenties naivity.

After stealing 10 thousand dollars from a New York businessman, two female cons hide in a small Maine town where, against their will, they perform good deeds and become respectable.

J.B. Ball, a rich financier, gets fed up with his free-spending family. He takes his wife's just-bought (very expensive) sable coat and throws it out the window, it lands on poor hard-working girl Mary Smith. But it isn't so easy to just give away something so valuable, as he soon learns. (imdb)

At the 1893 Chicago World's Fair, sideshow barker Flo Ziegfeld turns the tables on his more successful neighbor Billings, and steals his girlfriend to boot. This pattern is repeated throughout their lives, as Ziegfeld makes and loses many fortunes putting on ever bigger, more spectacular shows... (imdb)