William Haines
Also Known As: Billy Haines, Charles William Haines
Biography: William Haines (born Charles William Haines; January 2, 1900 - December 26, 1973) was a star American comedy actor of the late Silent and early "talkie" eras.
Department: Acting
Place of Birth: Staunton, Virginia, USA
Adult: No
Deathday: December 26, 1973
Popularity:
Known For:
Estrellados
Overview: A matinée idol and a bumbling manager fight for the love of a would-be starlet. Estrellados is the Spanish version of Free and Easy (1930) with Hispanic/Spanish-speaking actors.
Genres: Comedy
Original Language: en
Release Date: 1930-07-07
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Show People
Overview: Hollywood hopeful Peggy Pepper arrives at a major studio, from Georgia, to become a great dramatic star. Things don't go entirely according to plan.
Genres: Comedy Romance
Original Language: en
Release Date: 1928-11-20
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The Hollywood Revue of 1929
Overview: An all-star revue featuring MGM contract players.
Genres: Comedy Music
Original Language: en
Release Date: 1929-11-23
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Free and Easy
Overview: Gopher City Kansas hosts a beauty contest. The winner, Elvira Plunkett, and her mother go to Hollywood. The Chamber of Commerce also provides Elvira with an agent, Gopher City's own Elmer J. Butz. Elmer likes Elvira and the shy Elvira likes him, but Mrs. Plunkett, a formidable woman, has little use for hapless Elmer. On the train west, they meet movie star Larry Mitchell, who takes a shine to Elvira and helps her meet MGM directors once they get to Tinsel Town. Elmer, meanwhile, wants to help Elvira with her career and he also wants to be her man. Movie stardom does come to the Gopher City entourage, but to whom is a surprise. And who will win the lovely Elvira's hand?
Genres: Comedy Music
Original Language: en
Release Date: 1930-03-22
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The Wife of the Centaur
Overview: Jeffrey Dwyer is a writer and a poet who wrestles with the conflicts between his idealism and his passion. The two sides of his nature are personified in the women he loves: the sweetly innocent Joan Converse, and the sexy, charismatic Inez Martin.
Genres: Drama
Original Language: en
Release Date: 1924-12-01
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A Man's Man
Overview: An aspiring actress goes to Hollywood to make movies and marries a soda jerk.
Genres: Comedy
Original Language: en
Release Date: 1929-05-25
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West Point
Overview: Arrogant and wise-cracking Brice Wayne enrolls at the United States Military Academy at West Point and adjusts to life as a plebe. He tries out for the plebe football team, where he excels and shows up the varsity team. However, his ego is unrivaled, especially in competition with upperclassman Bob Sperry. At the same time, Brice meets a local girl named Betty Channing who cheers for him at football practices.
Genres: Drama
Original Language: en
Release Date: 1928-01-07
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Little Annie Rooney
Overview: A feisty little girl, the daughter of a beat cop, faces the challenges of growing up in a tough city neighborhood. Preserved by the Academy Film Archive, in partnership with the Library of Congress. Motion Picture, Broadcasting, and Recorded Sound Division, in 2014.
Genres: Comedy Drama
Original Language: en
Release Date: 1925-10-18
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Speedway
Overview: Bill Whipple is a happy-go-lucky mechanic for MacDonald who thinks that he is the worlds greatest driver and lover. Mac has treated Bill like a son since he took him in. One day at the track, Bill sees Pat Bannon, and tries his best to impress her, but to no avail. On his way to catch a flight, he tricks Pat into taking him to the airport and she gets even by taking him up in a plane. He hates to fly, but will not show her that he is afraid and when the plane breaks up, he is a hero for rescuing her. This gets him publicity and Renny offers him his car to drive in the Indianapolis 500. Bill breaks with Mac to drive the car and puts it on the pole for the race. Then Renny double crosses Bill and plans to drive the car himself since Bill has tuned it so well.
Genres: Drama Romance
Original Language: en
Release Date: 1929-10-07
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Are You Listening?
Overview: WBLA is on the air, presenting the live music, the sudsy dramas and the sell-sell-sell of commercial interludes that keep consumers buying and sponsors smiling. But one sponsor, a producer of plumbing supplies, isn’t happy. So WBLA scriptwriter Bill Grimes is bounced from his job, setting in motion this movie’s turn from comedic to darkly tragic. William Haines, two years removed from being Tinseltown’s top male star, plays Grimes in a melodrama noted for its glimpses of live radio production and for a Depression-era ethos that includes peroxide cuties eager to land a job, a sugar daddy or both.
