William Benedict

From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia. William Benedict (April 16, 1917 – November 25, 1999) was an American actor, perhaps best known for playing "Whitey" in Monogram Pictures' The Bowery Boys series. Born in Haskell, Oklahoma, he took part in school theatricals, and on leaving school he made his way to Hollywood. His first film was $10 Raise (1935) starring Edward Everett Horton, which launched Benedict on a busy career. The blond-haired Benedict almost always played juvenile roles, such as newsboys, messengers, office boys, and farmhands. In 1939, when Universal Pictures began its Little Tough Guys series to compete with the popular Dead End Kids features, Billy Benedict was recruited into the cast. These films led him into the similar East Side Kids movies (usually playing a member of the East Side gang, but occasionally in villainous roles). The East Side Kids became The Bowery Boys in 1946, and Benedict stayed with the series (as "Whitey") through the end of 1951. Other films included My Little Chickadee (1940) starring W. C. Fields and Mae West, The Ox-Bow Incident (1943), Ed Wood's Bride of the Monster (1955), The Sting (1973) and Farewell, My Lovely (1975). Benedict never shook his juvenile image completely, and continued to play messengers and news vendors well into his sixties. He also worked often in television commercials.

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Adventures of Captain Marvel (1941)

On a scientific expedition to Siam young Billy Batson is given the ability to change himself into the super-powered Captain Marvel by the wizard Shazam, who tells him his powers will last only as long as the Golden Scorpion idol is threatened. Finding the idol, the ...  (more)

DIRECTION:  John English  •  William Witney
CAST:  Tom Tyler  •  Frank Coghlan Jr.  •  William Benedict  •  Louise Currie

On a scientific expedition to Siam young Billy Batson is given the ability to change himself into the super-powered Captain Marvel by the wizard Shazam, who tells him his powers will last only as long as the Golden Scorpion idol is threatened. Finding the idol, the ...  (more)

DIRECTION:  John English  •  William Witney
CAST:  Tom Tyler  •  Frank Coghlan Jr.  •  William Benedict  •  Louise Currie

Bride of the Monster (1955)

Dr. Eric Vornoff, with the help of his mute assistant Lobo, captures twelve men for a grisly experiment; His goal to turn them into supermen using atomic energy. Reporter Janet Lawton, fiancée of the local lieutenant, vows to investigate Vornoff's supposedly ...  (more)

DIRECTION:  Edward D. Wood Jr.
CAST:  Bela Lugosi  •  Tor Johnson  •  Tony McCoy  •  Loretta King

Dr. Eric Vornoff, with the help of his mute assistant Lobo, captures twelve men for a grisly experiment; His goal to turn them into supermen using atomic energy. Reporter Janet Lawton, fiancée of the local lieutenant, vows to investigate Vornoff's supposedly ...  (more)

DIRECTION:  Edward D. Wood Jr.
CAST:  Bela Lugosi  •  Tor Johnson  •  Tony McCoy  •  Loretta King

Bringing Up Baby (1938)

UpliftingClassicCuteFun

David Huxley is waiting to get a bone he needs for his museum collection. Through a series of strange circumstances, he meets Susan Vance, and the duo have a series of misadventures which include a leopard called Baby.  (more)

DIRECTION:  Howard Hawks
CAST:  Katharine Hepburn  •  Cary Grant  •  Charles Ruggles  •  Walter Catlett

David Huxley is waiting to get a bone he needs for his museum collection. Through a series of strange circumstances, he meets Susan Vance, and the duo have a series of misadventures which include a leopard called Baby.  (more)

DIRECTION:  Howard Hawks
CAST:  Katharine Hepburn  •  Cary Grant  •  Charles Ruggles  •  Walter Catlett

Dressed to Kill (1941)

A detective's wedding is postponed when gunshots are heard nearby.  (more)

DIRECTION:  Eugene Forde
CAST:  Lloyd Nolan  •  Mary Beth Hughes  •  Sheila Ryan  •  William Demarest

A detective's wedding is postponed when gunshots are heard nearby.  (more)

