Monty Banks

Monty Banks

Monty Banks was a short, stocky but somehow debonair Italian-born comic actor, later also writer and director. In the US from 1914, he first appeared on stage in musical comedy and cabaret. By 1917 he was working as a dancer in New York's Dominguez Cafe. After this he turned to films, acting and doing stunt work at Keystone, Universal and for Al Christie. Changing his name from Mario Bianchi to Monty Banks may have been prompted by Roscoe 'Fatty' Arbuckle as a passing reference to his playing '"montebanks". By 1919 Banks had moved to Vitagraph to play a villain in The Grocery Clerk (1919), foil to star comic Larry Semon. Banks first came to the fore in his own right as star of the "Welcome Comedies" made by Warner Brothers. He spent the early 1920s at Fox and Grand Asher, graduating to writing and directing two-reel comedies with himself as the star. Most noteworthy entries in regard to inventive sight gags and Mack Sennett--style madcap plots are Pay or Move (1924) and The Golf Bug (1924). The success of this series prompted Banks to create an independent production company, the Monty Banks Pictures Corporation, in conjunction with writer/director Howard Estabrook. He made several feature-length films for Pathe, including Play Safe (1927)) (generally considered his best work), which featured a climactic runaway train sequence. This style of fast-action slapstick made it inevitable that Banks suffered more than his fair share of injuries, especially since he continued to do many of his own stunts. From the late 1920s Banks worked in England and made several appearances in sound films. However, his accent proved to be something of an obstacle. He therefore decided, after 1930, to concentrate on directing and producing. He helmed four features starring the popular entertainer Gracie Fields, who became his second wife in 1940. In 1935 he directed a well-received George Formby comedy, No Limit (1935), about the TT motorcycle races on the Isle of Man, which were shot on location there. With the outbreak of World War II Banks--being an Italian citizen--would have faced internment in England as an enemy alien. He therefore deemed it necessary to flee to Canada, and from there to the neutral United States. He eventually obtained American citizenship, for which he had applied years earlier, but had forgotten to submit the necessary paperwork. Back in Hollywood he ended up at 20th Century-Fox, directing Stan Laurel and Oliver Hardy in Great Guns (1941), arguably one of their lesser efforts. Banks died of a heart attack during a trip through Italy in January 1950, aged just 52. Sadly, the majority of his one- and two-reelers are now considered lost films. As a result, his status as a leading comic of the silent screen may have somewhat diminished--except, perhaps, in his home town of Cesena, where a foundation was established in his honor (the "Aula Didattica Monty Banks"), offering students "practical courses on experimental aspects of video production".

  • Title: Monty Banks
  • Popularity: 1.261
  • Known For: Directing
  • Birthday: 1897-07-14
  • Place of Birth: Cesena, Forlì-Cesena, Emilia-Romagna, Italy
  • Homepage:
  • Also Known As: Montague 'Monty' Banks, Montague Banks, Mario Bianchi, Frenchie Bianchi
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Monty Banks Movies

  • 1934
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    Falling in Love

    Falling in Love

    1 1934 HD

    British comedy. It was released in the United States the following year under the alternative title Trouble Ahead.

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  • 1927
    imgMovies

    Play Safe

    Play Safe

    1 1927 HD

    A gang of bad guys menace a feller's gal. She hides in a freight car and a misstep sends the otherwise-empty train out of the station with the lever...

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  • 1941
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    Blood and Sand

    Blood and Sand

    6.4 1941 HD

    Bullfighter Juan Gallardo falls for socialite Dona Sol, turning from the faithful Carmen who nevertheless stands by her man as he continues to face...

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  • 1931
    imgMovies

    Tonight's the Night - Pass It On

    Tonight's the Night - Pass It On

    1 1931 HD

    Slapstick comedy in which luckless slate club treasurer Bill Smithers is sent to prison for three years after being mistakenly accused of stealing...

