Shooting Straight

Last updated

Shooting Straight
ShootingStraightMoviePoster.jpg
Theatrical release poster
Directed by George Archainbaud
Written by Wallace Smith [1]
Screenplay by J. Walter Ruben [1]
Story by Barney A. Sarecky [1]
Produced by Louis Sarecky [2]
Starring Richard Dix
Mary Lawlor [3]
Cinematography Edward Cronjager [2]
Edited by Otto Ludwig [2]
Distributed by RKO Radio Pictures
Release date
  • July 20, 1930 (1930-07-20)(U.S.) [2]
Running time
72 minutes [3]
CountryUnited States
LanguageEnglish
Budget$238,000 [4]
Box office$418,000 [4]

Shooting Straight is a 1930 American pre-Code crime drama film, directed by George Archainbaud and starring the early RKO staple Richard Dix and Mary Lawlor. The screenplay was written by J. Walter Ruben, from Wallace Smith's adaptation of a story by Barney A. Sarecky (the producer's brother). It was one of the films that earned a positive return for RKO that year, turning a profit of $30,000.

Contents

Plot

Larry Sheldon is a gambler, who learns that a friend of his has been murdered by a local gangster, Spot Willis. When he goes to confront Spot, a melee ensues in which Spot winds up dead. Thinking that he is responsible for the death, Sheldon flees the city aboard a train, with his companion, Chick. They share a Pullman compartment with an itinerant minister, Mr. Walters, whose wallet Chick unobtrusively removes from his pocket. When Sheldon discovers the theft, he chastises Chick and is determined to return the pilfered purse to its rightful owner. However, before he can, the train is involved in a serious accident, in which Sheldon is knocked unconscious.

When he awakes, Sheldon is in the home Reverend Powell, where he is recuperating. Due to his possession of Walters' wallet, the Reverend believes Sheldon to be the evangelist, a mistake which Sheldon does not correct, thinking that it will help him hide from the authorities. Sheldon, as time passes, begins to fall in love with the Reverend's daughter, Doris. He also begins to take the role of evangelistic minister seriously as well.

Things come to a head when the Reverend's son, Tommy, loses a significant amount of money to a local gambler, Martin. When Sheldon goes to Tommy's rescue, he is recognized by Martin, who calls in the police. In the events that follow, however, the truth is revealed that Sheldon did not actually kill Spots when another man confesses to the murder. Free from criminal charges, Sheldon and Doris begin a life together, with Sheldon continuing as an aspiring minister, but this time under his real name.

Cast

(cast list according to AFI database) [2]

Reception

While it was not a huge hit, the film was one of RKO's films that year that did show a small profit, netting $30,000. [4]

Notes

The story upon which this film was based was written by Barney Sarecky, the brother of the film's producer. [5]

The film is known as A Colpo Sicuro in Italy. [3]

Related Research Articles

<i>The Narrow Margin</i> 1952 film by Richard Fleischer

The Narrow Margin is a 1952 American film noir starring Charles McGraw and Marie Windsor. Directed by Richard Fleischer, the RKO picture was written by Earl Felton, based on an unpublished story written by Martin Goldsmith and Jack Leonard. The screenplay by Earl Felton was nominated for an Academy Award.

<i>Cimarron</i> (1931 film) 1931 film

Cimarron is a 1931 pre-Code epic Western film directed by Wesley Ruggles, starring Richard Dix and Irene Dunne, and featuring Estelle Taylor and Roscoe Ates. The Oscar-winning script was written by Howard Estabrook based on the 1930 Edna Ferber novel Cimarron. It would be RKO's most expensive production up to that date, and its winning of the top Oscar for Best Production would be one of only two ever won by that studio. It is also the first of only three Westerns to ever win the top honor at the Academy Awards. Epic in scope, spanning forty years from 1889 to 1929, it was a critical success, although it did not recoup its production costs during its initial run in 1931.

<i>The Bachelor and the Bobby-Soxer</i> 1947 film by Dore Schary, Irving Reis

The Bachelor and the Bobby-Soxer is a 1947 American screwball romantic comedy-drama film directed by Irving Reis and written by Sidney Sheldon. The film stars Cary Grant, Myrna Loy, and Shirley Temple in a story about a teenager's crush on an older man.

