Rex Downing

Call Northside 777 (1948)

In 1932, a cop is killed and Frank Wiecek sentenced to life. Eleven years later, a newspaper ad by Frank's mother leads Chicago reporter P.J. O'Neal to look into the case. For some time, O'Neal continues to believe Frank guilty. But when he starts to change his ...  (more)

DIRECTION:  Henry Hathaway
CAST:  James Stewart  •  Richard Conte  •  Lee J. Cobb  •  Helen Walker

In 1932, a cop is killed and Frank Wiecek sentenced to life. Eleven years later, a newspaper ad by Frank's mother leads Chicago reporter P.J. O'Neal to look into the case. For some time, O'Neal continues to believe Frank guilty. But when he starts to change his ...  (more)

DIRECTION:  Henry Hathaway
CAST:  James Stewart  •  Richard Conte  •  Lee J. Cobb  •  Helen Walker

He Walked by Night (1949)

This film-noir piece, told in semi-documentary style, follows police on the hunt for a resourceful criminal who shoots and kills a cop.  (more)

DIRECTION:  Alfred L. Werker
CAST:  Richard Basehart  •  Scott Brady  •  Roy Roberts  •  Whit Bissell

This film-noir piece, told in semi-documentary style, follows police on the hunt for a resourceful criminal who shoots and kills a cop.  (more)

DIRECTION:  Alfred L. Werker
CAST:  Richard Basehart  •  Scott Brady  •  Roy Roberts  •  Whit Bissell

Wuthering Heights (1939)

The Earnshaws are Yorkshire farmers during the early 19th Century. One day, Mr. Earnshaw returns from a trip to the city, bringing with him a ragged little boy called Heathcliff. Earnshaw's son, Hindley, resents the child, but Heathcliff becomes companion and ...  (more)

DIRECTION:  William Wyler
CAST:  Merle Oberon  •  Laurence Olivier  •  David Niven  •  Flora Robson

The Earnshaws are Yorkshire farmers during the early 19th Century. One day, Mr. Earnshaw returns from a trip to the city, bringing with him a ragged little boy called Heathcliff. Earnshaw's son, Hindley, resents the child, but Heathcliff becomes companion and ...  (more)

DIRECTION:  William Wyler
CAST:  Merle Oberon  •  Laurence Olivier  •  David Niven  •  Flora Robson

General Spanky (1936)

Orphaned shoeshine boy Spanky is working on a Mississippi riverboat during the Civil War. There he befriends young runaway slave Buckwheat. After wronging a vicious gambler, Spanky and Buckwheat are forced to jump ship. Finding solace at a nearby house, the two are ...  (more)

DIRECTION:  Fred C. Newmeyer  •  Gordon Douglas
CAST:  George McFarland  •  Phillips Holmes  •  Rosina Lawrence  •  Carl Switzer

Orphaned shoeshine boy Spanky is working on a Mississippi riverboat during the Civil War. There he befriends young runaway slave Buckwheat. After wronging a vicious gambler, Spanky and Buckwheat are forced to jump ship. Finding solace at a nearby house, the two are ...  (more)

DIRECTION:  Fred C. Newmeyer  •  Gordon Douglas
CAST:  George McFarland  •  Phillips Holmes  •  Rosina Lawrence  •  Carl Switzer

The Mayor of 44th Street (1942)

In this drama, an ex-vaudevillian dancer opens up a dance band agency and help street kids at the same time by hiring them to help out. Unfortunately, the local gang of hood's leader resists his attempts. More trouble ensues when the dancer helps a convict gain ...  (more)

DIRECTION:  Alfred E. Green
CAST:  George Murphy  •  Anne Shirley  •  William Gargan  •  Richard Barthelmess

In this drama, an ex-vaudevillian dancer opens up a dance band agency and help street kids at the same time by hiring them to help out. Unfortunately, the local gang of hood's leader resists his attempts. More trouble ensues when the dancer helps a convict gain ...  (more)

DIRECTION:  Alfred E. Green
CAST:  George Murphy  •  Anne Shirley  •  William Gargan  •  Richard Barthelmess

Nurse Edith Cavell (1939)