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  • 1919
    imgMovies

    The Grocery Clerk

    The Grocery Clerk

    4.8 1919 HD

    Big Ben has the largest store in the town of New Ralgia. His chief clerk is in love with the post mistress. The three of them get involved in a...

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  • 1951
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    The Slappiest Days of Our Lives

    The Slappiest Days of Our Lives

    1 1951 HD

    Laurel is a Scottish reporter suspected of being a spy by police detective James Finlayson. Although trailed by the latter, Stan, who is reporting on...

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  • 1920
    imgMovies

    The Garage

    The Garage

    6.037 1920 HD

    Roscoe and Buster operate a combination garage and fire station. In the first half they destroy a car left for them to clean. In the second half they...

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  • 1922
    imgMovies

    Derby Day

    Derby Day

    1 1922 HD

    Very hungry Monty chases a garbage truck all around town to retrieve a box lunch thrown away by a picky young lady.

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  • 1924
    imgMovies

    Pay or Move

    Pay or Move

    5 1924 HD

    Monty is trying to collect rent from a couple of tough deadbeats who have made a sport of beating rent collectors.

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  • 1923
    imgMovies

    The Covered Schooner

    The Covered Schooner

    1 1923 HD

    Monty Banks becomes a sailor in the hunt for his girl.

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  • 1924
    imgMovies

    Wedding Bells

    Wedding Bells

    1 1924 HD

    Monty Banks plays a groom who is about to get married. In fact, he has the marriage license just about in hand. Apparently, he's had a bachelor party...

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  • 1934
    imgMovies

    The Church Mouse

    The Church Mouse

    4.5 1934 HD

    When a meek secretary goes to work for her new boss, she becomes a sophisticated lady.

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  • 1925
    imgMovies

    Africa F.O.B.

    Africa F.O.B.

    1 1925 HD

    Monty Banks becomes a car salesman and is shifted to Africa to sell one to King Obogeegee.

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  • 1940
    imgMovies

    Olympic Honeymoon

    Olympic Honeymoon

    1 1940 HD

    Comedy set in Switzerland. An estranged honeymooner, mistaken for an ice- hockey champion, helps England to win an international ice hockey match.

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  • 1918
    imgMovies

    A Scrap of Paper

    A Scrap of Paper

    5 1918 HD

    Roscoe 'Fatty' Arbuckle confronts the Kaiser in his headquarters, and tells him that he will be be defeated by "scraps of paper," i.e. War Bonds.

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  • 1952
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    Elstree Story

    Elstree Story

    1 1952 HD

    Starting in 1927 when the first film, The White Sheik, was made there, Elstree Story features excerpts from over forty productions – including...

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  • 1916
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    The Purple Mask

    The Purple Mask

    1 1916 HD

    Cunard turns into The Queen of the Apaches, an outlaw who steals from the rich to gives to the poor, always leaving a purple mask behind as a...

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  • 1920
    imgMovies

    Don't Park Here

    Don't Park Here

    4 1920 HD

    Not one but two of Charlie Chaplin impersonators, Harry Mann and Monty Banks, a film directed by Charley Chase still under the name of Charles...

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  • 1927
    imgMovies

    Chasing Choo Choos

    Chasing Choo Choos

    4 1927 HD

    Virginia Craig will become super-wealthy and gain sole control of her factory, unless insubordinate schemers can trick her into marrying one of their...

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  • 1927
    imgMovies

    Flying Luck

    Flying Luck

    1 1927 HD

    A naive young man joins the Army in order to become a pilot.

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  • 1919
    imgMovies

    Love

    Love

    5.6 1919 HD

    "Fatty", a poor good hearted farm boy is deeply in love with Winifred, a farmer's daughter. A rich neighbor offers the farmer a large plot of land if...

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  • 1923
    imgMovies

    Oils Well!

    Oils Well!

    1 1923 HD

    Set in the oil-soaked country of “Chilitina”—shot on location in San Diego’s Balboa Park—Oils Well! follows the...

