Mad Dogs and Englishmen is a song written by Noël Coward and first performed in The Third Little Show at the Music Box Theatre, New York, on 1 June 1931, by Beatrice Lillie. The following year it was used in the revue Words and Music and also released in a “studio version”. It then became a signature feature in Coward’s cabaret act.Read More »Mad Dogs And Englishmen
Little Caesar (1931), starring Edward G. Robinson, Douglas Fairbanks, Jr., Glenda Farrell, William Collier Jr.
Synopsis of Little Caesar
Little Caesar is the tale of pugnacious Caesar Enrico Bandello, a hoodlum with a Chicago-sized chip on his shoulder, few attachments, fewer friends and no sense of underworld diplomacy.
Dracula(1931) starring Bela Lugosi, Dwight Frye, Edward Van Sloan, directed by Tod Browning
Synopsis of Dracula
A truly great adaptation of the classic vampire novel. Dracula is the story of the European vampire who comes to England to find fresh victims … And stumbles across a young woman who reminds him of his long-lost love. This is actually based on the Broadway play, and not directly on the original novel by Bram Stoker.
Dr. Jekyll and Mr. Hyde (1931) starring Fredric March, Miriam Hopkins, Rose Hobart, Holmes Herbert, Halliwell Hobbes, Edgar Norton
Review of Dr. Jekyll and Mr. Hyde
Fredric March won an Oscar for his portrayal of Dr. Henry Jekyll — and the bestial Mr. Hyde — and deservedly so. His portrayal of Hyde as a barely-restrained beast is correct. Hyde is a literal monster in human form, unrestrained anger, lust, and desire. He also portrays Dr. Jekyll very well, as a man of science who is caring, compassionate, and somewhat obsessed with expanding human knowledge. And a man who is deeply in love with his fianceé, and wants to marry her.
Frankenstein(1931) starring Colin Clive, Boris Karloff reviewed by: The masked reviewer
Dr. Frankenstein has been working in isolation for weeks, and his fiancee Elizabeth is worried about him. So she and her friend Victor go visit Dr. Waldman to ask for his help in getting Frankenstein out of his Laboratory. While they’re there Dr. Waldman tells them that Frankenstein is trying to create life. Meanwhile, Frankenstein, and his assistant Fritz are almost finished with the monster.
In City Lights, Charlie Chaplin plays the part of Charlie the little tramp, a homeless vagabond, who encounters a flower girl, only to discover that she’s blind. After Charlie rescues an inebriated rich man from committing suicide, the eccentric millionaire decides that Charlie is his best friend, and takes him out partying, gives him a car, etc. — only to totally forgot about him when he’s sober.
Five Star Final (1931) starring Edward G. Robinson, Boris Karloff, directed by Mervyn LeRoy
Five Star Final is a film that stands out primarily due to a great performance by Edward G. Robinson, who plays the part of newspaper editor Joe Randall, who is being pressured by his boss to increase the news circulation by running some sensationalistic news stories. Against his better judgement, he does so — and digs out the decades-old story of a convicted murderess, Nancy Voorhees (played well by Frances Starr) — the murder was actually a justifiable homicide, but that doesn’t sell newspapers. In the intervening time, Voorhees has lived quietly, married and changed her last name, and raised a daughter — who is about to be married.