Columbia Films of 1939
List of Columbia Pictures that not Mr. Smith Goes to Washington
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- DirectorCharles C. ColemanStarsBruce CabotRita HayworthMarc LawrenceAfter being criticized by the Citizens' League for his inability to cope with a crime wave, Police Captain Haines orders his men in the Homicide Bureau to clean up all their cases, but without violating the constitutional rights of any suspect. Detective Jim Logan is ordered to meet the incoming new-head of the Police Department lab and internal affairs, J.G. Bliss, and takes an instant dislike to her over her attitude toward criminal's rights. A murder case is turned over to Jim. Chuck Brown, the killer, informs his gang boss, Briggs, that their blackmailer has been killed and Briggs continues with his preparations to ship a cargo of scrap metal metal to foreign war lords to be used for munitions manufacture. Jim arrests Chuck, but if forced by Miss Bliss to release him on grounds of insufficient evidence. In an attempt to force a confession from Chuck, Jim goes to his apartment and, in a scuffle, causes him to fall through a window. The aroused Citizens' League, through its spokesman Henley, press charges against Jim and he is demoted. He continues to investigate and learns of Chuck's connection with a junk dealer's racket. Jamison, a honest junk dealer, is murdered for refusing to ship scrap metal abroad for war purposes and an eye-witness is killed in a supposed hit-and-run accident.
- DirectorAlexander HallStarsMelvyn DouglasVirginia BruceMargaret LindsayBill Reardon, a private detective, is working on a case involving stolen items from a local jewelry store. The case takes a different turn when Bill's prying wife wants to help catch the crook.
- DirectorSam NelsonStarsCharles StarrettIris MeredithSons of the PioneersOutlaws Dale and Tucson quit Wolf's gang. Just as the two are about to rob the stage, Wolf and his gang beat them to it. Dale breaks it up saving the money and this gets him appointed Sheriff. But Wolf shows up and threatening to expose Dale, forces him to let his gang rob the express office.
- DirectorJoseph LeveringStarsBill ElliottLuana AlcañizCharles KingIn 1848, the U.S. Army sends Major John Freeman (Bill Elliott) to investigate the Lower California Company, headed by Howard Brunton (Charles King), which is abusing its semi-governmental powers. Disguised as a settler, Freeman and his scout, Kit (Hal Taliaferro), dismount at the Cervantes hacienda which Brunton has illegally seized and is auctioning off. Freeman outbids a Brunton flunky and the sale is postponed. Freeman sends Romero (Joe de la Cruz), a former landowner unjustly evicted, into Los Treos to have his last tax receipt notarized in a move made to justify Freeman having the Army move in and take action against Brunton. He moves his regiment into Los Treos, where Brunton, realizing that his game is up, is looting the town prior to escaping to the border.
- DirectorD. Ross LedermanStarsJames CraigBetty FurnessKeye LukeAmerican reporters Helen Warnet and Jed Howard meet on a boat to Shangai unaware that Japan had just invade China and enemy spies are everywhere.
- DirectorPeter GodfreyStarsWarren WilliamIda LupinoRita HayworthA group of spies is after the plans for an anti-aircraft gun, and the leader uses the opportunity to embroil the Lone Wolf in the plot. Trying to settle an old score, this shady character implicates his old nemesis by forcing him to crack the safe where the plans are stored.
- DirectorSam NelsonStarsCharles StarrettIris MeredithFred Kohler Jr.Sheep raisers, resentful of old injuries from the cattlemen, bar the way to water when dry ranges force the cattle ranchers to drive their herds into the lowlands. Sheriff Tom Randall (Charles Starrett) attempts to effect a peaceful agreement but is forced to arrest hot-headed Wayne Cameron (Fred Kohler, Jr). who has seriously wounded a sheepman, Abe Avery (Blackjack Ward). Joan Cameron (Iris Meredith), Wayne's sister, angrily breaks off her engagement to Tom. Jeff Cameron (Lee Prather), Wayne's father, gathers a band of cowmen to storm the jail, but Tom refuses to release his prisoner event after Joan pleads with him. A gun is smuggled to Wayne, who escapes after wounding Tom, and Tom thinks it was Joan who supplied the gun. Tom recaptures Wayne, leaves him tied up in a cabin and then rides to ask the sheepmen to let the cattle through before the ranchers fight their way through.Zack Avery (Ray Bennett), brother of the wounded man, agrees if the cattlemen promise to pay all damages and, as a guarantee of good faith, also demands the surrender of the man who shot his brother. Tom agrees, but the approaching herd has smelled water and start to stampede.
