Reviews

I have the new Warner Archive DVD release of "Hollywood Revue Of 1929" and I could not agree with reviewer Wayne Malin more. Right before the number "Lon Chaney Will Get You If You Don't' Watch Out", Jack Benny maintains that Lon Chaney does not exist. At that moment a man wearing an overcoat, derby hat, and sinister expression comes out onto the stage. Jack looks at the man, snidely chuckles and says "So you're Lon Chaney?" Benny finally reaches out to shake Chaney's right hand only to have the entire arm come off completely! Jack Benny screams with fear as Lon Chaney exits in a great scene.

Movie fans look closely. That is Lon Chaney himself doing a silent, enigmatic appearance with Jack Benny right before the number!

The rest of the film is a complete delight with nearly every major MGM star on the lot doing an appearance. This includes Norma Shearer, Lionel Barrymore,, Marion Davies, lovely Joan Crawford, John Gilbert still at the peak of his career but not for long, and many others.

Buster Keaton nearly steals the entire show with his exotic dance number, and the finale with (nearly) everyone singing "Singin' In The Rain" in Technicolor is a joy to watch.

"The Hollywood Revue Of 1929" is a historical gem that was unavailable for many years until Turner Classic Movies and now it's on DVD.

"Red Roses For The Fuhrer" or it's alternate title "Code Name, Red Roses" is not a bad film but previous sources listing this motion picture among Oscar-winner Ray Milland's credits are completely wrong.

Ray Milland is not in this film at all but was probably offered the role that was eventually accepted by Michael Wilding. As war movies go, this one is pretty entertaining with a fine cast including James Daly, Peter Van Eyck, Wilding, and Pier Angeli, who only got more beautiful as she matured. It also has plenty of action but no Ray Milland.

I was able to get a DVD from Canada, which obtained a Greek PAL VHS of the film in English with Greek sub-titles. Michael Wilding's voice is dubbed by someone else but Daly and Pier (actually billed under her real name of Anna Maria Pierangeli) dubbed their own voices for this Italian-German co-production.

"Submarine D-1" is a typical but terrific Warner Brothers, pre-WW2 movie on the glory of the U.S. Navy and in particular the submarine service. It has a great cast lead by Pat O'Brien, George Brent, Wayne Morris, and Frank McHugh but does not have Broderick Crawford among its players.

"Submarine D-1" contains great performances by Pat O'Brien as the Chief Petty Officer, Wayne Morris as the cocky sailor who finally matures into a first-rate CPO, and George Brent as the dedicated and somewhat fatherly submarine captain. Frank McHugh is also on hand as Warner Brothers' guaranteed laugh-getter for sure-fire comic relief. Henry O'Neil is well-cast as the wise-old admiral.

"Submarine D-1" is loaded with action, thrills, and comedy but contrary to many film sources Broderick Crawford is not in the film. I watched the entire film from beginning to end and can absolutely verify that he does not appear in this otherwise great old movie.

'Maharlika' was filmed in the Phillippine Islands in 1969, and starred a beautiful American actress named Dovie Beams. 'Maharlika' was supposed to be based on the alleged, heroic World War Two adventures of Ferdinand Marcos who fought against the Japanese occupation of the Phillippines.

In 1969 Marcos was now the democratically elected President of the Phillippine Republic, and would be re-elected in that same year. Dovie Beams had become the mistress of the President, whose cronies had funded the production of 'Maharlika'. The making of 'Maharlika' is the subject of an excellent book "Marcos' Lovey Dovie" (published 1984) by Manila journalist Hermie Rotea.

Rotea does detail how veteran Hollywood actors Paul Burke ('Naked City') and Farley Granger were brought to Manila for the filming of 'Maharlika', but there is absolutely no mention of Broderick Crawford in his book. Crawford was an Academy Award winning film star, whose fame far surpassed that of actors Granger and Burke. If Broderick Crawford had gone to the Phillippines to shoot 'Maharlika', author Hermie Rotea would certainly have highlighted it in his outstanding book. (INCORRECT, PLEASE READ FURTHER BELOW)

Rotea chronicles how the finished film was discovered by the Phillippine First Lady, Imelda Marcos, who ordered that Dovie Beams' star billing be removed, and that her part be cut down to a whisper. 'Maharlika' was never released in either the Phillippine Islands or the United States when the facts surfaced about the relationship between President Marcos and the would-be starlet Ms. Beams. What is interesting is that Dovie Beams predicted that Marcos, who was barred constitutionally from running for a third term, would somehow find a way to remain in power. In 1972, Marcos declared martial law tearing up the Phillippine Constitution, and remaining in power until 1986.

The review above was written by myself in May 2006. I challenged anyone to prove that Broderick Crawford actually appeared in the film. The other person who posted a comment under the name 'KNATLOUIE' for 'Maharlika' has proved me wrong 100%. 'KNATLOUIE' has seen the film under it's alternative title, 'Guerilla Strike Force' and has contacted me with concrete photographic evidence proving once and for all that Broderick Crawford does in fact star in 'Maharlika'!

I have no idea why author Herman Rotea failed to mention Crawford's presence in 'Maharlika' in his otherwise great book of the affair, especially when he highlighted the minor American film stars of the production.

IMDb.COM should restore 'Maharlika' to Broderick Crawford's film credits, and credit him with the role of the Colonel. IMDb.com should also revise the film's release year from 1985 to 1970 when it was finally released after it's 1969 filming. IMDb.com should display it's overseas release title of 'Guerilla Strike Force'.

Thank-You 'KNATLOUIE' from wonderful Copenhagen, Denmark for proving me wrong and discovering a lost film of Broderick Crawford!