Cinema's Exiles: From Hitler to Hollywood 2009

Eight hundred German filmmakers (cast and crew) fled the Nazis in the 1930s. The film uses voice-overs, archival footage, and film clips to examine Berlin's vital filmmaking in the 1920s; then it follows a producer, directors, composers, editors, writers, and actors to Hollywood: some succeeded and many found no work. Among those profiled are Erich Pommer, Joseph May, Ernst Lubitsch, Fritz Lang, Billy Wilder, and Peter Lorre. Once in Hollywood, these exiles helped each other, housed new arrivals, and raised money so others could escape. Some worked on anti-Nazi films, like Casablanca. The themes and lighting of German Expressionism gave rise in Hollywood to film noir.

The Road to 'Dracula' 1999

A documentary from Universal about the movie "Dracula" (1931) starring Bela Lugosi.

Universal Horror 1998

A documentary about the era of classic monster movies that were made at Universal Studios during the 1930s and 1940s.

Vampires: Thirst for the Truth 1996

A documentary that explores man's enduring fascination with the vampire legend by examining historical accounts, literary works, and as they are portrayed in film and television.

The Crime Doctor's Courage 1945

A criminal psychiatrist investigates the murder of a two-time widower.

Two Gun Sheriff 1941

A notorious outlaw is recruited by a cattle buyer, secret boss of a gang of cattle rustlers, to impersonate the town sheriff, who is the outlaw's twin brother; and complications ensue, as the sheriff, now a hostage, is on the eve of his marriage while the outlaw's cantina-dancer girlfriend has followed him to town and is at risk of exposing him.

The Westerner 1940

Drifter Cole Harden is accused of stealing a horse and faces hanging by self-appointed Judge Roy Bean, but Harden manages to talk his way out of it by claiming to be a friend of stage star Lillie Langtry, with whom the judge is obsessed, even though he has never met her. Tensions rise when Harden comes to the defense of a group of struggling homesteaders who Judge Bean is trying to drive away.

Green Hell 1940

A group of adventurers head deep into South American jungle in search of an ancient Incan treasure.

South of the Border 1939

A federal agent and his partner hang out in Mexico to check a revolution.

Tropic Fury 1939

An investigator checks into the rumors of harsh working conditions on an Amazon rubber plantation.

Blockade 1938

A simple peasant is forced to take up arms to defend his farm during the Spanish Civil War. Along the way he falls in love with a Russian girl whose father is involved in espionage.

Rose Hobart 1936

Cornell employs clips from 1931's jungle melodrama East of Borneo – more specifically, clips of its lead actress, Rose Hobart – to disquieting effect. Through Cornell's collage editing, Hobart becomes a singular object of desire and dread, trapped in an exotic paradise.

The Invader 1936

A bumbling yachtsman sails to the South of Spain with a fiery seductress, only to become the pawn in her dangerous game of love.

Broken Lives 1935

Santa 1932

Santa is a beautiful and very humble young girl living in Chimalistac, a small and quiet spot south of the 1930's Mexico City. After Santa is cheated by arrogant soldier Marcelino, she's rejected by her family and friends and expelled of Chimalistac. Santa finds shelter in a whorehouse and becomes a cinic and bitter woman, mistreated by bullfighter "Jarameno" and silently loved by blind pianist Hipólito.

East of Borneo 1931

Mrs. Linda Randolph treks through darkened jungles to the land of Maradu to find her missing husband Allan, who'd left her years before when he believed she was in love with another. She finds Allan the drunken court physician to a devious prince-- Whose designs on the pair don't include a happy ending.

Drácula 1931

At midnight on Walpurgis Night, an English clerk, Renfield, arrives at Count Dracula's castle in the Carpathian Mountains. After signing papers to take over a ruined abbey near London, Dracula drives Renfield mad and commands obedience. Renfield escorts the boxed count on a death ship to London. From there, the Count is introduced into the society of his neighbor, Dr. Seward, who runs an asylum. Dracula makes short work of family friend Lucia Weston, then begins his assault on Eva Seward, the doctor's daughter. A visiting expert in the occult, Van Helsing, recognizes Dracula for who he is, and there begins a battle for Eva's body and soul.

The Cock-Eyed World 1929

Two Marines are sent to South Sea island where they fight over a local island girl.

Joy Street 1929

Mimi, an unsophisticated American girl attending an exclusive Swiss boarding school, unexpectedly inherits a large fortune. Returning to the United States she quickly begins to live a wild and reckless life. Good-natured Joe attempts to set her straight, but she keeps right on living riotously. It takes Mimi a serious accident while joyriding to comes to her senses and realize she is ready for a more settled existence.