Genres: Drama Crime
Original Language: en
Release Date: 1932-03-21
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The Marines Are Coming
Overview: Expelled from his lieutenancy in the Marine Corps, Bill Traylor reenlists as a private. His unit is sent to a Latin American country where a rebel leader called The Torch promotes insurrection. There Traylor encounters again Captain Benton, the man responsible for his disgrace and his rival for the love of a girl.
Genres: War Action
Original Language: en
Release Date: 1934-11-19
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Young and Beautiful
Overview: Bob Preston, publicity man for Superba Pictures, uses his publicity skills in an attempt to make this fiancée June Dale the most famous movie star in the world. But in doing so, he forgets that women want to be attended to for themselves, not as objects of fame.
Genres: Comedy Romance
Original Language: en
Release Date: 1934-09-16
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Remote Control
Overview: A radio announcer gets caught up with a fake clairvoyant and his gang of thieves.
Genres: Comedy Drama
Original Language: en
Release Date: 1930-11-15
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Way Out West
Overview: Wise-guy carnival barker Windy bilks a group of cowboys out of their money, gets caught and is forced into working off the debt on their ranch. He falls in love with Molly, the pretty owner of the ranch, but runs afoul of foreman Steve, who also loves Molly.
Genres: Western Comedy Drama
Original Language: en
Release Date: 1930-08-02
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Just a Gigolo
Overview: A playboy pretends to be a paid escort in order to court--and test the moral character of--a young British socialite. Comedy.
Genres: Romance Comedy
Original Language: en
Release Date: 1931-06-06
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The Smart Set
Overview: A cocky, arrogant young playboy is expelled from his American polo team shortly before the big match with England.
Genres: Comedy
Original Language: en
Release Date: 1928-03-24
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Wine of Youth
Overview: Based on a play be Rachel Crothers, WINE OF YOUTH is a solid drama about "the modern young generation" and how they think they know it all. It's also a play about love and marriage.
Genres: Comedy Drama
Original Language: en
Release Date: 1924-09-15
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Spring Fever
Overview: Kelly's employer, Waters, is such a keen golfer that he asks Kelly to help him improve his game at an exclusive country club.
Genres: Comedy Romance
Original Language: en
Release Date: 1927-10-22
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The Girl Said No
Overview: A comedy romance in which breezy Haines, as a young lady killer, tries to capture the heart of Hyams who has turned him down for Bushman. Haines plots dozens of extreme measures to win her over, and finally goes so far as to drag her from the altar, bound and gagged.
Genres: Comedy Romance
Original Language: en
Release Date: 1930-03-15
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Fast Life
Overview: Two sailors (William Haines and Cliff Edwards) are leaving the US Navy after 10 years. In their spare time, one of them (Haines) invents a carburetor that should increase the speed that powered boats will run, but all they succeed in doing is sinking the Admiral's barge. After discharge, broke and out of work, they find work with a boat builder who wants the fastest race boat in the world. They design the boat, carburetor and the engine but lack of money and the foreclosure of the business hinders their efforts to prove the new design.
Genres: Comedy Romance Action
Original Language: en
Release Date: 1932-12-16
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Tell It to the Marines
Overview: U.S. Marine Sergeant O'Hara has his hands full training raw recruits, one of whom, 'Skeets' Burns, is a particular thorn in his side. If Burns's lackadaisical approach to the military were not bad enough, he also makes advances on nurse Nora Dale, whom Sergeant O'Hara secretly loves. Nora is oblivious to O'Hara's feelings and is attracted to the handsome 'Skeet.' But an indiscretion turns her against him, and it takes an expedition to China and a battle with a warlord's bandit brigade to sort things out among the nurse and her two Marines.
Genres: Action Comedy Drama
Original Language: en
Release Date: 1926-12-23
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The Tower of Lies
Overview: After his beloved daughter leaves for the city to pay off his debt, an old farmer goes mad when her letters become less frequent and it is suspected she may be using her body to get the money.
Genres: Drama
Original Language: en
Release Date: 1925-10-10
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New Adventures of Get Rich Quick Wallingford
Overview: Wallingford is a con-man whose specialty is taking money from suckers. His partners are Schnozzle, a pickpocket and car thief; and Blackie, who has played the game for years.
