Jean Rogers
Biography: Jean Rogers, born Eleanor Dorothy Lovegren, was an American actress who starred in serial films in the 1930s and low–budget feature films in the 1940s as a leading lady. She is best remembered for playing Dale Arden in the science fiction serials Flash Gordon and Flash Gordon's Trip to Mars. She graduated from Belmont High School, and had hoped to study art, but in 1933, she won a beauty contest sponsored by Paramount Pictures that led to her career in Hollywood. Rogers starred in several serials for Universal between 1935 and 1938, including Ace Drummond and Flash Gordon. Rogers was one of seven women chosen out of 2,700 passengers on excursion boats and ferries who were interviewed for roles in Eight Girls in a Boat. The group began work in Hollywood on September 3, 1933. By 1937, Rogers was the only one of the seven featured as an actress. Rogers was assigned the role of Dale Arden in the first two Flash Gordon serials. Buster Crabbe and Rogers were cast as the hero and heroine in the first serial, Flash Gordon, and Rogers' beauty, long blonde hair, and revealing costumes endeared her to moviegoers. The evil ruler Ming the Merciless lusted after her, and Gordon was forced to rescue her from one situation after another. While filming the series in 1937, her costume caught fire and she suffered burns on her hands. Co-star Crabbe smothered the fire by wrapping a blanket on her. In the first serial, Arden competed with Princess Aura for Gordon's attention. Rogers' character was fragile, small-chested, diminutive, and totally dependent on Gordon for her survival; Lawson's Princess Aura was domineering, independent, voluptuous, conniving, sly, ambitious, and determined to make Gordon her own. The competition for Gordon's attention is one of the highlights of the film. In Flash Gordon's Trip to Mars, the second serial, Rogers sported a totally different look. She had dark hair and wore the same modest costume in each episode. Rogers matured after the first serial, and no sexual overtones are seen in Trip to Mars. Rogers told writer Richard Lamparski that she was not eager to do the second serial and asked her studio to excuse her from the third. Despite starring in serial films, Rogers felt she was not going to improve her career unless she could participate in feature films. She discovered that it was more tedious working in feature films. She played John Wayne's leading lady in the 1936 full-length motion picture Conflict and co-starred with Boris Karloff in the horror film Night Key the following year. During the 1940s, Rogers appeared solely in feature films, including The Man Who Wouldn't Talk with Lloyd Nolan, Viva Cisco Kid with Cesar Romero as the Cisco Kid, Design for Scandal with Rosalind Russell and Walter Pidgeon, Whistling in Brooklyn with Red Skelton, A Stranger in Town with Frank Morgan, Backlash, and Speed to Spare with Richard Arlen. Still, she was unhappy with the studios, possibly because she was relegated to B-movie productions on a lower salary. She decided to freelance with companies such as 20th Century Fox and MGM. Her last appearance was in a supporting role in the suspense film The Second Woman, made in 1950 by United Artists. She died in Sherman Oaks in 1991 at the age of 74 following surgery. She was later cremated and her ashes returned to her family.
Place of Birth: Not available
Birthday: March 25, 1916
Deathday: February 24, 1991
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Known For
Flash Gordon
1936-04-06
Flash Gordon
Overview: Disaster seems imminent when scientists discover that the planet Mongo is about to crash into Earth. Luckily, heroic young Flash Gordon is on hand to lead an investigative mission into outer space and onto the speedily approaching planet. There, he and his best girl, Dale, who is along for the ride, learn that Ming, the devious ruler of Mongo, has purposely put the planet on a collision course with Earth, and only Flash can stop him.
Genres: Science Fiction Action Adventure
Original Language: en
Release Date: 1936-04-06
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Hot Cargo
1946-06-28
Hot Cargo
Overview: Two discharged service men go to the redwood country in northern California to visit the family of a buddy killed in the war. There, they find the family's trucking business is being threatened by a rival who will stop at nothing to ruin their business. They take up the fight against the crooks.
Genres: Adventure Romance
Original Language: en
Release Date: 1946-06-28
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Night Key
1937-04-18
Night Key
Overview: The inventor of a new top-of-the-line burglar alarm system is kidnapped by a gang in order to get him to help them commit robberies.
Genres: Science Fiction Crime
Original Language: en
Release Date: 1937-04-18
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The Strange Mr. Gregory
1945-01-12
The Strange Mr. Gregory
Overview: The title character, played by Edmund Lowe, is a famous magician who fakes his own death -- then reappears as his nonexistent twin brother. It's all part of Gregory's master scheme to pin his "murder" on innocent John Randall, the husband of Ellen, the woman Gregory loves.