- DirectorCharles C. ColemanStarsAlan BaxterJulie BishopGordon Oliver"Big Tim" Halloran retires as Police Chief, and hopes his son, Tim, will join the police force. But the son opts for racketeering and, running a garage for Velvikak Taxicabs. He uses his father's police entrée for knowledge of squad car activity, leads a gang on bold holdup jobs in the heart of the city. Tim's boyhood friend, Allen Coltrin, works in the police lab. Myrna Kingsley, daughter of the new chief, wavers between Tim and Allen with her affection. All are on a collision course that does not bode well for two of them.
- DirectorFrank R. StrayerStarsPenny SingletonArthur LakeLarry SimmsBlondie takes over Dagwood's job while he goes off on a fishing trip.
- DirectorJoseph LeveringStarsBill ElliottDorothy GulliverLee ShumwayWagon trains bringing supplies are being robbed and Marshal Pat Barrett has been sent to investigate. Posing as an outlaw he gets into Buck's gang. When the Ranger Captain sends for more troops, Buck's inside man brings the message to him. Buck then plans to substitute his men for the Rangers but he tells Pat and Pat rides off to try and warn the Ranger Captain.
- DirectorLewis D. CollinsStarsJack HoltDolores CostelloAddison RichardsThe sudden death of famous opera diva Linda Morgan leaves Stephen Brewster, owner of Brewster Cosmetics, without a celebrity spokesperson. While Laura Crandall, president of the House of Crandall, a rival firm, vacations in Europe, her callous advertising manager, Fred Bowman, persuades her reluctant general manager, George Harley, to launch a bold campaign built on the rumor that Linda was poisoned by using Brewster cosmetics. As sales plummet, Stephen approaches the United States District Attorney with charges of slander. After his company is sent into receivership, the embittered Stephen embarks upon revenge. Under the assumed name of Stephen James, he creates the Acme Advertising Agency in Kansas City, the home of the House of Crandall. Accompanied by his assistant, Red Barrett, Stephen wins the account of the Higgins Chemical Company, Crandall's biggest rival. With a small group of salesmen, Stephen spreads the rumor that Crandall's cosmetics contain harmful lead. When Laura returns from Europe to find her firm's sales sagging because of the rumors, both George and Fred neglect to inform her of the whisper campaign they initiated against Brewster. Learning of the rumors spreading against her firm, Laura infiltrates Stephen's company as an office manager. In Stephen's office, she installs a Dictaphone recording device just as Stephen launches other smear campaigns against an airline and steamship company. Puzzled by Stephen's philanthropic assistance to an orphanage, Laura reveals her true identity to him, and in turn, Stephen divulges how her firm had ruined his company. Returning to her office, Laura fires Fred and George and sends Stephen the incriminating Dictaphone record. Now repentant, Stephen tries to check the rumors his company had been spreading that Kimball milk carries tuberculosis, but the racketeers fronting the campaign shoot Stephen as he attempts to quell a mob ransacking one of Kimball's stores. Stephen then makes a complete confession while recuperating in jail. After he instructs Red to help Laura rebuild her company, Stephen is found guilty of unfair trade practices and is sentenced to three years in prison. As he is nearing the end of his term, Stephen learns from Smitty, his cellmate, of a prison break that might injure innocent visitors. Failing to dissuade Smitty from participating, Stephen starts a rumor that the warden knows about the break, which results in the inmates disarming themselves and abandoning their plans. Learning of his good deed, the warden pardons Stephen, who then joins Laura in a business and matrimonial partnership.