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  • 1922
    imgMovies

    Brilliantine the Bull Fighter

    Brilliantine the Bull Fighter

    1 1922 HD

    Brilliantino the Bullfighter (originally titled Flood and Sand) is one of the first spoofs of Blood and Sand, Paramount’s smoldering matador...

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  • 1924
    imgMovies

    Hot Sands

    Hot Sands

    1 1924 HD

    Monty Banks finds love and mischief at the amusement park, in this two-reel comedy

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  • 1932
    imgMovies

    For the Love of Mike

    For the Love of Mike

    1 1932 HD

    A useless secretary and his private detective friend try to help an heiress from being swindled by her guardian.

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  • 1939
    imgMovies

    Shipyard Sally

    Shipyard Sally

    4 1939 HD

    A lancashire singer buys a pub in Clydebank and hits money troubles when the shipbyards are closed. She takes a petition to London to try to get them...

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  • 1916
    imgMovies

    Cold Hearts and Hot Flames

    Cold Hearts and Hot Flames

    1 1916 HD

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  • 1920
    imgMovies

    Nearly Married

    Nearly Married

    1 1920 HD

    Monty Banks comedy produced by Warners.

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  • 1936
    imgMovies

    Queen of Hearts

    Queen of Hearts

    1 1936 HD

    A woman prevents a popular stage performer getting arrested for drunk driving, though has to pretend to be a rich benefactor when she next meets him.

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  • 1923
    imgMovies

    Six A.M.

    Six A.M.

    8.5 1923 HD

    After drinking all night, Monty and his friend try to get home, but it turns out to be not easy. The next day, Monty tries to win the heart of a...

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  • 1923
    imgMovies

    Always Late

    Always Late

    1 1923 HD

    Monty is chronically late. He comes to work late and loses his job, and then manages to miss his own wedding...

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  • 1961
    imgMovies

    Days of Thrills and Laughter

    Days of Thrills and Laughter

    5.5 1961 HD

    An appreciative, uncritical look at silent film comedies and thrillers from early in the century through the 1920s.

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  • 1933
    imgMovies

    You Made Me Love You

    You Made Me Love You

    6.8 1933 HD

    A rich American businessman in London makes believe he's lost all his money so that his daughter will marry a composer.

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  • 1918
    imgMovies

    A Blind Pig

    A Blind Pig

    1 1918 HD

    A French perfume salesman is mistaken for a bootlegger. Partially missing two-reeler with 11 minutes surviving.

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  • 1926
    imgMovies

    Atta Boy

    Atta Boy

    1 1926 HD

    Monty Milde, would-be newspaper reporter, stumbles into a high-profile kidnapping mystery.

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  • 1919
    imgMovies

    One Night Only

    One Night Only

    1 1919 HD

    Misadventures of a traveling company of actors performing for one night in a small town. When the troupe's leading lady deserts the show for a better...

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  • 1921
    imgMovies

    A Bedroom Scandal

    A Bedroom Scandal

    1 1921 HD

    A Monty Banks comedy short.

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  • 1921
    imgMovies

    Where Is My Wife?

    Where Is My Wife?

    1 1921 HD

    Lovable buffoon Monty Banks tries to relax, but ultimately spends his day worrying about who is keeping company with his wife.

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  • 1933
    imgMovies

    Heads We Go

    Heads We Go

    1 1933 HD

    A model inherits a great deal of money and pretends to be a movie star.

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  • 1934
    imgMovies

    The Girl in Possession

    The Girl in Possession

    1 1934 HD

    An American woman is fooled into thinking that she is the heiress to an estate in England.

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  • 1919
    imgMovies

    Her First False Hare

    Her First False Hare

    1 1919 HD

    Four men are out rabbit hunting and encounter a beautiful young lady, who promises to marry the first one who brings her a white rabbit.

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  • 1919
    imgMovies

    Coppers and Scents

    Coppers and Scents

    1 1919 HD

    Monty Banks plays Sherlock McNutt in this Charley Chase short. Partially lost; five minutes survive.