DIRECTION:  Eugene Forde
CAST:  Lloyd Nolan  •  Mary Beth Hughes  •  Sheila Ryan  •  William Demarest

The Great McGinty (1940)

Told in flashback, Depression-era bum Dan McGinty is recruited by the city's political machine to help with vote fraud. His great aptitude for this brings rapid promotion from "the boss," who finally decides he'd be ideal as a new, nominally "reform" mayor; but ...  (more)

DIRECTION:  Preston Sturges
CAST:  Brian Donlevy  •  Akim Tamiroff  •  Muriel Angelus  •  Allyn Joslyn

Told in flashback, Depression-era bum Dan McGinty is recruited by the city's political machine to help with vote fraud. His great aptitude for this brings rapid promotion from "the boss," who finally decides he'd be ideal as a new, nominally "reform" mayor; but ...  (more)

DIRECTION:  Preston Sturges
CAST:  Brian Donlevy  •  Akim Tamiroff  •  Muriel Angelus  •  Allyn Joslyn

The Hanging Tree (1959)

Joseph "Doc" Frail is a doctor with a past he's trying to outrun. While in Montana, he comes across a mining camp with a hanging tree and rescues a man named Rune from the noose. With Rune as his servant, Frail decides to settle down, and he takes over as town ...  (more)

DIRECTION:  Delmer Daves
CAST:  Gary Cooper  •  Maria Schell  •  Karl Malden  •  George C. Scott

Joseph "Doc" Frail is a doctor with a past he's trying to outrun. While in Montana, he comes across a mining camp with a hanging tree and rescues a man named Rune from the noose. With Rune as his servant, Frail decides to settle down, and he takes over as town ...  (more)

DIRECTION:  Delmer Daves
CAST:  Gary Cooper  •  Maria Schell  •  Karl Malden  •  George C. Scott

The Killing (1956)

Career criminal Johnny Clay recruits a sharpshooter, a crooked police officer, a bartender and a betting teller named George, among others, for one last job before he goes straight and gets married. But when George tells his restless wife about the scheme to steal ...  (more)

DIRECTION:  Stanley Kubrick
CAST:  Sterling Hayden  •  Coleen Gray  •  Vince Edwards  •  Jay C. Flippen

Career criminal Johnny Clay recruits a sharpshooter, a crooked police officer, a bartender and a betting teller named George, among others, for one last job before he goes straight and gets married. But when George tells his restless wife about the scheme to steal ...  (more)

DIRECTION:  Stanley Kubrick
CAST:  Sterling Hayden  •  Coleen Gray  •  Vince Edwards  •  Jay C. Flippen

The Ox-Bow Incident (1943)

A posse discovers a trio of men they suspect of murder and cow theft and are split between handing them over to the law or lynching them on the spot.  (more)

DIRECTION:  William A. Wellman
CAST:  Henry Fonda  •  Dana Andrews  •  Mary Beth Hughes  •  Anthony Quinn

A posse discovers a trio of men they suspect of murder and cow theft and are split between handing them over to the law or lynching them on the spot.  (more)

DIRECTION:  William A. Wellman
CAST:  Henry Fonda  •  Dana Andrews  •  Mary Beth Hughes  •  Anthony Quinn

The Sting (1973)

ClassicHeistOriginalClever

A novice con man teams up with an acknowledged master to avenge the murder of a mutual friend by pulling off the ultimate big con and swindling a fortune from a big-time mobster.  (more)

DIRECTION:  George Roy Hill
CAST:  Paul Newman  •  Robert Redford  •  Robert Shaw  •  Charles Durning

A novice con man teams up with an acknowledged master to avenge the murder of a mutual friend by pulling off the ultimate big con and swindling a fortune from a big-time mobster.  (more)

DIRECTION:  George Roy Hill
CAST:  Paul Newman  •  Robert Redford  •  Robert Shaw  •  Charles Durning

Story of G.I. Joe (1945)

War correspondent Ernie Pyle joins Company C, 18th Infantry as this American army unit fights its way across North Africa in World War II. He comes to know the soldiers and finds much human interest material for his readers back in the States.  (more)