- DirectorJohn BrahmStarsMaureen O'SullivanHenry FondaRalph BellamyTwo innocent men are wrongly convicted of murder and sentenced to death. The fiancée of one of them convinces a police detective of their innocence, and together they try to find the real killer before the men's execution date.
- DirectorCharles C. ColemanStarsRichard ArlenRochelle HudsonMarian MarshJosie Lamonte (Marian Marsh), upset by experiences at the "Club Naturelle", where she had hoped to acquire 'poise and personality' for a stage career, fires a tirade at club owner ""Lucky" Rogers (Edward Raquello) for his unprincipled ways of recruiting nightclub girls. The suicide of Josie prompts a broadcast by newscaster/columnist Wally King (Richard Arlen) in which he blasts Police Captain McGraw (Wade Boteler) of the Missing Persons Bureau. He mentions that this girl had been missing for months while her photograph was being seen posted by passersby of the police station. McGraw challenges King to locate some of the missing girls himself. Kay Roberts (Rochelle Hudson), sister of Josie, brings King a letter that indicates Josie's death was not suicide. King persuades showgirls he has done favors for to act as investigators. They find that an art salon, an escort bureau, and a theatrical agency are all operated by the "Club Naturelle." He then sets a trap to bring Rogers and his henchmen to justice.
- DirectorCharles VidorStarsChester MorrisRalph BellamyAnn DvorakGangster Hal Wilson takes psychiatrist Dr. Shelby hostage. While captive, the doctor analyzes Wilson as though he were a patient.
- DirectorHoward HawksStarsCary GrantJean ArthurRita HayworthAt a remote South American trading port, the manager of an air-freight company is forced to risk his pilots' lives in order to win an important contract as a traveling American showgirl stops in town.
- DirectorLewis D. CollinsStarsJack HoltRalph MorganPaul EvertonUpon developing a new type of electronically driven plane, Walter Fielding, an inventor, offers the United States government first option on his creation. However, when William Fornay, a foreign agent, offers him three times the army's price, Fielding decides to insure that the government tests end in failure, thus enabling him to sell his patent to the highest bidder. After the initial flight crashes and kills its pilot, Lieutenant Gray, army flyer Major Roston begins to suspect sabotage. Hoping to flush out the saboteurs, Roston arranges for his own court martial, then feigns resentment towards the army. His ruse works, and Roston is soon contacted by enemy agent Carol Rayder. But Roston's first lead is sidetracked, however, when Carol and her employer, Joseph Dure, are found murdered. While investigating Carol's murder, Roston picks up a clue which leads to Fornay. Upon discovering that Fornay is behind the plane's mysterious failures, Roston deduces that Fielding must also be involved in sabotage. Roston substantiates his theory when he lures Fielding into taking a test flight with him, and by threatening to crash the plane, forces a confession from the inventor.
- DirectorSam NelsonStarsCharles StarrettIris MeredithDick CurtisA caravan of settlers is arriving and the ranchers intend to keep them out. It looks like a range war but Sheriff Jim gets the ranchers to accept the settlers. Kohler re-ignites the feud by making settler Winters appear to be a rustler and then by killing Winter's son. Once more the two sides appear headed for a war and Jim is caught in the middle.
- DirectorCharles BartonStarsBrian DonlevyJulie BishopJoseph CrehanDet. Norman Craig assumes the identity of a dead bank robber (killed in a police shoot out), Red Murray, so he can infiltrate the prison and find three other bank robbers that the police are looking for. Things are going fine until Craig's partner is found dead in his cell with a bullet hole in his head. The plot thickens as Craig now tries to find the robbers and the murderer of his partner. He pits the three he suspects against each other hoping their greed and paranoia will cause them to turn on each other and rat the other out.
