Henri Letondal

Henri Letondal was a French-Canadian music critic, administrator, cellist, playwright and actor. He was a man of wide interests and wrote many sketches and revues, including, on occasion, the music. In his youth he studied the cello with Gustave Labelle. Around 1920 he became a critic of concerts and variety shows for "La Patrie" (Montreal) and served 1926-29 as that paper's Paris correspondent. He also wrote about music for "Le Petit Journal" and was music critic around 1935 for "Le Canada". For CKAC radio in Montreal he was artistic director 1929-38 of 'L'Heure provinciale,' which was sponsored by the Quebec government to promote the province's musicians and composers. He also was director general of the film company France-Film. It has been estimated that Letondal wrote some 160 radio plays and sketches 1937-1948, producing them himself and occasionally writing the music. In 1946 he embarked on an intensive Hollywood film career, appearing in 35 Hollywood films and one Canadian, before he he died in Hollywood in 1955.

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Gentlemen Prefer Blondes (1953)

FunnyCharmingEnjoyableMusical

Lorelei Lee is a beautiful showgirl engaged to be married to the wealthy Gus Esmond, much to the disapproval of Gus' rich father, Esmond Sr., who thinks that Lorelei is just after his money. When Lorelei goes on a cruise accompanied only by her best friend, Dorothy ...  (more)

DIRECTION:  Howard Hawks
CAST:  Marilyn Monroe  •  Jane Russell  •  Elliott Reid  •  Charles Coburn

Lorelei Lee is a beautiful showgirl engaged to be married to the wealthy Gus Esmond, much to the disapproval of Gus' rich father, Esmond Sr., who thinks that Lorelei is just after his money. When Lorelei goes on a cruise accompanied only by her best friend, Dorothy ...  (more)

DIRECTION:  Howard Hawks
CAST:  Marilyn Monroe  •  Jane Russell  •  Elliott Reid  •  Charles Coburn

Royal Wedding (1951)

Tom and Ellen are asked to perform as a dance team in England at the time of Princess Elizabeth's wedding. As brother and sister, each develops a British love interest, Ellen with Lord John Brindale and Tom with dancer Anne Ashmond.  (more)

DIRECTION:  Stanley Donen
CAST:  Fred Astaire  •  Jane Powell  •  Peter Lawford  •  Sarah Churchill

Tom and Ellen are asked to perform as a dance team in England at the time of Princess Elizabeth's wedding. As brother and sister, each develops a British love interest, Ellen with Lord John Brindale and Tom with dancer Anne Ashmond.  (more)

DIRECTION:  Stanley Donen
CAST:  Fred Astaire  •  Jane Powell  •  Peter Lawford  •  Sarah Churchill

The Big Clock (1948)

Stroud, a crime magazine's crusading editor has to post-pone a vacation with his wife, again, when a glamorous blonde is murdered and he is assigned by his publishing boss Janoth to find the killer. As the investigation proceeds to its conclusion, Stroud must try ...  (more)

DIRECTION:  John Farrow
CAST:  Ray Milland  •  Charles Laughton  •  Maureen O'Sullivan  •  George Macready

Stroud, a crime magazine's crusading editor has to post-pone a vacation with his wife, again, when a glamorous blonde is murdered and he is assigned by his publishing boss Janoth to find the killer. As the investigation proceeds to its conclusion, Stroud must try ...  (more)

DIRECTION:  John Farrow
CAST:  Ray Milland  •  Charles Laughton  •  Maureen O'Sullivan  •  George Macready

The Razor's Edge (1946)

An adventurous young man goes off to find himself and loses his socialite fiancée in the process. But when he returns 10 years later, she will stop at nothing to get him back, even though she is already married.  (more)

DIRECTION:  Edmund Goulding
CAST:  Tyrone Power  •  Gene Tierney  •  John Payne  •  Anne Baxter

An adventurous young man goes off to find himself and loses his socialite fiancée in the process. But when he returns 10 years later, she will stop at nothing to get him back, even though she is already married.  (more)