Genres: Mystery
Original Language: en
Release Date: 1945-01-12
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The Second Woman
1950-07-07
The Second Woman
Overview: In flashback from a 'Rebecca'-style beginning: Ellen Foster, visiting her aunt on the California coast, meets neighbor Jeff Cohalan and his ultramodern clifftop house. Ellen is strongly attracted to Jeff, who's being plagued by unexplainable accidents, major and minor. Bad luck, persecution...or paranoia? Warned that Jeff could be dangerous, Ellen fears that he's in danger, as the menacing atmosphere darkens.
Genres: Drama
Original Language: en
Release Date: 1950-07-07
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Backlash
1947-03-01
Backlash
Overview: In a series of flashbacks, shows that attorney John Morland has given a lift to a hitchhiker who turns out to be a murderer. As a result, Morland himself is implicated in a killing. A pair of detectives discover that Morland has been having business problems and no end of difficulties with his wife Catherine. The trail of clues leads to a surprising revelation.
Genres: Crime Mystery
Original Language: en
Release Date: 1947-03-01
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Charlie Chan in Panama
1940-03-01
Charlie Chan in Panama
Overview: Charlie impersonates an employee of the U.S. government to foil an espionage plot which would destroy part of the Panama Canal, trapping a Navy fleet on its way to the Pacific after maneuvers in the Atlantic.
Genres: Crime Thriller Mystery Comedy
Original Language: en
Release Date: 1940-03-01
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Squadron of Doom
1949-12-15
Squadron of Doom
Overview:
Genres: Action
Original Language: en
Release Date: 1949-12-15
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Whistling in Brooklyn
1943-12-01
Whistling in Brooklyn
Overview: Radio crime show host "The Fox" finds himself on the trail of a serial killer while a suspect himself.
Genres: Comedy Crime Mystery Romance
Original Language: en
Release Date: 1943-12-01
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Brigham Young
1940-09-27
Brigham Young
Overview: Based on the story of the famous Mormon leader, it follows Brigham Young and his challenge to transport his people across the Rocky mountains to settle in Salt Lake City. The plot focuses on two fictitious characters, Jonathan Kent and Zina Webb and the hardships they have to face along the way.
Genres: History Romance Western
Original Language: en
Release Date: 1940-09-27
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Design for Scandal
1941-12-01
Design for Scandal
Overview: A newsman (Walter Pidgeon) falls in love on Cape Cod with the judge (Rosalind Russell) his angry boss (Edward Arnold) expects him to discredit.
Genres: Comedy Romance
Original Language: en
Release Date: 1941-12-01
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Swing Shift Maisie
1943-10-01
Swing Shift Maisie
Overview: Street-smart Maisie from Brooklyn lands a job at an airplane assembly plant during WWII and falls in love with handsome pilot "Breezy" McLaughlin. Breezy, however, falling in love with and getting engaged to Maisie's conniving roommate Iris, doesn't realize she's using him and it's up to Maisie to convince him.
Genres: Comedy Romance
Original Language: en
Release Date: 1943-10-01
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Sunday Punch
1942-05-08
Sunday Punch
Overview: Ma Galestrum (Connie Gilchrist) is a boardinghouse owner whose tenants are a group of aspiring boxers. When her young niece, Judy (Jean Rogers), comes to stay for a visit, college dropout Ken Burke (William Lundigan) and Swedish janitor Ole (Dan Dailey Jr.) immediately fall for her charms. Ken considers going back to college for Judy, but his fight promoter is less than thrilled with this idea. Meanwhile, Ole is determined to meet Ken in the ring to vie for Judy's heart.
Genres: Comedy Drama Romance
Original Language: en
Release Date: 1942-05-08
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The War Against Mrs. Hadley
1942-08-07
The War Against Mrs. Hadley
Overview: Wealthy American society matron, Stella Hadley refuses to sacrifice her material comforts to aid the war effort until she realizes that her selfishness is cheating the boys overseas who are fighting for her freedom.
Genres: Drama
Original Language: en
Release Date: 1942-08-07
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Pacific Rendezvous
1942-05-21
Pacific Rendezvous
Overview: A code expert working for Naval Intelligence is assigned to decode enemy messages despite his desire for active duty.
Genres: Comedy Mystery War
Original Language: en
Release Date: 1942-05-21
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While New York Sleeps
1938-12-16
While New York Sleeps
Overview: Newspaperman (Whalen) looks into the deaths of bond-carriers while romancing a show girl (Rogers).
