Canadian Filmography Series (May 1970)

Synopsis: Compilation film on the role played by Canadians in the 1914-1918 World War. Lucky Fugitives 68 minutes, b/w, English dialogue p.c: Central Films; p: Kenneth J. Bishop; d: Nick Grinde; l.p: David Manners, Maxine Doyle. Produced in Victoria in 1934-1935. Released by Columbia Pictures in 1936. Synopsis: Story of a famous author who has a double who is a ganster and an escaped convict. Comments: Produced for the British “quota’’ market. “Allowing for the inherent improbabilities of the plot, the film provides excitement and romance and an abundance of incident. The direction is workmanlike and the acting efficient rather than outstanding.” —Monthly Film Bulletin, April, 1936. Notes: David Manners (Rauff Acklon) was born in Halifax in 1902. References: Monthly Film Bulletin, March 1936; Victoria Daily Colonist, Feb. 17, 1963. Undercover 60 minutes, b/w, English dialogue p.c: Booth Dominions; p: J.R. Booth, Arthur Gottlieb; d: Sam Newfield; prod. manager: Jack Chisholm; |.p: Charles Starrett, Winn Barren, Miss (Polly) Moran, George Fiefield: Produced on location in Ontario with interiors at the Ravena Rink, Toronto. Released by M.G.M. in 1936. Synopsis: Gangster romance. A bank clerk is disgraced as a coward for failing to stop a hold-up. He joins the R.C.M.P. and eventually catches the gang whose chief turns out to be his rival in love. Comments: “The direction and the dialogue are naive and the acting barely competent. The best feature of the film is the he-man action.” —Monthly Film Bulletin, January 1936. For other comments, see the King’s Plate. References: Monthly Film Bulletin, January 1936. 1936 From Nine to Nine 74 minutes, b/w, English dialogue p.c: Coronet; d: E.G. Ulmer; l.p: Ruth Roland, Roland Drew. Produced at Associated Screen Studios in Montréal. Released by William Steiner in the U.S.A. in 1936 and by Universal in Britain in 1936. Synopsis: Drama of a jewel robbery in Montréal in which be suspected thief turns out to be working with the police. Comments: “Direction, acting, sound and photography are poor” —Monthly Film Bulletin, April 1936. Note: This was the last film made by the famous silent serial star, Ruth Roland; she died soon after completing this film. References: Monthly Film Bulletin, April 1936. Films in Review, November 1960, p. 548 Lucky Corrigan 65 minutes (5,942 ft.),b/w, English dialogue p.c: Central Films; p: Kenneth J. Bishop; d: Lewis D. Collins; ed: William Austin; l.p: William Gargan, Molly Lamont. Produced in Victoria. Released by Columbia Pictures in 1936. Synopsis: A tenderfoot, Bruce Corrigan, is given work in lumber camp which is in difficulties because of rivalry with another lumber camp. Corrigan falls in love with — the manager’s daughter, proves to the manager that his foreman is in the pay of the rival camp and saves the situation. Finally, he reveals he is the son of the owner of the lumber camp. Comments: Produced as a British “quota” film. “Once (the main incredibility of the story) is accepted, the story runs smoothly, thanks to competent direction, good characterisation and acting” — Monthly Film Bulletin, October 1936. References: Monthly Film Bulletin, October 1936. Secret Patrol 59 minutes (5,353 ft.), b/w, English dialogue p.c: Central Films; p: Kenneth J. Bishop; d: David Selman (after Ford Beebe); sc: Robert Watson, J.P. McGowan; ph: George Meehan; ed: William Austin; l.p: Charles Starrett, Henry Mollison, Finis Barton, J.P. McGowan, James McGrath, LeStrange Millman. Produced in Victoria in early 1936. Released by Columbia Pictures in 1936. Synopsis: An R.C.M.P. officer is sent into a lumber camp on secret patrol to investigate a series of accidents. He disappears and the R.C.M.P think him dead. Another officer is sent in to investigate, finds his fellow officer and exposes the gang causing the accidents. The first officer is killed saving the second officer’s life. Comments: Produced as a British “quota” film. “Ford Beebe began directing on the film but was taken off by Columbia executives as incompetent and replaced by David Selman. Script was officially credited to J.P. McGowan (who didn’t write it) from a (non-existent) original story by Peter B. Kyne...Beebe re-wrote it and improved it, but couldn’t do much with a story that studiously avoided action and told most of its narrative via conversation in cramped sets. It was not only one of Starrett’s worst westerns but also probably the weakest of all the westerns that Columbia shot in Canada.” —Screen Facts 2, 6, p. 63. “When the Mounties are in action, the film improves, and there is plenty of excitement. The acting is not outstanding. The photography is good” —Monthly Film Bulletin, December, 1936. References: Monthly Film Bulletin, December, 1936; Screen Facts, 2, 6, p. 62, 63; Film Daily, June 3rd, 1936. Stampede 58 minutes (5,048 ft.), b/w, English dialogue p.c: Central Films; p: Kenneth J. Bishop; d: Ford Beebe; sc: Robert Watson; ph: George Meehan; ed: William Austin; Lp: Charles Starrett, Finis Barton, J.P. McGowan, LeStrange Millman, James McGrath, Reginald Hincks. Produced in nla in early 1936. Released by Columbia Pictures in ; Synopsis: Western melodrama. A cowboy horse buyer is prevented from buying horses at a ranch. He learns the owner is the victim of a gang who hopes to force him to sell his ranch. The cowboy saves the horses from a dynamite attempt and trails down the villains. . Comments: Produced as a British “quota” film. “Although the film has all the ingredients of a Western and is competently acted, it lacks movements and suspense” — Monthly Film Bulletin, March 1937. “(Ford Beebe’s) Canadian venture spelt disaster from the beginning. The budget was so tight on the first film Stampede, that Beebe couldn’t afford the luxury of too many re-takes”’. —Screen Facts, 2, 6, p. 61. References: Screen Facts, 2, 6, p. 61, 62; Monthly it Bulletin, March, 1937; Film Daily, November 27, Tugboat Princess 69 minutes, b/w, English dialogue p.c: Central Films; p: Kenneth J. Bishop; d: David Selman; sc: Robert Watson based on story by Dalton Trumbo and Isador Bernstein; ph: William Beckway, William Thompson; ed: William Austin; l.p: Walter C. Kelly, Valerie Hobson, Edith Fellows, Clyde Cook, Lester Mathews, Reginald Hincks. Produced in Victoria. Released by Columbia Pictures in 1936.