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  • 1920
    imgMovies

    A Flivver Wedding

    A Flivver Wedding

    1 1920 HD

    The misadventures of a young man who sets out in his flivver to stop the girl he loves from being forcibly married to a rival.

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  • 1923
    imgMovies

    Love's Handicap

    Love's Handicap

    1 1923 HD

    Horse racing hijinks in the Old South with Monty Banks.

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  • 1921
    imgMovies

    Fresh Air

    Fresh Air

    1 1921 HD

    A hunting comedy full of cartoonish gags.

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  • 1921
    imgMovies

    Cleaned and Dry

    Cleaned and Dry

    1 1921 HD

    Monty is the driver of a delivery wagon for a cleaning and dyeing establishment, romps with a Ford and gets himself into many ridiculous scrapes.

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  • 1970
    imgMovies

    Squirrel Food

    Squirrel Food

    1 1970 HD

    A fortuneteller informs Monte that he will marry the first girl he meets. After several false starts, he meets what he is sure is "the" girl. She...

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  • 1923
    imgMovies

    Paging Love

    Paging Love

    1 1923 HD

    Monty appears as a chap whose prospective father-in-law, to find out the stuff of which he is made, sets him out to peddle an encyclopedia which no...

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  • 1924
    imgMovies

    A Wild Goose Chase

    A Wild Goose Chase

    1 1924 HD

    Monty chases a goose. Hilarity ensues. (This film is partially lost.)

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  • 1924
    imgMovies

    Home Cooking

    Home Cooking

    1 1924 HD

    A new bridegroom discovers his wife's astounding ability to create culinary disasters.

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  • 1929
    imgMovies

    The Compulsory Husband

    The Compulsory Husband

    1 1929 HD

    A recently engaged girl invites her parents to meet her fiance. They learn that he also loves another woman.

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  • 1929
    imgMovies

    Week-End Wives

    Week-End Wives

    8 1929 HD

    A lawyer spends the weekend with a married actress at the same hotel as his wife and her lover. This British silent film exists in an abridged 2-reel...

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  • 1929
    imgMovies

    Atlantic

    Atlantic

    4.9 1929 HD

    English-language version. "Atlantic" is a drama film based on the sinking of the RMS "Titanic" and set aboard a fictional ship, called the...

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  • 1928
    imgMovies

    Adam's Apple

    Adam's Apple

    1 1928 HD

    An American on his honeymoon in Paris, organises the kidnapping of his interfering mother-in-law.

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  • 1935
    imgMovies

    So You Won't Talk

    So You Won't Talk

    1 1935 HD

    The owner of a small Italian restaurant in central London is left a million pound inheritance, the only stipulation to the will being that he cannot...

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  • 1928
    imgMovies

    A Perfect Gentleman

    A Perfect Gentleman

    7 1928 HD

    Monty Banks gets involved in tracking down a stolen fortune, his adventures culminating in a whirlwind, gag-filled climax at sea.

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  • 1935
    imgMovies

    Man of the Moment

    Man of the Moment

    5 1935 HD

    Love blossoms after a young man rescues a pretty girl who attempted to drown herself.

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  • 1924
    imgMovies

    The Golf Bug

    The Golf Bug

    1 1924 HD

    Golf with Monty Banks and pals.

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  • 1927
    imgMovies

    Horse Shoes

    Horse Shoes

    1 1927 HD

    A Monty Banks comedy that includes the 'Undressing in the Upper Berth' routine

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  • 1918
    imgMovies

    The Belles of Liberty

    The Belles of Liberty

    1 1918 HD

    Monty Banks plays a paramour who starts all sort of silly highjinks with Eva Novak and Carolyne Wright

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  • 1923
    imgMovies

    Taxi Please

    Taxi Please

    1 1923 HD

    A wild taxi driver can't get ahead with his fares but he is still willing to help his sweetheart at the drugstore, especially when he figures out how...