Genres: Crime Drama
Original Language: en
Release Date: 1938-12-16
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Flash Gordon's Trip to Mars
1938-03-21
Flash Gordon's Trip to Mars
Overview: When a deadly Nitron ray strikes Earth, Flash Gordon and his friends travel to Mars to battle Ming the Merciless and his new ally Queen Azura.
Genres: Science Fiction Action Adventure
Original Language: en
Release Date: 1938-03-21
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Dr. Kildare's Victory
1942-02-04
Dr. Kildare's Victory
Overview: Dr. Gillespie supports Kildare's crusade against their hospital's deal with a rival hospital.
Genres: Drama Crime
Original Language: en
Release Date: 1942-02-04
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Let's Make Music
1941-01-17
Let's Make Music
Overview: An elderly schoolmarm makes a hit in New York after a bandleader jazzes up her corny song.
Genres: Music Romance
Original Language: en
Release Date: 1941-01-17
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Heaven with a Barbed Wire Fence
1939-11-03
Heaven with a Barbed Wire Fence
Overview: New York store clerk joins a hobo and an illegal immigrant heading for his newly bought land in Arizona.
Genres: Drama
Original Language: en
Release Date: 1939-11-03
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A Stranger in Town
1943-04-01
A Stranger in Town
Overview: In the small town of Crownport local attorney Bill Adams is trying to break up the ring of corrupt town officials by running for mayor. The cards seemed stacked against him when he gets help from a visiting hunter who, unknown to Adams and the rest of the town, is actually vacationing supreme court justice John Josephus Grant.
Genres: Crime Romance
Original Language: en
Release Date: 1943-04-01
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Secret Agent X-9
1937-04-12
Secret Agent X-9
Overview: A secret agent goes after the gang that stole the crown jewels of a European monarchy.
Genres: Action
Original Language: en
Release Date: 1937-04-12
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Ace Drummond
1936-10-18
Ace Drummond
Overview: This 13 chapter serial is based on the comic strip character Ace Drummond created by Eddie Rickenbacker. Ace is a 'G-Man of the sky' working out of Washington D.C. He is sent to Mongolia to find out why a mysterious villain known only as 'The Dragon' is trying to prevent the newly formed International Airways from setting up an airport there. Ace meets Peggy Trainor (Jean Rogers) who is searching for her archaeologist father who has disappeared. Together they search for answers to the puzzles.
Genres: Action Adventure
Original Language: en
Release Date: 1936-10-18
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Hotel for Women
1939-08-03
Hotel for Women
Overview: Guests at a women's residence club help a jilted small-town girl turn to modelling.
Genres: Drama
Original Language: en
Release Date: 1939-08-03
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Viva Cisco Kid
1940-04-12
Viva Cisco Kid
Overview: Cisco saves a stagecoach from being robbed and takes a shine to one of the passengers whose father is in cahoots with a vicious criminal who plans to murder him.
Genres: Western
Original Language: en
Release Date: 1940-04-12
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Speed to Spare
1948-05-14
Speed to Spare
Overview: Stunt driver Cliff Jordan takes a job with his old pal Jerry McGee, branch manager of an express trucking firm. Jerry is married to Mary, Cliff's former girl friend. Also working for Jerry is Pete Simmons, son of the owner Al Simmons, and office secretary Jane Chandler, who is Pete's sweetheart. Before long, Cliff has made enemies of Pusher Wilks, a trucker whose run he takes over, and also Pete, whose girl he is trying to take over. Pusher sabotages Cliff's rig at every opportunity causing several near-fatal accidents.
Genres: Drama
Original Language: en
Release Date: 1948-05-14
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The Adventures of Frank Merriwell
1936-01-13
The Adventures of Frank Merriwell
Overview: A 12-episode serial in which scholastic sports star Frank Merriwell leaves school to search for his missing father. His adventures involve a mysterious inscription on a ring, buried treasure, kidnaping and Indian raids. He saves his father and returns to school just in time to win a decisive baseball game with his remarkable pitching and hitting.
Genres: Adventure
Original Language: en
Release Date: 1936-01-13
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Always in Trouble
1938-10-28
Always in Trouble
Overview: Jane's dad (Tombes) is an oil field worker who comes into a fortune and is then pushed into society by his wife.
Genres: Comedy
Original Language: en
Release Date: 1938-10-28
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The Wildcatter
1937-06-06
The Wildcatter
Overview: Eager to take advantage of a new oil boom, "Lucky" Conlon leaves his gas station and diner for Texas, with his wife Helen's blessing. In Texas, Lucky wins enough money in roulette to lease a parcel of land, and he and his friend "Smiley" begin drilling. Julia Frayne, whom Lucky met while gambling, turns out to be the daughter of oil tycoon Tom Frayne, who is eager to buy out the leases of the growing number of independent drillers, called "wildcatters," in order to hold a monopoly on the local oil fields.