<i>Sinbad the Sailor</i> (1947 film) 1947 film by Richard Wallace

Sinbad the Sailor is a 1947 American Technicolor fantasy film directed by Richard Wallace and starring Douglas Fairbanks, Jr., Maureen O'Hara, Walter Slezak, Anthony Quinn, and Mike Mazurki. It tells the tale of the "eighth" voyage of Sinbad, wherein he discovers the lost treasure of Alexander the Great.

The Screwfly Solution (<i>Masters of Horror</i>) 7th episode of the second season of Masters of Horror

"The Screwfly Solution" is the seventh episode in the second season of Masters of Horror. It is based upon the 1977 science fiction short story of the same name by Alice Sheldon, credited in the film as James Tiptree, Jr. Many of the scenes in Sam Hamm's script are expansions of single lines in this epistolary story. Director Joe Dante read the story in the 1980s and had wanted to make a film version ever since. He presented the story as straight horror, eschewing his usual humor and without using his usual company of stock actors. Jason Priestley and Elliott Gould star.

<i>Gamblers Choice</i> 1944 film by Frank McDonald

Gambler's Choice is a 1944 film directed by Frank McDonald and starring Chester Morris and Nancy Kelly.

<i>The Runaround</i> (1931 film) 1931 film

The Runaround is a 1931 comedy-drama film that was photographed entirely in Technicolor. It was directed by William James Craft, from a screenplay by Alfred Jackson and Barney Sarecky, based on a story by Zandah Owen. The film stars Mary Brian, Joseph Cawthorn, Marie Prevost, Johnny Hines, and Geoffrey Kerr. Produced and directed by RKO Radio Pictures, it premiered in New York City on August 7, 1931, and was released national on August 22. It was the first film to be shot in a new Technicolor process which removed grain, resulting in a much improved color. The film was released in Great Britain as Waiting for the Bride.

<i>Stingaree</i> (1934 film) 1934 film by William A. Wellman

Stingaree is an American pre-Code romantic drama film directed by William A. Wellman released by RKO Radio Pictures in 1934. The film was based on a 1905 novel by Ernest William Hornung. Set in Australia, it stars Irene Dunne as Hilda Bouverie and Richard Dix as Stingaree. Hollywood had previously filmed the Hornung story as serials in 1915 and 1917, starring True Boardman.

<i>The Lost Squadron</i> 1932 film

The Lost Squadron is a 1932 American pre-Code drama, action, film starring Richard Dix, Mary Astor, and Robert Armstrong, with Erich von Stroheim and Joel McCrea in supporting roles, and released by RKO Radio Pictures. Based on the novel The Lost Squadron (1932) by Dick Grace, the film is about three World War I pilots who find jobs after the war as Hollywood stunt fliers. The much-later The Great Waldo Pepper (1975) employed a similar theme. The Lost Squadron was the first RKO production to carry the screen credit "Executive Producer, David O. Selznick".

<i>Girl of the Rio</i> 1932 film

Girl of the Rio is a 1932 American Pre-Code RKO musical film starred Dolores del Río and Leo Carrillo. Directed by Herbert Brenon, the screenplay was written by Elizabeth Meehan and Louis Stevens, based on the play, The Dove by Willard Mack, which was itself based on a magazine article by Gerald Beaumont. The film is a remake of the 1927 silent film, The Dove, starring Norma Talmadge.

<i>Ace of Aces</i> (1933 film) 1933 film

Ace of Aces, also known as Bird of Prey, is a 1933 American pre-Code war film based on the story "The Bird of Prey" by World War I pilot John Monk Saunders that explores how war can turn a man's moral compass from pacifism to warmonger. Starring Richard Dix, it was similar to many of the period films that appeared to glorify the "knights of the air", but was more complex, examining the motivations of those who choose to go to war.

Reno is a 1939 film directed by John Farrow and starring Richard Dix, Gail Patrick and Anita Louise.