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  • 1925
    imgMovies

    Keep Smiling

    Keep Smiling

    1 1925 HD

    The Boy, involved in a maritime disaster as a child, suffers from hydrophobia. He invents a life preserver that automatically inflates when it hits...

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  • 1945
    imgMovies

    A Bell for Adano

    A Bell for Adano

    5.5 1945 HD

    Major Joppolo and his men are assigned to restore order to the war-torn Italian town of Adano. He has to manage getting supplies into town without...

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  • 1919
    imgMovies

    Too Much Johnson

    Too Much Johnson

    1 1919 HD

    Augustus Billings has a domineering mother-in-law, and to get away from both her and his wife, he takes a trip, claiming that he is going off to...

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  • 1919
    imgMovies

    Camping Out

    Camping Out

    5 1919 HD

    Camping Out is a 1919 American short comedy film directed by and starring Fatty Arbuckle. Fatty is the suffering spouse who comes home every night...

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  • 1918
    imgMovies

    The Sheriff

    The Sheriff

    1 1918 HD

    Roscoe Arbuckle plays a Douglas Fairbanks fan who becomes a rotund version of his hero. As "The Sheriff", he must rescue abducted schoolteacher Betty...

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  • 1921
    imgMovies

    In and Out

    In and Out

    1 1921 HD

    Monty and his wife are newlyweds dealing with things like making breakfast that’s edible and dealing with a persistent book salesman. Only reel...

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  • 1918
    imgMovies

    Did She Do Wrong?

    Did She Do Wrong?

    1 1918 HD

    An industrious criminal plays his game so crookedly that he "double crosses" himself.

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  • 1933
    imgMovies

    Leave It to Me

    Leave It to Me

    1 1933 HD

    The owner of a professional help agency poses as a poet at a wealthy patron's ball and prevents a necklace from being stolen by thieves.

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  • 1941
    imgMovies

    Great Guns

    Great Guns

    5.8 1941 HD

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  • 1935
    imgMovies

    No Limit

    No Limit

    6.5 1935 HD

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  • 1924
    imgMovies

    Pay or Move

    Pay or Move

    5 1924 HD

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  • 1935
    imgMovies

    Man of the Moment

    Man of the Moment

    5 1935 HD

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  • 1934
    imgMovies

    The Church Mouse

    The Church Mouse

    4.5 1934 HD

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  • 1936
    imgMovies

    Keep Your Seats, Please

    Keep Your Seats, Please

    6 1936 HD

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  • 1930
    imgMovies

    The Jerry Builders

    The Jerry Builders

    1 1930 HD

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  • 1940
    imgMovies

    Olympic Honeymoon

    Olympic Honeymoon

    1 1940 HD

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  • 1933
    imgMovies

    Leave It to Me

    Leave It to Me

    1 1933 HD

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  • 1939
    imgMovies

    Shipyard Sally

    Shipyard Sally

    4 1939 HD

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  • 1936
    imgMovies

    Queen of Hearts

    Queen of Hearts

    1 1936 HD

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  • 1927
    imgMovies

    Chasing Choo Choos

    Chasing Choo Choos

    4 1927 HD

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  • 1938
    imgMovies

    Keep Smiling

    Keep Smiling

    1 1938 HD

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  • 1930
    imgMovies

    Why Sailors Leave Home

    Why Sailors Leave Home

    1 1930 HD

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  • 1924
    imgMovies

    Hot Sands

    Hot Sands

    1 1924 HD

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  • 1932
    imgMovies

    For the Love of Mike

    For the Love of Mike

    1 1932 HD

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  • 1932
    imgMovies

    The Tenderfoot

    The Tenderfoot

    6 1932 HD

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  • 1923
    imgMovies

    Oils Well!

    Oils Well!