Genres: Comedy Crime Romance
Original Language: en
Release Date: 1931-10-03
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Navy Blues
Overview: On shore leave, a young sailor meets and falls in love with a pretty young blonde. He goes home with her to meet her parents, but they don't approve of him at all. Their daughter takes offense at this, and in the ensuing argument she storms out of the house determined to live on her own.
Genres: Comedy Drama
Original Language: en
Release Date: 1929-12-20
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Brown of Harvard
Overview: Tom Brown shows up at Harvard, confident and a bit arrogant. He becomes a rival of Bob McAndrew, not only in football and rowing crew, but also for the affections of Mary Abbott, a professor's daughter.
Genres: Drama Romance
Original Language: en
Release Date: 1926-05-02
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Three Weeks
Overview: A young aristocrat strikes up an affair with a mysterious woman for three weeks.
Genres: Romance Drama
Original Language: en
Release Date: 1924-02-10
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True As Steel
Overview: Successful middle-aged manufacturer Frank Parry takes a business trip to New York, where he becomes infatuated with Eva Boutelle, manager of the Swansea Cotton Mills. For a time, their affair develops, but Eva remains true to her husband ...
Genres: Drama
Original Language: en
Release Date: 1924-04-20
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Three Wise Fools
Overview: Sydney Fairchild, the daughter of a woman who was once loved by three bachelors, surprises the men with a visit. Findley, Trumbull, and Gaunt honor their former sweetheart's last request by becoming Sydney's guardians.
Genres: Comedy
Original Language: en
Release Date: 1923-08-19
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Souls for Sale
Overview: A young woman hits Hollywood, determined to become a star.
Genres: Comedy Drama Romance
Original Language: en
Release Date: 1923-04-22
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The Duke Steps Out
Overview: Millionaire's son Duke wants to be a champion boxer but takes time out to enroll in college when he sees co-ed Susie. The students wonder about his having a chauffeur and house full of servants. Susie likes him but, to get rid of her, his manager tells her Duke already has a New York chorus girl. As the students listen to a radio broadcast of his victorious fight from San Francisco, she learns that the student Duke is the boxer Duke and that there is no chorus girl.
Genres: Drama Comedy
Original Language: en
Release Date: 1929-03-19
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Alias Jimmy Valentine
Overview: An Incompetent insurance salesman sells a policy to Jesse James and has to protect his client until he can get it back.
Genres: Crime Drama
Original Language: en
Release Date: 1928-11-15
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Mike
Overview: A Modest Comedy Drama
Genres: Drama
Original Language: en
Release Date: 1926-05-10
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Excess Baggage
Overview: Excess Baggage is a lost 1928 American silent comedy film directed by James Cruze and distributed by MGM. The film was based on the play of the same name by John McGowan. The film starred William Haines, Josephine Dunn and Kathleen Clifford.
Genres: Comedy
Original Language: en
Release Date: 1928-09-28
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The Stolen Jools
Overview: Famous actress Norma Shearer's jewels are stolen… (Star-packed promotional short film intended to raise funds for the National Variety Artists Tuberculosis Sanatorium.)
Genres: Comedy
Original Language: en
Release Date: 1931-04-04
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Slide, Kelly, Slide
Overview: A minor league pitcher lets pride get the better of him after he joins the New York Yankees.
Genres: Comedy
Original Language: en
Release Date: 1927-03-12
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1925 Studio Tour
Overview: A tour of the Metro-Goldwyn-Mayer Studio in 1925 shows the people who make the movies there, and gives viewers a glimpse at how movies are made.
Genres: Documentary
Original Language: en
Release Date: 1925-04-09
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A Little Journey
Overview: A girl travelling by train to meet her boyfriend meets another young man and falls in love with him.
Genres: Romance
Original Language: en
Release Date: 1927-01-01
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A Tailor-Made Man
Overview: John Paul Bart is just a pants-presser in a tailor's shop, but he has big ambitions. One night, he borrows the clothes of a wealthy client and bluffs his way into a high society party. After meeting wealthy businessman Abraham Nathan, John Paul quickly rises to the top of Nathan's company. Suffering during The Depression, John Paul helps Nathan save his company with a radical program of cooperative ownership between workers and management. Meanwhile, John Paul makes an enemy of Gustav, who is engaged to Tanya - the daughter of Mr. Huber, owner of the tailor shop. John Paul maintains a friendship with Tanya, provoking jealousy in Gustav. Gustav threatens to reveal John Paul's plain origins to Nathan, and John Paul briefly resigns from Nathan's company. However, John Paul's plan is a success, and Nathan hires him back immediately. Tanya leaves Gustav and ends up with John Paul.