DIRECTION:  Edmund Goulding
CAST:  Tyrone Power  •  Gene Tierney  •  John Payne  •  Anne Baxter

Come to the Stable (1949)

Two nuns arrive unannounced in the small New England town of Bethlehem, where they recruit various townspeople to help them build a children's hospital.  (more)

DIRECTION:  Henry Koster
CAST:  Loretta Young  •  Celeste Holm  •  Hugh Marlowe  •  Elsa Lanchester

Two nuns arrive unannounced in the small New England town of Bethlehem, where they recruit various townspeople to help them build a children's hospital.  (more)

DIRECTION:  Henry Koster
CAST:  Loretta Young  •  Celeste Holm  •  Hugh Marlowe  •  Elsa Lanchester

Monkey Business (1952)

Research chemist Barnaby Fulton works on a fountain of youth pill for a chemical company. One of the labs chimps gets loose in the laboratory and mixes chemicals, but then pours the mix into the water cooler. When trying one of his own samples, washed down with ...  (more)

DIRECTION:  Howard Hawks
CAST:  Cary Grant  •  Ginger Rogers  •  Charles Coburn  •  Marilyn Monroe

Research chemist Barnaby Fulton works on a fountain of youth pill for a chemical company. One of the labs chimps gets loose in the laboratory and mixes chemicals, but then pours the mix into the water cooler. When trying one of his own samples, washed down with ...  (more)

DIRECTION:  Howard Hawks
CAST:  Cary Grant  •  Ginger Rogers  •  Charles Coburn  •  Marilyn Monroe

Little Boy Lost (1953)

A war correspondent who was stationed in Paris during WW II married a French girl who was murdered by the Nazis. After the war he returns to to try to find his son, whom he lost during a bombing raid but has been told is living in an orphanage in Paris.  (more)

DIRECTION:  George Seaton
CAST:  Bing Crosby  •  Claude Dauphin  •  Christian Fourcade  •  Gabrielle Dorziat

A war correspondent who was stationed in Paris during WW II married a French girl who was murdered by the Nazis. After the war he returns to to try to find his son, whom he lost during a bombing raid but has been told is living in an orphanage in Paris.  (more)

DIRECTION:  George Seaton
CAST:  Bing Crosby  •  Claude Dauphin  •  Christian Fourcade  •  Gabrielle Dorziat

Magnificent Doll (1946)

While packing her belongings in preparation of evacuating the White House because of the impending British invasion of Washington D.C., Dolly Payne Madison thinks back on her childhood, her first marriage, and later romances with two very different politicians, ...  (more)

DIRECTION:  Frank Borzage
CAST:  Ginger Rogers  •  David Niven  •  Burgess Meredith  •  Grandon Rhodes

While packing her belongings in preparation of evacuating the White House because of the impending British invasion of Washington D.C., Dolly Payne Madison thinks back on her childhood, her first marriage, and later romances with two very different politicians, ...  (more)

DIRECTION:  Frank Borzage
CAST:  Ginger Rogers  •  David Niven  •  Burgess Meredith  •  Grandon Rhodes

Please Believe Me (1950)

A woman in London unexpectedly inherits a Texas ranching fortune, and takes a transatlantic voyage to collect her fortune, not suspecting two men aboard both plan on winning her hand before she reaches America. One is a gambler interested in her money, and the ...  (more)

DIRECTION:  Norman Taurog
CAST:  Deborah Kerr  •  Robert Walker  •  Mark Stevens  •  Peter Lawford

A woman in London unexpectedly inherits a Texas ranching fortune, and takes a transatlantic voyage to collect her fortune, not suspecting two men aboard both plan on winning her hand before she reaches America. One is a gambler interested in her money, and the ...  (more)

DIRECTION:  Norman Taurog
CAST:  Deborah Kerr  •  Robert Walker  •  Mark Stevens  •  Peter Lawford

A Bullet for Joey (1955)

