Barton MacLane

  • Fritz Lang – You and Me (1938)

    1931-1940Film NoirFritz LangMusicalUSA

    The last installment of Lang’s “social trilogy,” You and Me (preceded by Fury and You Only Live Once) was an ambitious experiment but ultimately a box-office failure. A studied attempt to craft a socially conscious satire in the tradition of Brecht’s didactic plays, the film—produced by Lang himself for Paramount—presents the story of a progressive department-store owner who employs ex-convicts, some of whom have not quite reformed. Although Lang’s directorial sleight of hand is visible everywhere, the film slips between the registers of drama and comedy in ways that may have perplexed contemporary audiences.Read More »

  • William Nigh – Mutiny in the Big House (1939)

    1931-1940DramaUSAWilliam Nigh

    In every prison, a war is being waged for the souls of men. This silent battle between the rogues who want to spread their evil and the devoted men who seek to rebuild prisoners’ lives explodes when a new convict arrives at the state pen. After forging a check to help his mother, Johnny Gate is sentenced to one to fourteen years. The prison chaplain, Father Joe, recognizes his good intentions and tries to steer Johnny on the right course. Unfortunately, his bunkmate Red Manson thinks Father Joe’s special attention could be exploited into a jailbreak. Red threatens to murder Johnny if he doesn’t cooperate, forcing him to choose between death and the path to redemption. Martin Mooney’s compelling story is based on his own time in jail and is dedicated to the real-life prison chaplain who helped him during his incarceration. .Read More »

  • Sam Newfield – Jungle Flight (1947)

    Sam Newfield1941-1950ActionAdventureUSA

    Kelly Jordan (Robert Lowery) and Andy Melton (Robert Kent) are former AAF fliers operating a cargo service over the South American mountain ranges in order to get enough money to return to Texas and buy a commercial line. Andy is killed when his overloaded plane crashes and explodes. Kelly meets Laurey Roberts (Ann Savage), who gets him to take her to the mining-camp operation as a cook, as she is running away from her ex-husband, Tom Hammond (Douglas Fowley), who has just been released from prison.Read More »

  • Fritz Lang – You and Me (1938)

    Fritz Lang1931-1940CrimeDramaUSA

    Quote:
    An altruistic department-store owner hires ex-convicts in order to give them a second chance at life. Unfortunately, one of the convicts he hires recruits two of his fellow ex-convicts in a plan to rob the store.Read More »

  • William Keighley – Bullets or Ballots (1936)

    1931-1940CrimeThrillerUSAWilliam Keighley

    Synopsis:
    Two-fisted New York police detective Edward G. Robinson is so volatile that he manages to get himself thrown off the force in disgrace. The local gangsters are delighted, in that Robinson had been breathing down their necks. When Robinson goes to crime boss Barton MacLaine insisting that he’s through with law enforcement and wants to switch to the other side, MacLaine’s chief henchmen Humphrey Bogart doesn’t buy the story, but has to go along since he doesn’t want to incur the wrath of MacLaine.Read More »

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