Ambush | |
---|---|
Directed by | Kurt Neumann |
Screenplay by | Laura Perelman S. J. Perelman |
Story by | Robert Ray |
Starring | Gladys Swarthout Lloyd Nolan William "Bill" Henry William Frawley Ernest Truex Broderick Crawford |
Cinematography | William C. Mellor |
Edited by | Stuart Gilmore |
Music by | Gerard Carbonara Floyd Morgan |
Production company | |
Distributed by | Paramount Pictures |
Release date |
|
Running time | 82 minutes |
Country | United States |
Language | English |
Budget | $200,000 [1] |
Ambush is a 1939 American drama film directed by Kurt Neumann and written by Laura Perelman and S. J. Perelman. The film stars Gladys Swarthout, Lloyd Nolan, William "Bill" Henry, William Frawley, Ernest Truex and Broderick Crawford. [2] [3] The film was released on January 20, 1939, by Paramount Pictures.
This article needs an improved plot summary.(July 2015) |
Charlie Hartman is part of a gang bossed by a criminal named Gibbs that pulls off a daring robbery in broad daylight. Charlie's honest sister Jane ends up being taken hostage but manages to convey her dire need for help to a truck driver, Tony Andrews.
Tony attempts to help save Jane and, if possible, her brother as well. Pretending to help Gibbs and the thieves, he leaves clues for the police to follow. One of the crooks, Blue, is killed, after which another, Randall, attempts to escape after Charlie's guilty conscience causes a change of heart. Tony is able to free Jane from the clutches of Gibbs, after which he and Jane collect the reward and begin to plan a new life together.
Ambush is one of five film produced by Paramount in the 1930s featuring Gladys Swarthout, a very popular Metropolitan Opera mezzo-soprano. The studio was attempting to build on the popularity of Grace Moore, another opera singer, who had also expanded her talents into films. [4]
William Broderick Crawford was an American actor. He is best known for his portrayal of Willie Stark in the film All the King's Men (1949), which earned him an Academy Award and a Golden Globe Award. Often cast in tough-guy or slob roles, he later achieved recognition for his starring role as Dan Mathews in the crime television series Highway Patrol (1955–1959).
William Clement Frawley was an American Vaudevillian and actor best remembered for playing landlord Fred Mertz in the sitcom I Love Lucy, "Bub" O'Casey in the comedy series My Three Sons from 1960-65 for its first five seasons, and the political advisor to the judge character in the film Miracle on 34th Street.
Noah Lindsey Beery was an American actor often specializing in warm, friendly character roles similar to many portrayed by his Oscar-winning uncle, Wallace Beery. Unlike his more famous uncle, however, Beery Jr. seldom broke away from playing supporting roles. Active as an actor in films or television for well over half a century, he was best known for playing James Garner's character's father, Joseph "Rocky" Rockford, in the NBC television series The Rockford Files (1974–1980). His father, Noah Nicholas Beery enjoyed a similarly lengthy film career as an extremely prominent supporting actor in major films, although the elder Beery was also frequently a leading man during the silent film era.
The Lemon Drop Kid is a 1951 American comedy film based on the short story of the same name by Damon Runyon, starring Bob Hope and Marilyn Maxwell. Although Sidney Lanfield is credited as the director, Frank Tashlin reportedly was hired, uncredited, to finish the film. The story had previously been adapted as a 1934 film starring Lee Tracy, with actress Ann Sheridan in a bit part. William Frawley is featured in both versions.
Ernest Truex was an American actor of stage, film, and television.
Matthew Steven Leutwyler is an American writer, director, and producer.
"My Melancholy Baby" is a popular song published in 1912 and first sung publicly by William Frawley. The music was written by Ernie Burnett (1884–1959), the lyrics by George A. Norton.
Gladys Swarthout was an American mezzo-soprano opera singer and actress.
Footsteps in the Dark is a light-hearted 1941 mystery film, starring Errol Flynn as an amateur detective investigating a murder.
The Housekeeper's Daughter is a 1939 comedy film directed and produced by Hal Roach. The film stars Joan Bennett, Adolphe Menjou and John Hubbard. The screenplay was written by Rian James, Gordon Douglas, Jack Jevne and Claude Martin, based on a novel by Donald Henderson Clarke.
Clarence Hummel Wilson was an American character actor.
Romance in the Dark is a 1938 American comedy musical film directed by H. C. Potter and starring Gladys Swarthout, John Boles, John Barrymore, and Claire Dodd. It is one of five films produced by Paramount in the 1930s featuring Gladys Swarthout, a very popular Metropolitan Opera mezzo-soprano. The studio was attempting to build on the popularity of Grace Moore, another opera singer, who had also expanded her talents into films. It is based upon the play The Yellow Nightingale by Hermann Bahr.
Give Us This Night is one of five movies produced by Paramount Pictures featuring Gladys Swarthout, a very popular Metropolitan Opera mezzo-soprano. The studio was attempting to build on the popularity of Grace Moore, another opera singer, who had also expanded her talents into movies.
Appointment with a Shadow is a 1957 American CinemaScope crime film noir directed by Richard Carlson and starring George Nader, Joanna Moore, Brian Keith and Virginia Field.
Champagne Waltz is a 1937 American comedy film directed by A. Edward Sutherland and starring Gladys Swarthout, Fred MacMurray and Jack Oakie. It is one of five movies produced by Paramount in the 1930s featuring Swarthout, a very popular Metropolitan Opera mezzo-soprano. The studio was attempting to build on the popularity of Grace Moore, another opera singer, who had also expanded her talents into movies. The film's sets were designed by the art director Ernst Fegté working with Hans Dreier. The costume designer was Travis Banton.
The Star Maker is a 1939 American musical film directed by Roy Del Ruth, written by Frank Butler, Don Hartman and Arthur Caesar, and starring Bing Crosby, Louise Campbell, Linda Ware, Ned Sparks, Laura Hope Crews, Janet Waldo and Walter Damrosch. Filming started in Hollywood on April 17, 1939 and was finished in June. The film was released on August 25, 1939, by Paramount Pictures, and had its New York premiere on August 30, 1939. It was the only film in which Crosby played a happily married man.
Grand Jury Secrets is a 1939 American mystery film directed by James P. Hogan and written by Irving Reis, Maxwell Shane and Robert Yost. The film stars John Howard, Gail Patrick, William Frawley, Jane Darwell, Porter Hall and Harvey Stephens. The film was released on June 23, 1939, by Paramount Pictures.
Rose of the Rancho is a 1936 American action film directed by Marion Gering and written by Frank Partos, Charles Brackett, Nat Perrin and Arthur Sheekman, adapted from the play of the same name by David Belasco and Richard Walton Tully. The film stars John Boles, Gladys Swarthout, Charles Bickford, Grace Bradley, Willie Howard and Herb Williams. It was released on January 10, 1936, by Paramount Pictures.
Samuel Donald Hartman was an American screenwriter and director and former production head of Paramount Pictures. He and Stephen Morehouse Avery were nominated for the Academy Award for Best Story for The Gay Deception (1935). He was also nominated with Frank Butler for the Academy Award for Best Original Screenplay for Road to Morocco in 1942.
Charlie McCarthy, Detective is a 1939 American comedy film starring Edgar Bergen, Charlie McCarthy and Robert Cummings.
The perennial and expensive effort to make a Grace Moore out of Gladys Swarthout seemed to have more logic some time ago when Miss Moore was a more important box-office draw.