Mike Donovan

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Miracle on 34th Street (1947)

ChristmasClassicCleverFun

Kris Kringle, seemingly the embodiment of Santa Claus, is asked to portray the jolly old fellow at Macy's following his performance in the Thanksgiving Day parade. His portrayal is so complete that many begin to question if he truly is Santa Claus, while others ...  (more)

DIRECTION:  George Seaton
CAST:  Maureen O'Hara  •  John Payne  •  Edmund Gwenn  •  Gene Lockhart

Kris Kringle, seemingly the embodiment of Santa Claus, is asked to portray the jolly old fellow at Macy's following his performance in the Thanksgiving Day parade. His portrayal is so complete that many begin to question if he truly is Santa Claus, while others ...  (more)

DIRECTION:  George Seaton
CAST:  Maureen O'Hara  •  John Payne  •  Edmund Gwenn  •  Gene Lockhart

My Favorite Brunette (1947)

Ronnie Jackson is a lowly baby photographer who secretly fantasizes about being a private detective. When a lovely baroness actually mistakes him for one and asks him to help locate her missing husband, Baron Montay, Ronnie finds himself agreeing. Several days ...  (more)

DIRECTION:  Elliott Nugent
CAST:  Bob Hope  •  Dorothy Lamour  •  Peter Lorre  •  Lon Chaney Jr.

Ronnie Jackson is a lowly baby photographer who secretly fantasizes about being a private detective. When a lovely baroness actually mistakes him for one and asks him to help locate her missing husband, Baron Montay, Ronnie finds himself agreeing. Several days ...  (more)

DIRECTION:  Elliott Nugent
CAST:  Bob Hope  •  Dorothy Lamour  •  Peter Lorre  •  Lon Chaney Jr.

Mystery Street (1950)

When a young woman's skeletal remains turn up on a Massachusetts beach, Barnstable cop Peter Moralas teams with Boston police and uses forensics, with the help of a Harvard professor, to determine the woman's identity, how she died, and who killed her.  (more)

DIRECTION:  John Sturges
CAST:  Ricardo Montalban  •  Sally Forrest  •  Bruce Bennett  •  Elsa Lanchester

When a young woman's skeletal remains turn up on a Massachusetts beach, Barnstable cop Peter Moralas teams with Boston police and uses forensics, with the help of a Harvard professor, to determine the woman's identity, how she died, and who killed her.  (more)

DIRECTION:  John Sturges
CAST:  Ricardo Montalban  •  Sally Forrest  •  Bruce Bennett  •  Elsa Lanchester

The Blue Gardenia (1953)

A telephone operator ends up drunk and at the mercy of a cad in his apartment. The next morning she wakes up with a hangover and the terrible fear she may be a murderess.  (more)

DIRECTION:  Fritz Lang
CAST:  Anne Baxter  •  Richard Conte  •  Ann Sothern  •  Raymond Burr

A telephone operator ends up drunk and at the mercy of a cad in his apartment. The next morning she wakes up with a hangover and the terrible fear she may be a murderess.  (more)

DIRECTION:  Fritz Lang
CAST:  Anne Baxter  •  Richard Conte  •  Ann Sothern  •  Raymond Burr

The Killers (1946)

Two hit men walk into a diner asking for a man called "the Swede". When the killers find the Swede, he's expecting them and doesn't put up a fight. Since the Swede had a life insurance policy, an investigator, on a hunch, decides to look into the murder. As the ...  (more)

DIRECTION:  Robert Siodmak
CAST:  Burt Lancaster  •  Ava Gardner  •  Edmond O'Brien  •  Albert Dekker

Two hit men walk into a diner asking for a man called "the Swede". When the killers find the Swede, he's expecting them and doesn't put up a fight. Since the Swede had a life insurance policy, an investigator, on a hunch, decides to look into the murder. As the ...  (more)

DIRECTION:  Robert Siodmak
CAST:  Burt Lancaster  •  Ava Gardner  •  Edmond O'Brien  •  Albert Dekker

Union Station (1950)

Police catch a break when suspected kidnappers are spotted on a train heading towards Union Station. Police, train station security and a witness try to piece together the crime and get back the blind daughter of a rich business man.  (more)

DIRECTION:  Rudolph Maté
CAST:  William Holden  •  Nancy Olson  •  Barry Fitzgerald  •  Lyle Bettger

Police catch a break when suspected kidnappers are spotted on a train heading towards Union Station. Police, train station security and a witness try to piece together the crime and get back the blind daughter of a rich business man.  (more)

DIRECTION:  Rudolph Maté
CAST:  William Holden  •  Nancy Olson  •  Barry Fitzgerald  •  Lyle Bettger

Woman on the Run (1950)

Frank Johnson, a sole witness to a gangland murder, goes into hiding and is trailed by Police Inspector Ferris, on the theory that Frank is trying to escape from possible retaliation. Frank's wife, Eleanor, suspects he is actually running away from their ...  (more)