Raoul Leduc is a police inspector trailing a spy who plots to kidnap an important American atomic scientist. Joe Victor a gangster who is hired to carry out the abduction, balks when he learns what is at stake and helps Leduc out instead.  (more)

DIRECTION:  Lewis Allen
CAST:  Edward G. Robinson  •  George Raft  •  Audrey Totter  •  George Dolenz

Raoul Leduc is a police inspector trailing a spy who plots to kidnap an important American atomic scientist. Joe Victor a gangster who is hired to carry out the abduction, balks when he learns what is at stake and helps Leduc out instead.  (more)

DIRECTION:  Lewis Allen
CAST:  Edward G. Robinson  •  George Raft  •  Audrey Totter  •  George Dolenz

The Crime Doctor's Gamble (1947)

While visiting France, a criminal psychologist tries to clear a disturbed young man of his father's murder.  (more)

DIRECTION:  William Castle
CAST:  Warner Baxter  •  Micheline Cheirel  •  Roger Dann  •  Steven Geray

While visiting France, a criminal psychologist tries to clear a disturbed young man of his father's murder.  (more)

DIRECTION:  William Castle
CAST:  Warner Baxter  •  Micheline Cheirel  •  Roger Dann  •  Steven Geray

The Fortress (1947)

After hearing that a famous actress is dying in a hospital after being hit by a car, a reporter goes to the hospital to interview the actress. She then tells the reporter that her wealthy fiance, who was killed in an accident several years before, was actually ...  (more)

DIRECTION:  Fyodor Otsep
CAST:  Paul Dupuis  •  Jacques Auger  •  Nicole Germain  •  Henri Letondal

After hearing that a famous actress is dying in a hospital after being hit by a car, a reporter goes to the hospital to interview the actress. She then tells the reporter that her wealthy fiance, who was killed in an accident several years before, was actually ...  (more)

DIRECTION:  Fyodor Otsep
CAST:  Paul Dupuis  •  Jacques Auger  •  Nicole Germain  •  Henri Letondal

The Gambler from Natchez (1954)

A discharged army Captain returns home to New Orleans to take revenge on the men who murdered his father.  (more)

DIRECTION:  Henry Levin
CAST:  Dale Robertson  •  Debra Paget  •  Thomas Gomez  •  Lisa Daniels

A discharged army Captain returns home to New Orleans to take revenge on the men who murdered his father.  (more)

DIRECTION:  Henry Levin
CAST:  Dale Robertson  •  Debra Paget  •  Thomas Gomez  •  Lisa Daniels

Kind Lady (1951)

Mary Herries has a passion for art and fine furniture. Even though she is getting on in years, she enjoys being around these priceless articles. One day she meets a strange young painter named Elcott, who uses his painting skill to enter into her life. Little does ...  (more)

DIRECTION:  John Sturges
CAST:  Ethel Barrymore  •  Maurice Evans  •  Angela Lansbury  •  Keenan Wynn

Mary Herries has a passion for art and fine furniture. Even though she is getting on in years, she enjoys being around these priceless articles. One day she meets a strange young painter named Elcott, who uses his painting skill to enter into her life. Little does ...  (more)

DIRECTION:  John Sturges
CAST:  Ethel Barrymore  •  Maurice Evans  •  Angela Lansbury  •  Keenan Wynn

South Sea Woman (1953)

Marine Sergeant James O'Hearn is being tried at the San Diego Marine base for desertion, theft, scandalous conduct and destruction of property in time of war. He refuses to testify or plead guilty or not guilty to the charges. Showgirl Ginger Martin takes the stand ...  (more)

DIRECTION:  Arthur Lubin
CAST:  Burt Lancaster  •  Virginia Mayo  •  Chuck Connors  •  Arthur Shields

Marine Sergeant James O'Hearn is being tried at the San Diego Marine base for desertion, theft, scandalous conduct and destruction of property in time of war. He refuses to testify or plead guilty or not guilty to the charges. Showgirl Ginger Martin takes the stand ...  (more)