<i>The Falcon in Hollywood</i> 1944 film by Gordon Douglas

The Falcon in Hollywood is a 1944 crime film directed by Gordon Douglas and stars Tom Conway in his recurring role as a suave amateur sleuth, supported by Barbara Hale and Veda Ann Borg. The film was the 10th of 16 in Falcon detective series.

<i>Dance Hall</i> (1929 film) 1929 film directed by Melville Brown

Dance Hall was an American Pre-Code musical film directed by Melville Brown and written by Jane Murfin and J. Walter Ruben, based on the short story of the same name by Vina Delmar. It was RKO's second to last release of the decade, and was a critical and financial flop. Dance Hall featured a love triangle with a shipping clerk competing with a dashing aviator for the affections of a young taxi dancer.

<i>Wanderer of the Wasteland</i> (1945 film) 1945 film by Wallace Grissell

Wanderer of the Wasteland is a 1945 American Western film directed by Wallace Grissell and Edward Killy and starring James Warren in his RKO debut replacing Robert Mitchum who had starred in Nevada and West of the Pecos from the same screenwriter and director. Richard Martin, and Audrey Long also star in the film. The screenplay was written by Norman Houston loosely based on the novel Wanderer of the Wasteland by Zane Grey, the film is about a young cowboy searching for the man who killed his father when he was a boy. With his lifelong friend at his side, he travels the country following his one clue—a distinctive brand on the killer's horse. When he tracks down the now elderly murderer, he finds he cannot kill him because of his feelings for the man's kindhearted daughter. Wanderer of the Wasteland was filmed on location in Lone Pine, California. Produced by RKO Radio Pictures, the film was released on September 28, 1945 in the United States.

<i>Beau Bandit</i> 1930 film directed by Lambert Hillyer

Beau Bandit is a 1930 American Pre-Code Western film, directed by Lambert Hillyer, from a screenplay by Wallace Smith, based on his short story, "Strictly Business" which appeared in the April 1929 edition of Hearst's International-Cosmopolitan. The film starred Rod La Rocque, Mitchell Lewis, Doris Kenyon, and Walter Long. The story is based loosely on the legend of Robin Hood.

<i>The Great Jasper</i> 1933 film

The Great Jasper is a 1933 American pre-Code drama film directed by J. Walter Ruben and written by H.W. Hanemann and Samuel Ornitz. The film stars Richard Dix, Edna May Oliver, Florence Eldridge, Wera Engels and Walter Walker. The film was released on February 17, 1933, by RKO Pictures.

<i>No Marriage Ties</i> 1933 film by J. Walter Ruben

No Marriage Ties is a 1933 American pre-Code drama film directed by J. Walter Ruben and written by Arthur Caesar, H.W. Hanemann, Sam Mintz. The film stars Richard Dix, Elizabeth Allan, Doris Kenyon, Alan Dinehart and David Landau. The film was released on August 8, 1933, by RKO Pictures.

<i>The Arizonian</i> 1935 American Western film

The Arizonian is a 1935 American Western film directed by Charles Vidor and starring Richard Dix, Margot Grahame, Preston Foster, and Louis Calhern. The screenplay was by Dudley Nichols. The film was released by RKO Radio Pictures on June 28, 1935.

Code of the Streets is a 1939 Universal Studios film starring The Little Tough Guys.

References

  1. 1 2 3 Jewell, Richard B.; Harbin, Vernon (1982). The RKO Story. New York: Arlington House. p. 28. ISBN   0-517-546566.
  2. 1 2 3 4 5 "Shooting Straight: Detail View". American Film Institute. Archived from the original on April 17, 2014. Retrieved April 16, 2014.
  3. 1 2 3 "Shooting Straight: Technical Details". theiapolis.com. Retrieved July 11, 2014.
  4. 1 2 3 Richard Jewel, 'RKO Film Grosses: 1931-1951', Historical Journal of Film Radio and Television, Vol 14 No 1, 1994 p56
  5. "Barney A. Sarecky, Biography". All Movie Guide. Archived from the original on July 11, 2014. Retrieved July 11, 2014.