Musical Monday: Song of the Saddle (1936)

It’s no secret that the Hollywood Comet loves musicals.
In 2010, I revealed I had seen 400 movie musicals over the course of eight years. Now that number is over 600. To celebrate and share this musical love, here is my weekly feature about musicals.

song of the saddle2This week’s musical:
Song of the Saddle (1936) – Musical #744

Studio:
Warner Bros.

Director:
Louis King

Starring:
Dick Foran Alma Lloyd, Charles Middleton, Addison Richards, Eddie Shubert, George Ernest, Bonita Granville, Monte Montague, Victor Potel, Milton Kibbee (uncredited)

Plot:
Young Frankie Wilson Jr. (Ernest) and his father (Richards) head west from Ohio for California during the western land rush. They stop along the way to sell some goods to Phineas Hook (Middleton). Hook says he’s interested in more goods and encourages Mr. Wilson and Frankie to head back to Ohio for more goods. But it’s all a trick to ambush their wagon, steal their money back and kill Mr. Wilson. Left alone, Frankie grows up (Foran) and becomes the bandit known as The Singing Kid, seeking revenge against Hook and his henchmen to avenge his father’s death.

Continue reading

Watching 1939: Private Detective (1939)

In 2011, I announced I was trying to see every film released in 1939. This new series chronicles films released in 1939 as I watch them. As we start out this blog feature, this section may become more concrete as I search for a common thread that runs throughout each film of the year. Right now, that’s difficult. 

1939 film: 
Private Detective (1939)

Release date: 
Dec. 9, 1939

Cast: 
Jane Wyman, Dick Foran, Gloria Dickson, John Eldredge, Maxie Rosenbloom, John Ridgely, Morgan Conway, Joseph Crehan, Vera Lewis, Joseph Crehan, Willie Best, Henry Blair, Leo Gorcey (uncredited)

Studio: 
Warner Bros.

Director: 
Noel Smith

Plot:
Ex-husband and wife Millard Lannon (Eldredge) and Mona Lannon (Dickson) are fighting for custody of their son Bobby (Blair), with Millard trying to take the son from his wife. When Millard is killed, Mona is suspected, and private detective Myrna Winslow (Wyman) takes the case to prove she’s innocent. This is to the chagrin of her police officer boyfriend, Jim Rickey (Foran), who just wants to get married.

Continue reading