Genres: Drama
Original Language: en
Release Date: 1937-06-06
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His Night Out
1935-10-01
His Night Out
Overview: When a meek purchasing agent is told by a quack doctor that he only has three months to live, he gets involved with a bank robbery and kidnapped by the gang.
Genres: Adventure Comedy Crime
Original Language: en
Release Date: 1935-10-01
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Mysterious Crossing
1936-12-27
Mysterious Crossing
Overview: While crossing on the train ferry to New Orleans, roving reporter Addison Francis Murphy borrows money from singing hillbilly "Carolina," then loses it all in a crap game. Outside on deck, Murphy sees two men shaking hands, and after he looks away, hears a splash of water and discovers both men have disappeared...
Genres: Mystery
Original Language: en
Release Date: 1936-12-27
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Inside Story
1939-03-10
Inside Story
Overview: A good-hearted reporter attempts to find the loneliest woman in New York so he can give her an old-fashioned Christmas on a farm..
Genres: Drama
Original Language: en
Release Date: 1939-03-10
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Reported Missing
1937-08-15
Reported Missing
Overview: A gang is sabotaging planes so that when they crash, the corpses can be robbed.
Genres: Thriller
Original Language: en
Release Date: 1937-08-15
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Fighting Back
1948-07-30
Fighting Back
Overview: An ex-convict, freed to fight in World War II, gets a factory job and is accused when a bracelet is missing.
Genres: Drama Crime
Original Language: en
Release Date: 1948-07-30
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Conflict
1936-11-29
Conflict
Overview: Pat's ability as a logging/mining camp fighter sets him up to box prizefighter Corrigan. Unknown to his supporters, he's actually in collusion with Corrigan to throw the fight - until he runs into reporter Maude.
Genres: Drama Romance
Original Language: fr
Release Date: 1936-11-29
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The Man Who Wouldn't Talk
1940-01-11
The Man Who Wouldn't Talk
Overview: A man involved in a crime (Nolan) kills his key witness by mistake and resigns himself to death. He changes his name so as not to harm his family. The law is not content with his explanation, however.
Genres: Crime Drama
Original Language: en
Release Date: 1940-01-11
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Rocket Ship
1938-03-05
Rocket Ship
Overview: A heavy condensation of the 1936 serial Flash Gordon, with altered musical score. Flash Gordon, Dale Arden and Dr. Hans Zarkov visit the planet Mongo to thwart the evil schemes of Emperor Ming the Merciless, who has set his planet on a collision course with Earth.
Genres: Action Adventure Science Fiction
Original Language: en
Release Date: 1938-03-05
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Rough, Tough and Ready
1945-03-22
Rough, Tough and Ready
Overview: The story is the old bromide about two brawling buddies, duking it out over the same girl, in this case pert Jo Matheson (Jean Rogers). Owen and Brad own a salvage company, but split up over Jo. Both separately sign up for the army, and both are reunited in the Pacific.
Genres: Action Comedy Drama
Original Language: en
Release Date: 1945-03-22
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When Love Is Young
1937-03-26
When Love Is Young
Overview: In this drama, a girl from a small town in Pennsylvania dreams of being a star while she goes to school. The trouble is, no one notices her. Later a mentor turns her into a successful Broadway entertainer. She returns to her former college to get sweet revenge.
Genres: Comedy
Original Language: en
Release Date: 1937-03-26
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Stop, Look and Love
1939-09-22
Stop, Look and Love
Overview: Daughter has trouble holding onto boyfriends because of her critical mother until understanding father comes to her aid.
Genres: Comedy
Original Language: en
Release Date: 1939-09-22
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Gay Blades
1946-01-25
Gay Blades
Overview: New York hockey player Andy Buell is approached by Hollywood talent scout Nancy Davis to play the hunk lead in "The Behemoth" but he would prefer she quit her job and become his wife.
Genres: Comedy
Original Language: en
Release Date: 1946-01-25
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Tailspin Tommy in The Great Air Mystery
1935-10-20
Tailspin Tommy in The Great Air Mystery
Overview: A 12-episode serial in which Tailspin Tommy evades volcanoes, anti-aircraft shells, and time bombs as he foils a plan by corrupt profiteers to steal an island's oil reserves.
Genres: Action Adventure Comedy
Original Language: en
Release Date: 1935-10-20
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Twenty Million Sweethearts
1934-05-26
Twenty Million Sweethearts
Overview: Unscrupulous agent Rush Blake makes singing waiter Buddy Clayton a big radio star while Peggy Cornell, who has lost her own radio show, helps Buddy.