DIRECTION:  Norman Foster
CAST:  Ann Sheridan  •  Dennis O'Keefe  •  Robert Keith  •  John Qualen

Frank Johnson, a sole witness to a gangland murder, goes into hiding and is trailed by Police Inspector Ferris, on the theory that Frank is trying to escape from possible retaliation. Frank's wife, Eleanor, suspects he is actually running away from their ...  (more)

DIRECTION:  Norman Foster
CAST:  Ann Sheridan  •  Dennis O'Keefe  •  Robert Keith  •  John Qualen

Johnny Eager (1941)

IntenseRomanticComplexDramatic

A charming racketeer seduces the DA's stepdaughter for revenge, then falls in love.  (more)

DIRECTION:  Mervyn LeRoy
CAST:  Robert Taylor  •  Lana Turner  •  Edward Arnold  •  Van Heflin

A charming racketeer seduces the DA's stepdaughter for revenge, then falls in love.  (more)

DIRECTION:  Mervyn LeRoy
CAST:  Robert Taylor  •  Lana Turner  •  Edward Arnold  •  Van Heflin

It Should Happen to You (1954)

Gladys Glover has just lost her modeling job when she meets filmmaker Pete Sheppard shooting a documentary in Central Park. For Pete it's love at first sight, but Gladys has her mind on other things, making a name for herself. Through a fluke of advertising she ...  (more)

DIRECTION:  George Cukor
CAST:  Judy Holliday  •  Jack Lemmon  •  Peter Lawford  •  Michael O'Shea

Gladys Glover has just lost her modeling job when she meets filmmaker Pete Sheppard shooting a documentary in Central Park. For Pete it's love at first sight, but Gladys has her mind on other things, making a name for herself. Through a fluke of advertising she ...  (more)

DIRECTION:  George Cukor
CAST:  Judy Holliday  •  Jack Lemmon  •  Peter Lawford  •  Michael O'Shea

Glory Alley (1952)

A New Orleans boxer backs out of a bout and leaves his girlfriend for Korea.  (more)

DIRECTION:  Raoul Walsh
CAST:  Ralph Meeker  •  Leslie Caron  •  Kurt Kasznar  •  Gilbert Roland

A New Orleans boxer backs out of a bout and leaves his girlfriend for Korea.  (more)

DIRECTION:  Raoul Walsh
CAST:  Ralph Meeker  •  Leslie Caron  •  Kurt Kasznar  •  Gilbert Roland

Smashing the Rackets (1938)

Jim 'Socker' Conway, former boxer and FBI hero, is maneuvered for political reasons into a do-nothing job in the district attorney's office. Meanwhile, he meets wild debutante Letty Lane, girlfriend of mob mouthpiece Steve Lawrence; and Letty's much nicer sister ...  (more)

DIRECTION:  Lew Landers
CAST:  Chester Morris  •  Frances Mercer  •  Bruce Cabot  •  Rita Johnson

Jim 'Socker' Conway, former boxer and FBI hero, is maneuvered for political reasons into a do-nothing job in the district attorney's office. Meanwhile, he meets wild debutante Letty Lane, girlfriend of mob mouthpiece Steve Lawrence; and Letty's much nicer sister ...  (more)

DIRECTION:  Lew Landers
CAST:  Chester Morris  •  Frances Mercer  •  Bruce Cabot  •  Rita Johnson

Alias Boston Blackie (1942)

It is the Christmas Holidays and reformed thief, Boston Blackie goes to Castle Theater to pick up players who will perform for prisoners that are still in prison. He takes a girl with him who has a brother already in prison. She has visited the prison twice in the ...  (more)

DIRECTION:  Lew Landers
CAST:  Chester Morris  •  Adele Mara  •  Richard Lane  •  George E. Stone

It is the Christmas Holidays and reformed thief, Boston Blackie goes to Castle Theater to pick up players who will perform for prisoners that are still in prison. He takes a girl with him who has a brother already in prison. She has visited the prison twice in the ...  (more)

DIRECTION:  Lew Landers
CAST:  Chester Morris  •  Adele Mara  •  Richard Lane  •  George E. Stone

Let Us Live (1939)

When a confused eyewitness identifies New York City cabbie Brick Tennant as a killer, he is sentenced to death for a murder that he wasn't involved in. Though no one is willing to listen to the innocent prisoner's pleas for freedom, Brick's faithful fiancée, Mary, ...  (more)

DIRECTION:  John Brahm
CAST:  Maureen O'Sullivan  •  Henry Fonda  •  Ralph Bellamy  •  Alan Baxter

When a confused eyewitness identifies New York City cabbie Brick Tennant as a killer, he is sentenced to death for a murder that he wasn't involved in. Though no one is willing to listen to the innocent prisoner's pleas for freedom, Brick's faithful fiancée, Mary, ...  (more)