DIRECTION:  William A. Wellman
CAST:  Burgess Meredith  •  Robert Mitchum  •  Freddie Steele  •  Wally Cassell

War correspondent Ernie Pyle joins Company C, 18th Infantry as this American army unit fights its way across North Africa in World War II. He comes to know the soldiers and finds much human interest material for his readers back in the States.  (more)

DIRECTION:  William A. Wellman
CAST:  Burgess Meredith  •  Robert Mitchum  •  Freddie Steele  •  Wally Cassell

Libeled Lady (1936)

When a major newspaper accuses wealthy socialite Connie Allenbury of being a home-wrecker, and she files a multi-million-dollar libel lawsuit, the publication's frazzled head editor, Warren Haggerty, must find a way to turn the tables on her. Soon Haggerty's ...  (more)

DIRECTION:  Jack Conway
CAST:  Jean Harlow  •  William Powell  •  Myrna Loy  •  Spencer Tracy

When a major newspaper accuses wealthy socialite Connie Allenbury of being a home-wrecker, and she files a multi-million-dollar libel lawsuit, the publication's frazzled head editor, Warren Haggerty, must find a way to turn the tables on her. Soon Haggerty's ...  (more)

DIRECTION:  Jack Conway
CAST:  Jean Harlow  •  William Powell  •  Myrna Loy  •  Spencer Tracy

The Talk of the Town (1942)

When the Holmes Woolen Mill burns down, political activist Leopold Dilg is jailed for arson and accidental murder. Escaping, Leopold hides out in the home of his childhood sweetheart Nora Shelley... which she has just rented to unsuspecting law professor Michael ...  (more)

DIRECTION:  George Stevens
CAST:  Cary Grant  •  Jean Arthur  •  Ronald Colman  •  Edgar Buchanan

When the Holmes Woolen Mill burns down, political activist Leopold Dilg is jailed for arson and accidental murder. Escaping, Leopold hides out in the home of his childhood sweetheart Nora Shelley... which she has just rented to unsuspecting law professor Michael ...  (more)

DIRECTION:  George Stevens
CAST:  Cary Grant  •  Jean Arthur  •  Ronald Colman  •  Edgar Buchanan

After the Thin Man (1936)

CharmingClassicCleverEnjoyable

Nick and Nora Charles investigate when Nora's cousin reports her disreputable husband is missing, and find themselves in a mystery involving the shady owners of a popular nightclub, a singer and her dark brother, the cousin's forsaken true love, and Nora's ...  (more)

DIRECTION:  W.S. Van Dyke
CAST:  William Powell  •  Myrna Loy  •  James Stewart  •  Elissa Landi

Nick and Nora Charles investigate when Nora's cousin reports her disreputable husband is missing, and find themselves in a mystery involving the shady owners of a popular nightclub, a singer and her dark brother, the cousin's forsaken true love, and Nora's ...  (more)

DIRECTION:  W.S. Van Dyke
CAST:  William Powell  •  Myrna Loy  •  James Stewart  •  Elissa Landi

Melody Ranch (1940)

His Arizona hometown of Torpedo invites Gene back to be the honorary sheriff of the Frontier Days Celebration.  (more)

DIRECTION:  Joseph Santley
CAST:  Gene Autry  •  Ann Miller  •  Jimmy Durante  •  Barton MacLane

His Arizona hometown of Torpedo invites Gene back to be the honorary sheriff of the Frontier Days Celebration.  (more)

DIRECTION:  Joseph Santley
CAST:  Gene Autry  •  Ann Miller  •  Jimmy Durante  •  Barton MacLane

Theodora Goes Wild (1936)

The small-town prudes of Lynnfield are up in arms over 'The Sinner,' a sexy best-seller. They little suspect that author 'Caroline Adams' is really Theodora Lynn, scion of the town's leading family. Michael Grant, devil-may-care book jacket illustrator, penetrates ...  (more)

DIRECTION:  Richard Boleslawski
CAST:  Irene Dunne  •  Melvyn Douglas  •  Thomas Mitchell  •  Thurston Hall