- DirectorEdward LudwigStarsRandolph ScottFrances DeeRalph BellamySteady, dependable Coast Guard Lieutenant Raymond "Ray" Dower and reckless aviator Thomas "Speed" Bradshaw are the closest of friends. Ray saves the life of Captain Tobias Bliss, tramp steamer skipper, in a daring rescue at sea. Speed flies the injured man back to the base hospital, where the two officers later visit him. There Ray meets Nancy Bliss, Bliss' grand-daughter, and falls in love with her. Speed meets her at a dance and urges Ray to propose before some other guy does. Ray is assigned to flood rescue duty, and Speed and Nancy start going out together and discover they are in love. Angry at first, Ray acts as best man at the wedding. Speed reverts to his old habits and often leaves Nancy alone. Broken-hearted, Nancy returns to her grandfather's home, where Ray often visits her. He is there when Speed, stunting over the house to gain Nancy's attention, cracks up his plane. Ray is forced to testify at Speed's court-martial, and Speed believes Ray is trying to ruin him and win Nancy. Dispatched to rescue work in the frozen North, Ray is lost in a polar blizzard. Nancy pleas to Speed to fly north and search for Ray and Speed, thinking Nancy loves Ray, agrees to go.
- DirectorNick GrindeStarsBoris KarloffLorna GrayRobert WilcoxWhen Dr. Savaard's experiment in cryonics is interrupted by the short-sighted authorities, his volunteer dies, and he is condemned to death. He vows vengeance if he can survive his own hanging.
- DirectorCharles BartonStarsEdith FellowsClarence KolbDorothy PetersonThe Peppers - Mrs. Pepper and her five children Polly, Ben, Joey, Davie and Phronsie - are a poor family (the six of them sleep in a total of four beds in two rooms), but they love each other and as a result are happy. Mrs. Pepper's husband, John Pepper, a mining engineer, died when the copper mine in which he had half ownership collapsed atop him. Mid-teen Polly was deeded his part of the mine, which her mother has told her her father wanted her to keep at least until she became of age, despite he never having found copper in it. Polly often acts as the family guardian to her siblings while Mrs. Pepper is at work. By chance, Polly and Joey meet well-off but lonely mid-teen Jasper King, who ends up befriending all the Pepper children. Jasper lives with his wealthy businessman grandfather, J.H. King, who pays his grandson no attention as he is all consumed with making money to the exclusion of all else. J.H. has no interest in Jasper befriending this poor family until he learns who they are as J.H. has purchased the other 50% control of the mine and wants Polly's half for a song if possible to start developing it. Without telling them of his intention, J.H. starts spending time with the Peppers, wooing them with gifts. But J.H., out of circumstance, is forced to spend more time with the Peppers than he ever imagined. The Pepper children love their new friends J.H. and Jasper, but will that change if they learn J.H.'s initial friendship motive of wanting Polly's half of the mine?
- DirectorRouben MamoulianStarsBarbara StanwyckAdolphe MenjouWilliam HoldenA poor young Italian man who is a virtuoso on the violin wishes to become a champion boxer to make a fortune for his family. But what is the road to success and happiness, and what is the price?
- DirectorLewis D. CollinsStarsJack HoltGertrude MichaelDickie MooreDr. Garfield gets so involved in his research for an antitoxin for severe burns that he completely neglects his wife Virginia and their young son Steve. Virginia divorces him and takes Steve with her. Their paths cross again in a life-or-death situation.
- DirectorCharles C. ColemanStarsCharles StarrettIris MeredithStanley BrownWade Beaumont (Dick Curtis), R. A. Kirby (Kenneth MacDonald) and Burke (Edmund Cobb), of the Caribou Trading Company, have reduced the miners and trappers almost to the point of slavery by charging them exorbitant prices for provisions. Beaumont threatens to quit and the other two are thrown in a panic, but a fistfight between Beaumont and Larry Daniels (Stanley Brown) gives Burke an idea. He stabs Beaumont with Larry's knife and RCMP Sergeant Neal Crawford (Charles Starrett) arrests Larry for murder. Neal's romantic interest in Larry's sister, Norma (Iris Meredith), makes this task difficult. Not happy at the evidence brought out in the trial, Neal takes a leave of absence and begins his own investigation. He ties up the gold at the trading company until a successor to Beaumont is appointed, and thus keeps Burke and Kirby from absconding with the gold. Norma and Neal see the crooks burn the evidence that will free Larry. Burke, Kirby and Jacques LaRue (Alberto Morin) clean out the vault and ride away, but are pursued by Neal and the Mounties.