DIRECTION:  John Brahm
CAST:  Maureen O'Sullivan  •  Henry Fonda  •  Ralph Bellamy  •  Alan Baxter

Jinx Money (1948)

A man wins $50,000 in a card game with gamblers, but is soon found dead and the money missing. Slip and Sach find the money near where the body was discovered, and soon find themselves the target of both the police and the gamblers.  (more)

DIRECTION:  William Beaudine
CAST:  Leo Gorcey  •  Huntz Hall  •  Gabriel Dell  •  Sheldon Leonard

A man wins $50,000 in a card game with gamblers, but is soon found dead and the money missing. Slip and Sach find the money near where the body was discovered, and soon find themselves the target of both the police and the gamblers.  (more)

DIRECTION:  William Beaudine
CAST:  Leo Gorcey  •  Huntz Hall  •  Gabriel Dell  •  Sheldon Leonard

Time Out for Romance (1937)

A girl escapes marriage and hitchhikes with a young man in whose car a jewel thief has planted his loot.  (more)

DIRECTION:  Malcolm St. Clair
CAST:  Claire Trevor  •  Michael Whalen  •  Joan Davis  •  Chick Chandler

A girl escapes marriage and hitchhikes with a young man in whose car a jewel thief has planted his loot.  (more)

DIRECTION:  Malcolm St. Clair
CAST:  Claire Trevor  •  Michael Whalen  •  Joan Davis  •  Chick Chandler

Return of the Ape Man (1944)

The discovery of a perfectly preserved caveman prompts a mad scientist to attempt a daring brain transplant.  (more)

DIRECTION:  Phil Rosen
CAST:  Bela Lugosi  •  John Carradine  •  Frank Moran  •  George Zucco

The discovery of a perfectly preserved caveman prompts a mad scientist to attempt a daring brain transplant.  (more)

DIRECTION:  Phil Rosen
CAST:  Bela Lugosi  •  John Carradine  •  Frank Moran  •  George Zucco

High Flyers (1937)

Two men running a carnival airplane ride are hired to fly to retrieve what they think are photos for a reporter. Actually, they are retrieving diamonds stolen from a noted gem dealer. As it turns out, their plane crashes on the very estate of the dealer. Thinking ...  (more)

DIRECTION:  Edward F. Cline
CAST:  Robert Woolsey  •  Bert Wheeler  •  Lupe Vélez  •  Marjorie Lord

Two men running a carnival airplane ride are hired to fly to retrieve what they think are photos for a reporter. Actually, they are retrieving diamonds stolen from a noted gem dealer. As it turns out, their plane crashes on the very estate of the dealer. Thinking ...  (more)

DIRECTION:  Edward F. Cline
CAST:  Robert Woolsey  •  Bert Wheeler  •  Lupe Vélez  •  Marjorie Lord

She Loved a Fireman (1937)

A young man with a checkered past struggles to make good as a fireman.  (more)

DIRECTION:  John Farrow
CAST:  Dick Foran  •  Ann Sheridan  •  Robert Armstrong  •  Eddie Acuff

A young man with a checkered past struggles to make good as a fireman.  (more)

DIRECTION:  John Farrow
CAST:  Dick Foran  •  Ann Sheridan  •  Robert Armstrong  •  Eddie Acuff

Wells Fargo (1937)

In the 1840s, Ramsey MacKay, the driver for the struggling Wells Fargo mail and freight company, will secure an important contract if he delivers fresh oysters to Buffalo from New York City. When he rescues Justine Pryor and her mother, who are stranded in a broken ...  (more)

DIRECTION:  Frank Lloyd
CAST:  Joel McCrea  •  Frances Dee  •  Bob Burns  •  Lloyd Nolan

In the 1840s, Ramsey MacKay, the driver for the struggling Wells Fargo mail and freight company, will secure an important contract if he delivers fresh oysters to Buffalo from New York City. When he rescues Justine Pryor and her mother, who are stranded in a broken ...  (more)

DIRECTION:  Frank Lloyd
CAST:  Joel McCrea  •  Frances Dee  •  Bob Burns  •  Lloyd Nolan

Illegal Traffic (1938)

G-Man Charles Bent Martin is sent out to break up a nationwide racket. A transport company is aiding fugitives making a getaway in exchange for the lion's share of their loot. Through an old friend, whom he once barnstormed in an air circus, Martin joins the gang ...  (more)

DIRECTION:  Louis King
CAST:  J. Carrol Naish  •  Mary Carlisle  •  Robert Preston  •  Judith Barrett

G-Man Charles Bent Martin is sent out to break up a nationwide racket. A transport company is aiding fugitives making a getaway in exchange for the lion's share of their loot. Through an old friend, whom he once barnstormed in an air circus, Martin joins the gang ...  (more)

DIRECTION:  Louis King
CAST:  J. Carrol Naish  •  Mary Carlisle  •  Robert Preston  •  Judith Barrett
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