The small-town prudes of Lynnfield are up in arms over 'The Sinner,' a sexy best-seller. They little suspect that author 'Caroline Adams' is really Theodora Lynn, scion of the town's leading family. Michael Grant, devil-may-care book jacket illustrator, penetrates ...  (more)

DIRECTION:  Richard Boleslawski
CAST:  Irene Dunne  •  Melvyn Douglas  •  Thomas Mitchell  •  Thurston Hall

Frankie and Johnny (1966)

Johnny is a riverboat entertainer with a big gambling problem. After a fortune-teller tells Johnny how he can change his luck, the appearance of a new 'lady luck' soon causes a cat fight with Johnny's girlfriend, Frankie.  (more)

DIRECTION:  Frederick de Cordova
CAST:  Elvis Presley  •  Donna Douglas  •  Harry Morgan  •  Nancy Kovack

Johnny is a riverboat entertainer with a big gambling problem. After a fortune-teller tells Johnny how he can change his luck, the appearance of a new 'lady luck' soon causes a cat fight with Johnny's girlfriend, Frankie.  (more)

DIRECTION:  Frederick de Cordova
CAST:  Elvis Presley  •  Donna Douglas  •  Harry Morgan  •  Nancy Kovack

The Hallelujah Trail (1965)

A wagon train heads for Denver with a cargo of whisky for the miners. Chaos ensues as the Temperance League, the US cavalry, the miners and the local Indians all try to take control of the valuable cargo.  (more)

DIRECTION:  John Sturges
CAST:  Burt Lancaster  •  Lee Remick  •  Jim Hutton  •  Donald Pleasence

A wagon train heads for Denver with a cargo of whisky for the miners. Chaos ensues as the Temperance League, the US cavalry, the miners and the local Indians all try to take control of the valuable cargo.  (more)

DIRECTION:  John Sturges
CAST:  Burt Lancaster  •  Lee Remick  •  Jim Hutton  •  Donald Pleasence

My Little Chickadee (1940)

While on her way by stagecoach to visit relatives out west, Flower Belle Lee is held up by a masked bandit who also takes the coach's shipment of gold. When he abducts Flower Belle and they arrive in town, Flower Belle is suspected of being in collusion with the bandit.  (more)

DIRECTION:  Edward F. Cline
CAST:  W.C. Fields  •  Mae West  •  Joseph Calleia  •  Dick Foran

While on her way by stagecoach to visit relatives out west, Flower Belle Lee is held up by a masked bandit who also takes the coach's shipment of gold. When he abducts Flower Belle and they arrive in town, Flower Belle is suspected of being in collusion with the bandit.  (more)

DIRECTION:  Edward F. Cline
CAST:  W.C. Fields  •  Mae West  •  Joseph Calleia  •  Dick Foran

Moonlight in Vermont (1943)

A poor country girl from Vermont travels to New York City to attend a theatrical school.  (more)

DIRECTION:  Edward C. Lilley
CAST:  Gloria Jean  •  George Dolenz  •  Ray Malone  •  Fay Helm

A poor country girl from Vermont travels to New York City to attend a theatrical school.  (more)

DIRECTION:  Edward C. Lilley
CAST:  Gloria Jean  •  George Dolenz  •  Ray Malone  •  Fay Helm

Second Chorus (1941)

Danny O'Neill and Hank Taylor are rival trumpeters with the Perennials, a college band, and both men are still attending college by failing their exams seven years in a row. In the midst of a performance, Danny spies Ellen Miller who ends up being made band manager ...  (more)

DIRECTION:  H. C. Potter
CAST:  Fred Astaire  •  Paulette Goddard  •  Artie Shaw  •  Charles Butterworth

Danny O'Neill and Hank Taylor are rival trumpeters with the Perennials, a college band, and both men are still attending college by failing their exams seven years in a row. In the midst of a performance, Danny spies Ellen Miller who ends up being made band manager ...  (more)

DIRECTION:  H. C. Potter
CAST:  Fred Astaire  •  Paulette Goddard  •  Artie Shaw  •  Charles Butterworth
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