Here Comes Carter (1936) is about an ex-studio press agent who becomes a tell all radio personality.
Ross Alexander (never heard of him before) as Kent Carter, the guy above. G
lenda Farrell as Verna Kennedy, the secretary at the radio station.
Anne Nagel as Linda Warren, Carter's girlfriend, who dislikes his new mud-slinging career, and refuses to marry him unless he quits.
Fairly entertaining movie, though a B-film; it runs just over an hour.
Le Petit Soldat (1963) French with English subs, but I found them frequently difficult to read; either because of the background or the brief time and length of them. I really cannot say much, as I got little from this film.
Secret of the Blue Room (1933) this was Lionel Atwill day on TCM, & this was a TCM premiere, as I recall.
Lionel Atwill as Robert von Helldorf, lives in a casrle with daughter
Gloria Stuart as Irene von Helldorf. The Blue Room is rumored to be haunted, as several mysterious deaths had occurred therein. P
aul Lukas as Captain Walter Brink, one of three men seeking the daughter's love. The youngest of the men, suggests that all three take turns sleeping in the Blue Room, & the one who spends the entire night (& lives), wins the love of Irene. He goes first & mysteriously vanishes.
Edward Arnold as Commissioner Forster (surprising role, as he is usually a villain) who arrives to investigate the disappearance of the 1st guy. Lucas is to be the third guy, but after the 1st vanished, why should the other two risk the same? The 1st guy made them agree that regardless of what happens to the others, all will take a turn.
Great cast, very good film.
Broadway Gondolier (1935)
Dick Powell as Richard 'Dick' Purcell, aka Ricardo Purcelli, a New York taxi driver, whose hobby is singing opera as he drives.
Joan Blondell as Alice Hughes, the secretary in the office of Flaggenheim Cheese, who gives him his big break, by mooing. oinking, etc., for a kiddie radio program that he quits after its 1st episode. No wonder this actor switched from musicals to Noir! So, disgusted with the nature of his first job 'singing' he lacking patience, returns to cab driving.
Adolphe Menjou as Professor Eduardo de Vinci, who helps him find a job after stowing away on a ship to Italy. So now, he is in Venice, as a boat driver or gondolier, who sings. The boat he rode, also carried his would-be employers, who did not give him a chance to show his talent in New York, now hear him in Italy, take him for a native, sign him as the singer who will work on radio ads for their products.
As a musical, which I usually tend to avoid, this was not at all annoying, as the singing did advance the plot. Very good film!
The Clown (1953) Red Skelton, as the title character, as an alcoholic washed-up ex-vaudeville stand-up comedian, who tries to maintain custody of his young son. He and his wife had divorced years ago, and, at that time, only he had the means to support the boy, so he got custody. Now she is married to a man who has the means to support. The boy believes his mother died. Now, when by chance she meets the boy, maternal instincts compel her to gain custody.
This is not the usual Skelton film, as it is more drama than comedy. Not my favorite, by far!
Downstairs (1932)
Paul Lukas as Albert, the Baron's butler, and chief of the servants. The film opens as his wedding to
Virginia Bruce as Anna. Just that same day, a new chauffeur Karl (
John Gilbert) is hired. Karl, uses blackmail to advance his station in life, and he frequently clashes with Albert. Once Albert learns that Karl had blackmailed the Baroness, & robbed Sophie the cook, again, using blackmail, violence settles the matter. Albert had already tried to fire Karl, but Karl's power over the Baroness kept him employed.
Good dramatic film.