- DirectorCharles VidorStarsWalter ConnollyOnslow StevensPaul FixDr. MacAuley, a kindly, beloved country doctor, is sent to Fillmore Prison. His crime was for removing a bullet from a young man who was escaping from the police. This is man whom he had brought into the world many years before. At Fillmore he is assigned to work in the jute mill after the prison doctor, Frank Norton, spurns his request to work in the hospital. "Lindy" Lindstron, MacAuley's co-worker in the mill, has a sudden heart attack and Dr. Norton declares him beyond help. MacAuley administers adrenaline and Lindstrom recovers. News of the recovery spreads and MacAuley is besieged by fellow convicts with real and imaginary ills, and Norton requests his transfer to the hospital. Lindstrom, suffering greatly, begs MacAuley to give him an overdose of sedative, and offers him $10,000 he claims to have hidden "outside." MacAuley refuses, but is so touched by Lindstrom's agony that he talks over the possibility of a mercy death with Norton. Nightingale, a prison trusty, has overheard Lindstrom's request and he promises to obtain the sedative in return for the $10,000. The next day, Lindstrom is found dead. Norton, who scoffed at MacAuley's request, believes that MacAuley gave Lindstrom the fatal dose.
- DirectorNick GrindeStarsFrieda InescortOtto KrugerRochelle HudsonA famous woman jurist at the peak of her career resigns the bench to defend her daughter against a murder charge.
- DirectorNick GrindeStarsOtto KrugerOna MunsonEdward NorrisJim Stevenson, publisher of a scandal mongering tabloid, takes pride in publishing only the news that's unfit to print. Stevenson attends the graduation ceremonies at Croft College, where he listens to graduating student Peter Haynes's impassioned speech on the virtues of journalism. After the speech, Stevenson offers Peter a job, which he readily accepts. Peter starts work at the newspaper, not realizing that he is Stevenson's illegitimate son. After a week on the job, Peter, unable to tolerate the paper's sensationalism, quits to take a job on a reputable newspaper. Meanwhile, Stevenson becomes the target of a reform movement gaining momentum in the city, and hires detective Bert Schroll to dig up some dirt on the leader of the movement. Instead, Schroll discovers that Peter is Stevenson's son and tries to blackmail the publisher. In a scuffle over the incriminating evidence, Stevenson accidentally kills Schroll, and while covering the story for his paper, Peter finds evidence proving that Stevenson is Schroll's murderer. Rather than tell the truth and thus ruin his son's life, Stevenson chooses to remain silent and is sentenced to prison for his crime.
- DirectorAlexander HallStarsMelvyn DouglasJoan BlondellClarence KolbKenny Williams, a lieutenant on the homicide squad, is engaged to Maxine Carroll, the Mayor's secretary--or is he married to his job? For every time he has a date with his longtime fiancée, he is prevented from keeping it by his devotion to duty. Maxine, in desperation, decides to take action and bring Kenny to the altar. Who will win, Maxine's curves or the glorious fight against crime?
- DirectorSam NelsonStarsCharles StarrettLorna GrayRichard FiskeWith fences cut and livestock disappearing, Jeff Browning suspects his new neighbor, Dan Murdock. Sheriff Fletcher appeals to the U.S. Marshal for help, and Tom Murdock, Dan's son, is sent. Tom arrives in Buffalo Springs, posing as cattle buyer Tom Morgan, with the Sons of the Pioneers as his foreman and ranch hands. Browning's foreman, Bat Springer, is alarmed at the news of the impending sale of the Browning herd. He and Murdock's foreman, Carver, have been rustling cattle from both ranches, changing the brands and loading them into railroad cattle cars at a distant siding. Dan discovers that the brands from both ranches have been changed to the Bar-X, a brand that is registered to Browning's son Ned. As he is telling this to Browning, he is killed from ambush and Browning is knocked unconscious. But Tom has seen Bat steal Browning's unfired gun, the only clue to Browning's innocence, and tells his suspicions to Ned and his sister Jean. But Bat shows the sheriff a letter showing that the Bar-X brand is in Ned's name and Ned is also arrested. Tom and the sheriff set a trap for Bat and his henchmen by announcing that Ned and his father have escaped but, in reality, they have been transferred to the sheriff's home. But Bat learns of the plan and he and his partner capture Ned and Jeff and take them along as hostages on an escape to the border.
