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First National

First National
First National participated in 436 films (as a production or realisation company).
Among thoses, 13 have good markets following the box office.

Here are the best films classified by number of entries :

Production

Casablanca
Casablanca (1943)
, 1h42
Directed by Michael Curtiz
Origin USA
Genres Drama, War, Crime, Melodrama, Romance
Themes Films set in Africa, Political films, Films based on plays
Actors Humphrey Bogart, Ingrid Bergman, Paul Henreid, Claude Rains, Conrad Veidt, Sydney Greenstreet

Set in December, 1941, American expatriate Rick Blaine is the proprietor of an upscale nightclub and gambling den in Casablanca. "Rick's Café Américain" attracts a varied clientele: Vichy French, Italian, and German officials; refugees desperate to reach the still neutral United States; and those who prey on them. Although Rick professes to be neutral in all matters, it is later revealed he ran guns to Ethiopia during its war with Italy and fought on the Loyalist side against the fascist Nationalists in the Spanish Civil War.
The Adventures of Robin Hood
The Adventures of Robin Hood (1938)
, 1h42
Directed by Michael Curtiz, William Keighley
Origin USA
Genres Drama, Swashbuckler, Action, Adventure, Historical, Romance
Themes Political films, Films about royalty
Actors Errol Flynn, Olivia de Havilland, Basil Rathbone, Claude Rains, Patric Knowles, Eugene Pallette

In 1191, Richard the Lionheart (Ian Hunter), the King of England, is taken captive by Leopold V, Duke of Austria while returning from the Third Crusade. Richard’s treacherous brother Prince John (Claude Rains) usurps the throne and proceeds to oppress the Saxons, raising taxes supposedly to pay Richard's ransom, but in reality to secure his own position.
Five Star Final
Five Star Final (1931)
, 1h29
Directed by Mervyn LeRoy
Origin USA
Genres Drama, Crime
Themes Films about writers, Films about journalists, Théâtre, Films based on plays
Actors Edward G. Robinson, Marian Marsh, Anthony Bushell, H. B. Warner, Boris Karloff, Aline MacMahon

Joseph W. Randall (Edward G. Robinson), the city editor of a tabloid newspaper, reluctantly agrees when publisher Bernard Hinchecliffe (Oscar Apfel) plans to boost circulation with a restrospective series on a 20-year-old murder and scandal, involving a secretary, Nancy Voorhees (Frances Starr), who shot the man who got her pregnant and then refused to marry her. Nancy is now married to Michael Townsend (H. B. Warner), an upstanding member of society, and has a daughter, Jenny (Marian Marsh), about to marry the son of a socially prominent family, Philip Weeks (Anthony Bushell). She reacts with horror at the renewed interest in the scandal she had put behind her.
Little Caesar
Little Caesar (1931)
, 1h19
Directed by Mervyn LeRoy
Origin USA
Genres Drama, Mob film, Action, Crime, Romance
Themes Mafia films, Gangster films
Actors Edward G. Robinson, Douglas Fairbanks, Jr., Glenda Farrell, Sidney Blackmer, William Collier Jr., George E. Stone

Small-time criminals Caesar Enrico "Rico" Bandello (Edward G. Robinson) and his friend Joe Massara (Douglas Fairbanks, Jr.) move to Chicago to seek their fortunes. Rico joins the gang of Sam Vettori (Stanley Fields), while Joe wants to be a dancer. Olga (Glenda Farrell) becomes his dance partner and girlfriend.
The Barker
The Barker (1928)
, 1h20
Directed by George Fitzmaurice
Origin USA
Genres Drama, Romance
Themes Films based on plays
Actors Milton Sills, Dorothy Mackaill, George Cooper, Betty Compson, Douglas Fairbanks, Jr., Sylvia Ashton

The film tells the story of a woman (Dorothy Mackaill) who comes between a man (Milton Sills) and his estranged son (Douglas Fairbanks Jr.) Sills is a carnival barker who is in love with a dancing girl and is ambitious to have his son, Fairbanks, become a lawyer. Fairbanks has other ideas and during his vacation he hops a freight, joins the carnival, and weds a dancing girl (Mackaill). Eventually, Fairbanks fulfills the ambition his father had for him.
The Divine Lady
The Divine Lady (1928)
, 1h39
Directed by Frank Lloyd, Thornton Freeland
Origin USA
Genres Drama, War, Historical, Romance
Actors Corinne Griffith, Victor Varconi, H. B. Warner, Ian Keith, Marie Dressler, William Conklin