DIRECTION:  Arthur Lubin
CAST:  Burt Lancaster  •  Virginia Mayo  •  Chuck Connors  •  Arthur Shields

The Wild North (1952)

In the Canadian mountains, a trapper goes on the run accused of a crime and is pursued by a rugged and determined lawman of the Royal North-West Mounted Police.  (more)

DIRECTION:  Andrew Marton
CAST:  Stewart Granger  •  Wendell Corey  •  Cyd Charisse  •  Howard Petrie

In the Canadian mountains, a trapper goes on the run accused of a crime and is pursued by a rugged and determined lawman of the Royal North-West Mounted Police.  (more)

DIRECTION:  Andrew Marton
CAST:  Stewart Granger  •  Wendell Corey  •  Cyd Charisse  •  Howard Petrie

Apartment for Peggy (1948)

Professor Henry Barnes decides he's lived long enough and contemplates suicide. His attitude is changed by Peggy Taylor, a chipper young mother-to-be who charms him into renting out his attic as an apartment for her and her husband Jason, a former GI struggling to ...  (more)

DIRECTION:  George Seaton
CAST:  Jeanne Crain  •  William Holden  •  Edmund Gwenn  •  Gene Lockhart

Professor Henry Barnes decides he's lived long enough and contemplates suicide. His attitude is changed by Peggy Taylor, a chipper young mother-to-be who charms him into renting out his attic as an apartment for her and her husband Jason, a former GI struggling to ...  (more)

DIRECTION:  George Seaton
CAST:  Jeanne Crain  •  William Holden  •  Edmund Gwenn  •  Gene Lockhart

Mother Is a Freshman (1949)

Widow Abby Abbott is having serious money problems and has to dip into the family trust in order to pay for her daughter Susan's college tuition. The catch: Abby must also become a co-ed or she can't touch the money. After passing her entrance exams, Abby goes to ...  (more)

DIRECTION:  Lloyd Bacon
CAST:  Loretta Young  •  Van Johnson  •  Rudy Vallee  •  Barbara Lawrence

Widow Abby Abbott is having serious money problems and has to dip into the family trust in order to pay for her daughter Susan's college tuition. The catch: Abby must also become a co-ed or she can't touch the money. After passing her entrance exams, Abby goes to ...  (more)

DIRECTION:  Lloyd Bacon
CAST:  Loretta Young  •  Van Johnson  •  Rudy Vallee  •  Barbara Lawrence

Dangerous When Wet (1953)

The health conscious, dairy-farming Higgins family begin each day with an invigorating swim. One day, traveling health-tonic salesman, Windy Weebe, comes to town and suggests they could swim the English Channel. Sponsored by "Liquapep" and coached by Windy, the ...  (more)

DIRECTION:  Charles Walters
CAST:  Esther Williams  •  Fernando Lamas  •  Jack Carson  •  Charlotte Greenwood

The health conscious, dairy-farming Higgins family begin each day with an invigorating swim. One day, traveling health-tonic salesman, Windy Weebe, comes to town and suggests they could swim the English Channel. Sponsored by "Liquapep" and coached by Windy, the ...  (more)

DIRECTION:  Charles Walters
CAST:  Esther Williams  •  Fernando Lamas  •  Jack Carson  •  Charlotte Greenwood

The Big Sky (1952)

Two tough Kentucky mountaineers join a trading expedition from St. Louis up the Missouri River to trade whisky for furs with the Blackfoot Indians. They soon discover that there is much more than the elements to contend with.  (more)

DIRECTION:  Howard Hawks
CAST:  Kirk Douglas  •  Dewey Martin  •  Elizabeth Threatt  •  Arthur Hunnicutt

Two tough Kentucky mountaineers join a trading expedition from St. Louis up the Missouri River to trade whisky for furs with the Blackfoot Indians. They soon discover that there is much more than the elements to contend with.  (more)

DIRECTION:  Howard Hawks
CAST:  Kirk Douglas  •  Dewey Martin  •  Elizabeth Threatt  •  Arthur Hunnicutt
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