- DirectorLewis D. CollinsStarsJack HoltPatricia EllisStanley FieldsGeorge Storm is a reputable construction engineer but his life changes the moment a bandit trio holds up the company payroll car. And that is because the daring holdup is successful because the gang leader, Tom Farrow , is an exact-double for Storm. Eye-witnesses testify that the gang leader was the company's most-trusted construction engineer George Storm. The latter has no alibi as Tom Farrow has sent his wife, Patricia Farrow , over to distract Storm during the holdup. Storm is convicted and sent to prison.
- DirectorNorman DemingStarsBill ElliottIris MeredithDick CurtisBill Saunders arriving in a lawless town is quickly made Marshal. But when he arrests the gang members, the victims refuse to testify. However one rancher is willing to testify and when the gang kills him, Bill jails the killers. This causes the gang leader Rawhide to reveal the identity of the big boss and Bill goes after him.
- DirectorJoseph H. LewisStarsCharles StarrettIris MeredithSons of the PioneersThad Lawson arrives in Oak Valley to avenge the murder of his brother, the local sheriff. He learns that Jack Rand, powerful overlord of the town is to blame. After Rand murders newspaper publisher Jordan Webster, Thad sets out to put him behind bars.
- DirectorSteve SekelyStarsMargoWalter AbelWilliam Collier Sr.The discovery of an abandoned baby on Christmas Eve brings new meaning to a lonely and depressed Los Angeles dancer.
- DirectorCharles BartonStarsBruce CabotJulie BishopHarry CareyHonest cop Tim Kerry struggles to keep his son Ritzy from becoming involved in a crime ring.
- DirectorBenjamin StoloffStarsFay BainterIda LupinoLee BowmanSociety-lady Hattie Leonard organizes her own band of 'gang-busters' when she discovers a garment she sent to the dry-cleaners had been taxed 25 cents to pay for gang 'protection.' She sends to New York City for a reformed gangster she had befriended, Frankie O'Fallon, and he hires the manpower needed from the usual Columbia hoods. Her gang hijacks the racketeers, recovers the merchant's money and returns it to them. Lila Thorne, engaged to Hattie's son Fred, throws in with her future mother-in-law when she sees that the old lady is fighting for the American principle of freedom of choice...and action. Lila frames the gang-leader, George Watson, and Hattie's big-city vigilantes kidnap him and extract the information that the town-mayor, Johnny "J.J." Jones, is the brains behind the protection-gang and is getting the big cut of the money. But Hattie must still rob a bank before she can secure the evidence needed to convict the mayor. All in a day's work for a crusading society dame.
- DirectorFrank McDonaldStarsWalter AbelBeverly RobertsIris MeredithA crusading and reform-minded District Attorney gives up his position in order to open establish a farm that give juvenile delinquents and first-offenders a place to straighten out their lives before they reach the point of no return. He meets much resistance from various segments of the law and the citizens.
- DirectorJoseph LeveringStarsBill ElliottVeda Ann BorgBud OsborneDean, the Bailey County Judge, is the boss of both the outlaw gang and the Sheriff. He utilizes the state law that Sheriffs have jurisdiction only in their own county. After a raid the gang merely returns to the safety of Bailey County. The Governor sends Lawyer John Hayes. When he has no success as a Lawyer he leaves town only to return disguised as an outlaw with a scheme that will nab all the culprits.