In the late eighteenth century, Lady Hamilton has had a somewhat turbulent relationship with the British people, especially the aristocracy. Born Emma Hart from a very humble background (she being the daughter of a cook), she was seen as being vulgar by the rich, but equally captivating for her beauty. In a move to protect his inheritance, Honorable Charles Greville, Emma's then lover and her mother's employer, sent Emma to Naples under false pretenses to live with his uncle, Sir William Hamilton, where she would study to become a lady. Surprisingly to Greville whose deception Emma would eventually discover, Emma ended up becoming Hamilton's wife in a marriage of convenience. But it is Emma's eventual relationship with Horatio Nelson of the British navy that would cause the largest issue. A move by Lady Hamilton helped Nelson's armada defeat Napoleon's fleet in naval battles, which Nelson would have ultimately lost without Lady Hamilton's help. Beyond the dangers of war, Lady Hamilton and Nelson's relationship is ultimately threatened by the court of public opinion as both are married to other people.
The Story of Louis Pasteur
The Story of Louis Pasteur (1936)
, 1h27
Directed by William Dieterle, Irving Rapper
Origin USA
Genres Drama, Biography, Historical
Themes Medical-themed films
Actors Paul Muni, Josephine Hutchinson, Anita Louise, Donald Woods, Fritz Leiber, Akim Tamiroff

In nineteenth century chemist Louis Pasteur (Paul Muni) believes that diseases are caused by unseen microbes. His radical theory is dismissed by most doctors, particularly his most vocal critic, Dr. Charbonnet (Fritz Leiber, Sr.). Nonetheless, Pasteur carries on, with the assistance of a small group of loyal researchers, and finds a cure for anthrax. He also campaigns to have doctors wash their hands and sterilize their instruments before operating.
The Private Life of Helen of Troy
The Private Life of Helen of Troy (1927)
, 1h27
Directed by Alexander Korda
Origin USA
Genres Comedy, Historical
Themes Films based on mythology, Théâtre, Films based on Greco-Roman mythology, Political films, Films based on plays, Films based on Greco-Roman mythology
Actors María Corda, Lewis Stone, Ricardo Cortez, George Fawcett, Alice White, Charles Puffy

Hélène, reine de Sparte, s'ennuie, son mari Ménélas lui montrant peu d'intérêt. Elle s'enfuit à Troie avec Pâris. Ménélas déclare alors la guerre à Troie. Après la victoire, Hélène revient à Sparte. La coutume voudrait que son mari la tue lui-même, mais son charme opère et il la laisse en vie. Toutefois il ne s'occupe pas plus d'elle qu'auparavant et Hélène flirte avec le prince d'Ithaque.
Sally
Sally (1930)
, 1h43
Directed by John Francis Dillon
Origin USA
Genres Musical
Themes Films about music and musicians, Musical films, Films based on plays, Films based on musicals
Actors Marilyn Miller, Alexander Gray, Joe E. Brown, Ford Sterling, Pert Kelton, T. Roy Barnes

Sally (Marilyn Miller) plays the part of an orphan who had been abandoned as a baby at the Bowling Green telephone exchange. While growing up in an orphanage, she discovered the joy of dancing. In an attempt to save money enough to become a dancer, Sally began working at odd jobs. While working as a waitress, a man named Blair (Alexander Gray) begins coming to her work regularly to see her. They both soon fall for each other.
Gold Diggers of 1935
Gold Diggers of 1935 (1935)
, 1h35
Directed by Busby Berkeley
Origin USA
Genres Comedy, Musical theatre, Musical
Themes Films about music and musicians, Musical films
Actors Dick Powell, Adolphe Menjou, Gloria Stuart, Alice Brady, Hugh Herbert, Glenda Farrell

In the resort of Lake Waxapahachie, the swanky Wentworth Plaza is where the rich all congregate, and where the tips flow like wine. Handsome Dick Curtis (Dick Powell) is working his way through medical school as a desk clerk, and when rich, penny-pinching Mrs. Prentiss (Alice Brady) offers to pay him to escort her daughter Ann (Gloria Stuart) for the summer, Dick can't say no – even his fiancee, Arline Davis (Dorothy Dare) thinks he should do it. Mrs. Prentiss wants Ann to marry eccentric middle-aged millionaire T. Mosley Thorpe (Hugh Herbert), who's a world-renowned expert on snuffboxes, but Ann has other ideas. Meanwhile her brother, Humbolt (Frank McHugh) has a weakness for a pretty face: he's been married and bought out of trouble by his mother several times.

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