Genres: Music Comedy
Original Language: en
Release Date: 1934-05-26
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Mars Attacks the World
1938-11-07
Mars Attacks the World
Overview: Feature version of the 1938 film serial FLASH GORDON'S TRIP TO MARS. Flash Gordon fights Ming the Merciless once again to ensure the survival of the Earth.
Genres: Science Fiction
Original Language: en
Release Date: 1938-11-07
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Manhattan Moon
1935-07-01
Manhattan Moon
Overview: Night club owner Dan Moore is trying to collect a debt owed to him by playboy Reggie Van Dorn, but Reggie is a playboy with no money but lots of social connections. In lieu of the cash, Dan gets Reggie to introduce him to the swells of high society. They go to the opera and, after hearing Yvonne Malloy sing, Dan falls in love with her. Reggie introduces them, but the introduction is to Yvonne's double and stand-in, Toots. This leads to many complications for all concerned.
Genres: Romance Comedy Music
Original Language: en
Release Date: 1935-07-01
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Stormy
1935-10-21
Stormy
Overview: A young man looks for a thoroughbred horse that was got lost during a train wreck.
Genres: Action Drama Music
Original Language: en
Release Date: 1935-10-21
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Time Out for Murder
1938-09-25
Time Out for Murder
Overview: A bank runner is accused of killing a woman for whom he deposited a large amount. Reporter and bank official investigate.
Genres: Crime Mystery
Original Language: en
Release Date: 1938-09-25
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Fighting Youth
1935-11-01
Fighting Youth
Overview: A radical campus group persuades student Carol Arlington to lead a protest of a college's football team. She manages to recruit Larry Davis, even though he is a star player for State's team.
Genres: Drama
Original Language: en
Release Date: 1935-11-01
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Crash Donovan
1936-08-01
Crash Donovan
Overview: A California Highway Patrolman gets involved with a smuggling ring.
Genres: Drama
Original Language: en
Release Date: 1936-08-01
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Personalities
1942-01-01
Personalities
Overview: In this "Romance of Celluloid", MGM showcases performers whose careers are just starting. Excerpts from their recently released films are included. The narrator says that moviegoers will have to decide whether these fledgling actors and actresses have that certain quality that made superstars out of MGM players Clark Gable, Spencer Tracy, and Lana Turner.
Genres: Documentary
Original Language: en
Release Date: 1942-01-01
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Spaceship to the Unknown
1966-01-01
Spaceship to the Unknown
Overview: A heavy condensation of the original serial compresses the original thirteen episodes into an efficient 97 minute feature. Disaster seems imminent when scientists discover that the planet Mongo is about to crash into Earth. Luckily, heroic young Flash Gordon is on hand to lead an investigative mission into outer space and onto the speedily approaching planet. There, he and his best girl, Dale, who is along for the ride, learn that Ming, the devious ruler of Mongo, has purposely put the planet on a collision course with Earth, and only Flash can stop him.
Genres: TV Movie Science Fiction Action Adventure
Original Language: en
Release Date: 1966-01-01
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My Man Godfrey
1936-09-02
My Man Godfrey
Overview: Fifth Avenue socialite Irene Bullock needs a "forgotten man" to win a scavenger hunt, and no one is more forgotten than Godfrey Park, who resides in a dump by the East River. Irene hires Godfrey as a servant for her riotously unhinged family, to the chagrin of her spoiled sister, Cornelia, who tries her best to get Godfrey fired. As Irene falls for her new butler, Godfrey turns the tables and teaches the frivolous Bullocks a lesson or two.
Genres: Comedy
Original Language: en
Release Date: 1936-09-02
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Stand Up and Cheer!
1934-05-04
Stand Up and Cheer!
Overview: President Franklin Roosevelt appoints a theatrical producer as the new Secretary of Amusement in order to cheer up an American public still suffering through the Depression. The new secretary soon runs afoul of political lobbyists out to destroy his department.
Genres: Comedy Music Family
Original Language: en
Release Date: 1934-05-04
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Yesterday's Heroes
1940-09-20
Yesterday's Heroes
Overview: A doctor looks at his scrapbook and reflects on college days: how success at football took him from his studies, his flirtation with a widow and his true love. How his roommate helped him put things right.
Genres: No genres available
Original Language: en
Release Date: 1940-09-20
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Flash Gordon: The Deadly Ray From Mars
1938-03-21
Flash Gordon: The Deadly Ray From Mars
Overview:
Genres: Science Fiction
Original Language: en
Release Date: 1938-03-21
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