British nurse Edith Cavell is stationed at a hospital in Brussels during World War I. When the son of a former patient escapes from a German prisoner-of-war camp, she helps him flee to Holland. Outraged at the number of soldiers detained in the camps, Edith, along ...  (more)

DIRECTION:  Herbert Wilcox
CAST:  Anna Neagle  •  Edna May Oliver  •  George Sanders  •  May Robson

British nurse Edith Cavell is stationed at a hospital in Brussels during World War I. When the son of a former patient escapes from a German prisoner-of-war camp, she helps him flee to Holland. Outraged at the number of soldiers detained in the camps, Edith, along ...  (more)

DIRECTION:  Herbert Wilcox
CAST:  Anna Neagle  •  Edna May Oliver  •  George Sanders  •  May Robson

Branded a Coward (1935)

Safely from behind some shrubbery, Johnny Hume, a boy of 6 or 7, witnesses the slaughter of his mother, father and brother by the guns of a gang led by "the Cat". Twenty years later finds Johnny grown to manhood, an expert bronc rider and target shooter - but ...  (more)

DIRECTION:  Sam Newfield
CAST:  Johnny Mack Brown  •  Billie Seward  •  Syd Saylor  •  Lloyd Ingraham

Safely from behind some shrubbery, Johnny Hume, a boy of 6 or 7, witnesses the slaughter of his mother, father and brother by the guns of a gang led by "the Cat". Twenty years later finds Johnny grown to manhood, an expert bronc rider and target shooter - but ...  (more)

DIRECTION:  Sam Newfield
CAST:  Johnny Mack Brown  •  Billie Seward  •  Syd Saylor  •  Lloyd Ingraham

Gas House Kids (1946)

The Gas House Kids tackle a gang of criminals in the hope of winning the reward and helping a returning war veteran make a life with his girl.  (more)

DIRECTION:  Sam Newfield
CAST:  Robert Lowery  •  Billy Halop  •  Teala Loring  •  Carl Switzer

The Gas House Kids tackle a gang of criminals in the hope of winning the reward and helping a returning war veteran make a life with his girl.  (more)

DIRECTION:  Sam Newfield
CAST:  Robert Lowery  •  Billy Halop  •  Teala Loring  •  Carl Switzer

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

The Escape (1939)

An embittered Louie Peronni returns from prison to find that his sister, Juli Peronni, is engaged to policeman Eddie Farrell, and also finds that his secret wife Annie Qualen has placed their baby girl in a foundling home. With his old gang again, Louie plans a ...  (more)

DIRECTION:  Ricardo Cortez
CAST:  Kane Richmond  •  Amanda Duff  •  June Gale  •  Edward Norris

An embittered Louie Peronni returns from prison to find that his sister, Juli Peronni, is engaged to policeman Eddie Farrell, and also finds that his secret wife Annie Qualen has placed their baby girl in a foundling home. With his old gang again, Louie plans a ...  (more)

DIRECTION:  Ricardo Cortez
CAST:  Kane Richmond  •  Amanda Duff  •  June Gale  •  Edward Norris

Teacher's Beau (1935)

The gang tries to dissuade their teacher from geting married.  (more)

DIRECTION:  Gus Meins
CAST:  Carl Switzer  •  Scotty Beckett  •  Billie Thomas  •  Donald Proffitt

The gang tries to dissuade their teacher from geting married.  (more)

DIRECTION:  Gus Meins
CAST:  Carl Switzer  •  Scotty Beckett  •  Billie Thomas  •  Donald Proffitt

Pay As You Exit (1936)

The "Our Gang" kids stage a production of "Romeo and Juliet," but the show is threatened when leading lady Darla walks out on star Alfalfa.  (more)

DIRECTION:  Gordon Douglas
CAST:  Darla Hood  •  Eugene 'Porky' Lee  •  George McFarland  •  Carl Switzer

The "Our Gang" kids stage a production of "Romeo and Juliet," but the show is threatened when leading lady Darla walks out on star Alfalfa.  (more)

DIRECTION:  Gordon Douglas
CAST:  Darla Hood  •  Eugene 'Porky' Lee  •  George McFarland  •  Carl Switzer

The Pinch Singer (1936)

Alfalfa and our gang try to win fifty dollars on a radio contest.  (more)

