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RKO Pictures
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Foundation date 23 october 1928
RKO (Radio-Keith-Orpheum) Pictures (also known as RKO Productions, Radio Pictures, RKO Radio Pictures, RKO Teleradio Pictures, &, for a short time, RKO Pathé) is an American film production and distribution company. It was one of the Big Five studios of Hollywood's Golden Age. The business was formed after the Keith-Albee-Orpheum (KAO) vaudeville theater circuit and Joseph P. Kennedy's Film Booking Offices of America (FBO) studio were brought together under the control of the Radio Corporation of America (RCA) in October 1928. RCA chief David Sarnoff engineered the merger to create a market for the company's sound-on-film technology, RCA Photophone. By the mid-1940s, the studio was under the control of investor Floyd Odlum.
RKO has long been celebrated for its series of musicals starring Fred Astaire and Ginger Rogers in the mid-to-late 1930s. Actors Katharine Hepburn and, later, Robert Mitchum had their first major successes at the studio. Cary Grant was a mainstay for years. The work of producer Val Lewton's low-budget horror unit and RKO's many ventures into the field now known as film noir have been acclaimed, largely after the fact, by film critics and historians. The studio produced two of the most famous films in motion picture history: King Kong and Citizen Kane.
Maverick industrialist Howard Hughes took over RKO in 1948. After years of decline under his control, the studio was acquired by the General Tire and Rubber Company in 1955. The original RKO Pictures ceased production in 1957 and was effectively dissolved two years later. In 1981, broadcaster RKO General, the corporate heir, revived it as a production subsidiary, RKO Pictures Inc. In 1989, this business with its few remaining assets, the trademarks and remake rights to many classic RKO films, was sold to new owners, who now operate the small independent company RKO Pictures LLC.
Best films
(1942)
(1950)
(1938)
(1940)
(1954)
(1953)Filmography of RKO Pictures (1392 films)
Distribution
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The Cuckoos (1930)
, 1h37Directed by Paul Sloane
Origin USA
Genres Comedy, Musical theatre, Musical
Themes Films about music and musicians, Musical films, Films based on plays, Films based on musicals
Actors Bert Wheeler, Robert Woolsey, Dorothy Lee, June Clyde, Hugh Trevor, Ivan Lebedeff
Professor Bird (Woolsey) and his partner, Sparrow (Wheeler), are a pair of charlatan fortune tellers who are bankrupt and stranded at a Mexican resort just south of the border. An heiress, Ruth Chester (June Clyde), appears, who is running away from her aunt, Fanny Furst (Jobyna Howland). She is in love with an American pilot, Billy Shannon (Hugh Trevor), but her aunt wishes her to marry the European nobleman, The Baron (Ivan Lebedeff), whom the aunt believes is the "right" type of person for her niece.
Check and Double Check (1930)
, 1h17Origin USA
Genres Comedy, Musical theatre
Themes Films about music and musicians, Musical films
Actors Charles Correll, Bing Crosby, Freeman Gosden, Sue Carol, Irene Rich, Ralf Harolde
Amos and Andy run the "Fresh Air Taxicab Company, Incorporated", so named because their one taxi has no top. Their old vehicle has broken down, causing a traffic jam. Stuck in the traffic jam are John Blair and his wife, who were on their way to meet an old family friend at the train station, Richard Williams. When the Blairs do not show up, he makes his own way to their house, where he meets their daughter, Jean, who was also his childhood sweetheart. The two reignite their old flame, much to the chagrin of Ralph Crawford, who has been attempting to woo Jean himself.
Dixiana (1930)
, 1h40Directed by Luther Reed, Fred Fleck
Origin USA
Genres Drama, Comedy, Musical theatre, Musical
Themes Musical films
Actors Bebe Daniels, Joseph Cawthorn, Bert Wheeler, Jobyna Howland, Robert Woolsey, Bill Robinson
Dixiana Caldwell and her friends, Peewee and Ginger, are circus performers in the antebellum South. When Dixiana falls in love with a young Southern aristocrat, Carl Van Horn, she leaves the circus where she is employed and, with Peewee and Ginger, accompanies Carl to his family's plantation in order to meet Van Horn's family. At first thrilled with the news of their impending nuptials, Carl's father and stepmother, Cornelius and Birdie Van Horn, throw a lavish party for the couple. However, Peewee and Ginger inadvertently disclose Dixiana's background as a circus performer, creating a scandal for the elder Van Horns.