    1 1923 HD

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  • 1938
    imgMovies

    We're Going to Be Rich

    We're Going to Be Rich

    5 1938 HD

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  • 1933
    imgMovies

    You Made Me Love You

    You Made Me Love You

    6.8 1933 HD

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  • 1931
    imgMovies

    Tonight's the Night - Pass It On

    Tonight's the Night - Pass It On

    1 1931 HD

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  • 1930
    imgMovies

    The Black Hand Gang

    The Black Hand Gang

    5 1930 HD

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  • 1933
    imgMovies

    Heads We Go

    Heads We Go

    1 1933 HD

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  • 1934
    imgMovies

    Falling in Love

    Falling in Love

    1 1934 HD

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  • 1930
    imgMovies

    Almost a Honeymoon

    Almost a Honeymoon

    1 1930 HD

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  • 1930
    imgMovies

    Almost a Honeymoon

    Almost a Honeymoon

    1 1930 HD

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  • 1930
    imgMovies

    Amateur Night in London

    Amateur Night in London

    1 1930 HD

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  • 1930
    imgMovies

    Amateur Night in London

    Amateur Night in London

    1 1930 HD

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  • 1928
    imgMovies

    Cocktails

    Cocktails

    1 1928 HD

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  • 1929
    imgMovies

    The Compulsory Husband

    The Compulsory Husband

    1 1929 HD

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  • 1930
    imgMovies

    Eve's Fall

    Eve's Fall

    1 1930 HD

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  • 1930
    imgMovies

    His First Car

    His First Car

    1 1930 HD

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  • 1930
    imgMovies

    Kiss Me Sergeant

    Kiss Me Sergeant

    1 1930 HD

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  • 1927
    imgMovies

    Play Safe

    Play Safe

    1 1927 HD

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  • 1930
    imgMovies

    The Musical Beauty Shop

    The Musical Beauty Shop

    1 1930 HD

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  • 1930
    imgMovies

    The New Waiter

    The New Waiter

    1 1930 HD

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  • 1930
    imgMovies

    Not So Quiet on the Western Front

    Not So Quiet on the Western Front

    1 1930 HD

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  • 1931
    imgMovies

    Old Soldiers Never Die

    Old Soldiers Never Die

    1 1931 HD

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  • 1931
    imgMovies

    Old Soldiers Never Die

    Old Soldiers Never Die

    1 1931 HD

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  • 1931
    imgMovies

    Poor Old Bill

    Poor Old Bill

    5 1931 HD

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  • 1932
    imgMovies

    Money for Nothing

    Money for Nothing

    1 1932 HD

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  • 1931
    imgMovies

    What a Night!

    What a Night!

    1 1931 HD

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  • 1931
    imgMovies

    What a Night!

    What a Night!

    1 1931 HD

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  • 1931
    imgMovies

    My Wife's Family

    My Wife's Family

    1 1931 HD

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  • 1935
    imgMovies

    18 Minutes

    18 Minutes

    10 1935 HD

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  • 1926
    imgMovies

    Atta Boy

    Atta Boy

    1 1926 HD

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  • 1934
    imgMovies

    Votre sourire

    Votre sourire

    1 1934 HD

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  • 1935
    imgMovies

    Hello, Sweetheart

    Hello, Sweetheart

    1 1935 HD

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  • 1934
    imgMovies

    The Girl in Possession

    The Girl in Possession

    1 1934 HD

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  • 1934
    imgMovies

    The Girl in Possession

    The Girl in Possession

    1 1934 HD

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  • 1935
    imgMovies

    Father and Son

    Father and Son

    1 1935 HD

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  • 1932
    imgMovies

    Love and Luck

    Love and Luck

    1 1932 HD

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  • 1927
    imgMovies

    Horse Shoes

    Horse Shoes

    1 1927 HD

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  • 1927
    imgMovies

    Horse Shoes

    Horse Shoes

    1 1927 HD

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  • 1927
    imgMovies

    Horse Shoes

    Horse Shoes

    1 1927 HD

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  • 1925
    imgMovies

    Keep Smiling

    Keep Smiling

    1 1925 HD

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