DIRECTION:  Fred C. Newmeyer
CAST:  Darla Hood  •  Eugene 'Porky' Lee  •  George McFarland  •  Carl Switzer

Alfalfa and our gang try to win fifty dollars on a radio contest.  (more)

DIRECTION:  Fred C. Newmeyer
CAST:  Darla Hood  •  Eugene 'Porky' Lee  •  George McFarland  •  Carl Switzer

Blood and Sand (1941)

Bullfighter Juan Gallardo falls for socialite Dona Sol, turning from the faithful Carmen who nevertheless stands by her man as he continues to face real danger in the bullring.  (more)

DIRECTION:  Rouben Mamoulian
CAST:  Tyrone Power  •  Linda Darnell  •  Rita Hayworth  •  Alla Nazimova

Bullfighter Juan Gallardo falls for socialite Dona Sol, turning from the faithful Carmen who nevertheless stands by her man as he continues to face real danger in the bullring.  (more)

DIRECTION:  Rouben Mamoulian
CAST:  Tyrone Power  •  Linda Darnell  •  Rita Hayworth  •  Alla Nazimova

Mandrake the Magician (1939)

Mandrake and his team attempt to prevent "The Wasp" from stealing and using a new Radium invention.  (more)

DIRECTION:  Norman Deming  •  Sam Nelson
CAST:  Warren Hull  •  Doris Weston  •  Al Kikume  •  Rex Downing

Mandrake and his team attempt to prevent "The Wasp" from stealing and using a new Radium invention.  (more)

DIRECTION:  Norman Deming  •  Sam Nelson
CAST:  Warren Hull  •  Doris Weston  •  Al Kikume  •  Rex Downing

Little Miss Nobody (1936)

A runaway orphan is befriended by a kind-hearted pet store owner with a criminal past.  (more)

DIRECTION:  John G. Blystone
CAST:  Jane Withers  •  Harry Carey  •  Ralph Morgan  •  Thomas E. Jackson

A runaway orphan is befriended by a kind-hearted pet store owner with a criminal past.  (more)

DIRECTION:  John G. Blystone
CAST:  Jane Withers  •  Harry Carey  •  Ralph Morgan  •  Thomas E. Jackson

Bravest of the Brave (1938)

This short film looks at the life of Michel Ney, who fought at Napoleon's side and was made a Marshall of France.  (more)

DIRECTION:  Edward L. Cahn
CAST:  Carey Wilson  •  Sergei Arabeloff  •  John Burton  •  Lita Chevret

This short film looks at the life of Michel Ney, who fought at Napoleon's side and was made a Marshall of France.  (more)

DIRECTION:  Edward L. Cahn
CAST:  Carey Wilson  •  Sergei Arabeloff  •  John Burton  •  Lita Chevret

Mandrake the Magician (1940)

Feature version of the American serial film, produced for export only, never exhibited in the USA, and believed to be a lost film.  (more)

DIRECTION:  Norman Deming  •  Sam Nelson
CAST:  Warren Hull  •  Doris Weston  •  Al Kikume  •  Rex Downing

Feature version of the American serial film, produced for export only, never exhibited in the USA, and believed to be a lost film.  (more)

DIRECTION:  Norman Deming  •  Sam Nelson
CAST:  Warren Hull  •  Doris Weston  •  Al Kikume  •  Rex Downing

Black Bandit (1938)

Twin brothers Bob and Don Ramsay are on opposite sides of the law. Bob is the Sheriff and Don is the famous outlaw the Black Bandit. When the Black Bandit strikes, he is seen and his look-alike brother Bob arrested. Refusing to implicate his brother, Bob escapes ...  (more)

DIRECTION:  George Waggner
CAST:  Bob Baker  •  Marjorie Reynolds  •  Hal Taliaferro  •  Jack Rockwell

Twin brothers Bob and Don Ramsay are on opposite sides of the law. Bob is the Sheriff and Don is the famous outlaw the Black Bandit. When the Black Bandit strikes, he is seen and his look-alike brother Bob arrested. Refusing to implicate his brother, Bob escapes ...  (more)

DIRECTION:  George Waggner
CAST:  Bob Baker  •  Marjorie Reynolds  •  Hal Taliaferro  •  Jack Rockwell