The Golf Specialist (1930)
, 20minutesDirected by Monte Brice
Origin USA
Genres Comedy
Themes Sports films, Golf films
Actors W. C. Fields, Shirley Grey
J. Effingham Bellwether (W. C. Fields) is a guest in a hotel, where he meets the House Detective's Wife (Shirley Grey) who likes to flirt with other men. After brief encounters with a little girl (Naomi Casey) and the House Detective (John Dunsmuir), Bellwether offers to teach the Detective's Wife how to play golf.
Half Shot at Sunrise (1930)
, 1h18Directed by Paul Sloane
Origin USA
Genres Comedy, Musical
Themes Military humor in film, Musical films, Political films
Actors Dorothy Lee, Edna May Oliver, Bert Wheeler, Robert Woolsey, Hugh Trevor, Leni Stengel
During World War I, two American Doughboys, Tommy Turner and Gilbert Simpson, are more interested in picking up girls than in military duty. In Paris, they go AWOL in order to follow their libertine pursuits. They alternate between impersonating officers in order to impress the ladies, and avoiding being found out by the military police. During their hijinks, the pair accidentally steal the Colonel Marshall's car (their commanding officer), which is were Tommy meets and falls in love with Annette, who unbeknownst to him is Colonel Marshall's younger daughter.
Leathernecking (1930)
, 1h19Directed by Edward F. Cline, Fred Fleck
Origin USA
Genres Comedy
Themes Musical films, Films based on plays, Films based on musicals
Actors Irene Dunne, Ken Murray, Louise Fazenda, Ned Sparks, Lilyan Tashman, Eddie Foy, Jr.
Chick Evans is a Marine private in Honolulu, Hawaii. He falls for society girl Delphine Witherspoon, and begins to scheme as to how to win her over. His first plan involves impersonating an officer in order to get invited to a society party. However, when his Marine buddies decide to crash the party as well, his real rank is revealed, and so having the opposite effect on Delphine as he had planned.
Mickey's Champs (1930)
, 18minutesDirected by Albert Herman
Origin USA
Actors Mickey Rooney, Billy Barty, Jimmy Robinson, Fern Emmett, Heinie Conklin, Marvin Stephens
Mickey and the Gang befriend a couple of hobos who refer to themselves as 'The Baron' and 'Earl'. The two bums are arrested after being accused of stealing two of Mayor Davis' suits (actually given to them by Stinkie Davis). Mickey believes that Mayor Davis' friend, a doctor, is the real thief. Mickey and Hambone pay the doctor a visit in order to prove that he is a fake and a crook.
Framed (1930)
, 1h2Directed by George Archainbaud
Origin USA
Genres Adventure, Crime
Actors Evelyn Brent, Regis Toomey, Ralf Harolde, William Holden, Maurice Black, William Holden
When Rose Manning's father is killed during a robbery by Inspector McArthur, Manning vows to avenge his death. Five years elapse, and Rose is now the owner of a nightclub, and her liquor supplier, the bootlegger Chuck Gaines is interested in her. Still plotting her revenge, she meets Jimmy McArthur, who she does not realize is the son of the inspector. Spurning Gaines' advances, Rose becomes romantically involved with Jimmy. Her motivations waver as her emotional attachment to the young McArthur grows, until her relationship takes precedence over her revenge. Chuck, jealous of the growing relationship between Rose and Jimmy, plots with his cohort, Bing Murdock, to murder both the inspector and his son. Uncovering the plan, Rose is attempting to warn Jimmy, when his father raids her club. In the ensuing chaos, Jimmy kills Gaines in order to protect Rose, after Gaines attacked her in a fit of jealous rage. When the inspector finally realizes that what Rose and Jimmy have is real affection for one another, he removes any objections over their relationship.
Hit the Deck (1930)
, 1h33Directed by Luther Reed
Origin USA
Genres Comedy, Musical
Themes Musical films, Films based on plays, Films based on musicals
Actors Jack Oakie, Harry Sweet, Polly Walker, Wallace MacDonald, June Clyde, George Ovey
Looloo runs a diner which is frequented with U.S. Navy sailors on shore leave, including officers. Two officers, Admiral Smith and Lieutenant Allen accompany a wealthy socialite, Mrs. Payne, to the establishment. Mrs. Payne is an heiress, and when she engages in conversation with Looloo, she expresses admiration for the necklace Looloo is wearing. She offers to purchase it for a substantial sum, but it is a family heirloom and Looloo refuses. Later, two sailors arrive at the diner, Bilge and Clarence, looking for Lavinia, Clarence's sweetheart who has run away. Bilge, is smitten with Looloo, and begins to romance her. Opening up to her, he reveals his desire to become the captain of his own ship after he leaves the navy. Before things go too far, Bilge's shipmates drag him back to his ship, which is scheduled to set sail.