Genres: Comedy
Original Language: en
Release Date: 1931-03-28
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Telling the World
Overview: The journalist Don Davis becomes involved in a murder case, where Chrystal Malone is part of it. Davis follows Chrystal to China. When Chrystal arrives in China, Davis has to save her from an execution.
Genres: Comedy Drama
Original Language: en
Release Date: 1928-06-30
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A Slave of Fashion
Overview: Katherine Emerson, an Iowa girl hungry for the good things in life, leaves her small hometown and sets out for New York. En route, she is involved in a train wreck in which another woman is killed. Katherine finds the woman's purse and, among its contents, discovers an invitation for the woman to spend 6 months in an unoccupied luxury apartment in Manhattan. Katherine seizes this opportunity and sets up housekeeping in the elegant suite, living well and dressing in the newest fashions.
Genres: Comedy Romance
Original Language: en
Release Date: 1925-08-23
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Sally, Irene and Mary
Overview: The three are showgirls, each with a different approach to life and love.
Genres: Comedy Drama
Original Language: en
Release Date: 1925-12-27
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The Midnight Express
Overview: Wastrel son of a railroad magnate, Jack's father becomes frustrated with his son's wild ways. To prove himself, Jack goes to work in the railroad yard as a laborer. An escaped convict, Silent Bill Brachley, steals Jack's car, and the chase leads to a meeting between Jack, the engineer of the Midnight Express, and the engineer's pretty daughter, Mary. As he is led back to jail, Brachley swears revenge.
Genres: Action Adventure
Original Language: en
Release Date: 1924-06-01
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Memory Lane
Overview: Mary is marrying Jimmie, from whom she has kept a secret; Mary remains in love with another man. Problems ensue, jeopardizing the tranquility of their relationship.
Genres: Drama Comedy Romance
Original Language: en
Release Date: 1926-02-01
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Circe the Enchantress
Overview: Mae Murray as a Jazz Age baby who treats men like swine until she falls for the upright doctor living next door.
Genres: Drama
Original Language: en
Release Date: 1924-10-06
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Out of the Closet, Off the Screen: The Life of William Haines
Overview: Chronicles the life of William Haines, Hollywood's first openly gay movie star, who sacrificed his career to live openly with his lover.
Genres: Documentary
Original Language: en
Release Date: 2001-06-13
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The Denial
Overview: When Dorothy wants to marry Bob (Robert Agnew), her mother, Mildred, forbids the match. Dorothy angrily asserts that Mildred might reconsider if her own mother had forbid her marriage. The rest of the film is a flashback, as Mildred recalls her own youth, when her dictatorial mother did forbid her to marry Lyman. Lyman enlisted with Teddy Roosevelt's Rough Riders to fight in the Spanish-American War, but was killed in battle.
Genres: Drama Romance
Original Language: en
Release Date: 1925-03-22
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The Big Parade of Comedy
Overview: Film clips highlight the funniest scenes and brightest comic stars in MGM's history.
Genres: Comedy Documentary
Original Language: en
Release Date: 1964-09-02
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So This Is Marriage?
Overview: After five years of marriage, Beth and Peter Marsh's life together is a series of rows and reconciliations. Beth is frivolous and extravagant; Peter is domineering and ambitious and has difficulty paying the bills. Daniel Rankin, who lives in the same apartment building, becomes attracted to Beth and arranges with the Marsh chauffeur to have her car break down, allowing him to offer assistance and gracefully introduce himself; Rankin later invites her to a dance. Resenting Rankin's attentions to his wife, Peter forbids her to go. However, Beth accompanies Rankin to spite her husband, and Rankin proposes that she divorce Peter and become his wife. A lost film.
Genres: Drama
Original Language: en
Release Date: 1924-11-26
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Lovey Mary
Overview: Lovely Mary, an orphan girl, reluctantly takes charge of her sister's child when her sister Kate is jailed.
Genres: Comedy Drama
Original Language: en
Release Date: 1926-06-20
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Who Cares
Overview: Who Cares is a 1925 silent film produced and distributed by Columbia Pictures and starring Dorothy Devore. It is preserved in the Library of Congress's collection. It is based upon a novel by Cosmo Hamilton which had been previously filmed in 1919 as Who Cares? Real-life husband and wife, actors Vera and Ralph Lewis, play grandparents.
Genres: Drama
Original Language: en
Release Date: 1925-02-01
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