Hook, Line and Sinker (1930)
, 1h12Directed by Edward F. Cline, Fred Fleck
Origin USA
Genres Comedy, Romantic comedy, Romance
Actors Robert Woolsey, Bert Wheeler, William B. Davidson, Stanley Fields, Ralf Harolde, Hugh Herbert
Two fast-talking insurance salesmen — Wilbur Boswell and J. Addington Ganzy — help penniless socialite Mary Marsh to turn a dilapidated hotel, which was willed to her, into a thriving success. They soon run into trouble, however, in the form of two sets of rival gangsters who want to break into the hotel safe; also, Mary's mother, Rebecca Marsh, wants her to marry wealthy lawyer John Blackwell, although Mary has fallen in love with Wilbur. And while she takes an instant dislike to Wilbur, Rebecca falls for Ganzy. Adding to the complications is the fact that Blackwell is actually in league with the gangsters. The finale involves nighttime runarounds and a shoot-out in the hotel. During the pitched battle between the rival gangs and the police, Boswell and Ganzy save the jewels, after which Ganzy marries Rebecca, and then gives away Mary at her marriage to Wilbur.
Mickey's Luck (1930)
, 18minutesDirected by Albert Herman
Origin USA
Actors Mickey Rooney, Billy Barty, Jimmy Robinson, Marvin Stephens, Spencer Bell
Mickey and the Gang form their own fire department in order to partake in a parade. Later, the kids attempt to rescue a pet shop from a fire.
Mickey's Warriors (1930)
, 18minutesDirected by Albert Herman
Origin USA
Actors Mickey Rooney, Billy Barty, Jimmy Robinson, Fern Emmett, Marvin Stephens
Mickey's gang and Stinkey's gang are all attending a high society lawn party. Mickey's pals eventually put on a show in which they sing about bringing peace to the world. All goes well until Stinkie's Gang starts trouble.
Midnight Mystery (1930)
, 1h5Directed by George B. Seitz
Origin USA
Genres Crime
Themes Films based on plays
Actors Betty Compson, Lowell Sherman, Hugh Trevor, Raymond Hatton, Rita La Roy, Ivan Lebedeff
Gregory Sloane is a millionaire who lives in an isolated mansion on an Hawk Island, off the coast of New England. He invites a disparate group of people to his home, who are soon cut off from the mainland when a fierce storm blows in. While confined to Sloane's manse, tensions erupt among the guests, leading to the murder of Mischa Kawelin.
The Runaway Bride (1930)
, 1h9Directed by Donald Crisp, James Anderson
Origin USA
Genres Drama, Crime
Themes Films based on plays
Actors Mary Astor, Lloyd Hughes, Paul Hurst, David Newell, Natalie Moorhead, Francis McDonald
Mary Gray (Mary Astor) and Dick Mercer (David Newell) are racing to Atlantic City, where they intend to elope, since Mary's wealthy parents would never approve of the marriage. In Atlantic City, they arrive at the humble efficiency hotel room Mary has rented. Dick is not impressed, and would prefer they stay in a fancier hotel. An argument ensues, ending with Dick storming out, leaving Mary alone.
The Pay-Off (1930)
, 1h5Directed by Lowell Sherman
Origin USA
Genres Drama, Crime
Themes Films based on plays
Actors Lowell Sherman, Marian Nixon, Hugh Trevor, William Janney, George F. Marion, Walter McGrail
Gene Fenmore is a suave gentleman, safely ensconced in the upper crust of society. Unbeknownst to his society acquaintances, he is also the leader of the largest mob in the city. But it is a mob with scruples, thanks to Fenmore, and they only prey on dishonest businessmen, and never shoot or kill anyone. However, there is a power struggle developing between Fenmore and his number two man, Rocky, who disagrees with the moral constraints put on the gang by Fenmore. The tension between the two men is exacerbated by the fact Rocky has taken Fenmore's girlfriend, Dot away from him.