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".

  • Igoa: Monty Banks
  • Lauiloa: 1.512
  • Lauiloa mo: Directing
  • Aso fanau: 1897-07-14
  • Nofoaga fanau ai: Cesena, Forlì-Cesena, Emilia-Romagna, Italy
  • Homepage:
  • Faʻailoa foi O: Montague 'Monty' Banks, Montague Banks, Mario Bianchi, Frenchie Bianchi
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Monty Banks Tifaga

  • 1934
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    Falling in Love

    Falling in Love

    1 1934 HD

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  • 1927
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    Play Safe

    Play Safe

    1 1927 HD

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  • 1941
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    Blood and Sand

    Blood and Sand

    6.4 1941 HD

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  • 1931
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    Tonight's the Night - Pass It On

    Tonight's the Night - Pass It On

    1 1931 HD

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  • 1919
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    The Grocery Clerk

    The Grocery Clerk

    4.8 1919 HD

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  • 1951
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    Ça, c'est du cinéma

    Ça, c'est du cinéma

    1 1951 HD

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  • 1920
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    The Garage

    The Garage

    6 1920 HD

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  • 1922
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    Derby Day

    Derby Day

    1 1922 HD

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  • 1924
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    Pay or Move

    Pay or Move

    5 1924 HD

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  • 1923
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    The Covered Schooner

    The Covered Schooner

    1 1923 HD

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  • 1924
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    Wedding Bells

    Wedding Bells

    1 1924 HD

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  • 1934
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    The Church Mouse

    The Church Mouse

    4.5 1934 HD

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  • 1925
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    Africa F.O.B.

    Africa F.O.B.

    1 1925 HD

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  • 1940
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    Olympic Honeymoon

    Olympic Honeymoon

    1 1940 HD

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  • 1918
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    A Scrap of Paper

    A Scrap of Paper

    5 1918 HD

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  • 1952
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    Elstree Story

    Elstree Story

    1 1952 HD

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  • 1916
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    The Purple Mask

    The Purple Mask

    1 1916 HD

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  • 1920
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    Don't Park Here

    Don't Park Here

    4 1920 HD

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  • 1927
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    Chasing Choo Choos

    Chasing Choo Choos

    4 1927 HD

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  • 1927
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    Flying Luck

    Flying Luck

    1 1927 HD

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  • 1919
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    Love

    Love

    5.6 1919 HD

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  • 1922
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    Brilliantine the Bull Fighter

    Brilliantine the Bull Fighter

    1 1922 HD

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  • 1923
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    Oils Well!

    Oils Well!

    1 1923 HD

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  • 1924
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    Hot Sands

    Hot Sands

    1 1924 HD

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  • 1932
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    For the Love of Mike

    For the Love of Mike

    1 1932 HD

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  • 1939
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    Shipyard Sally

    Shipyard Sally

    4 1939 HD

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  • 1916
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    Cold Hearts and Hot Flames

    Cold Hearts and Hot Flames

    1 1916 HD

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  • 1920
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    Nearly Married

    Nearly Married

    1 1920 HD

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  • 1936
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    Queen of Hearts

    Queen of Hearts

    1 1936 HD

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  • 1923
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    Six A.M.

    Six A.M.

    8.5 1923 HD

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  • 1923
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    Always Late

    Always Late

    1 1923 HD

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  • 1961
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    Days of Thrills and Laughter

    Days of Thrills and Laughter

    5.5 1961 HD

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  • 1933
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    You Made Me Love You

    You Made Me Love You

    6.8 1933 HD

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  • 1918
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    A Blind Pig

    A Blind Pig

    1 1918 HD

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  • 1926
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    Atta Boy

    Atta Boy

    1 1926 HD

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  • 1919
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    One Night Only

    One Night Only

    1 1919 HD

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  • 1921
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    A Bedroom Scandal

    A Bedroom Scandal

    1 1921 HD

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  • 1921
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    Where Is My Wife?

    Where Is My Wife?

    1 1921 HD

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  • 1933
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    Heads We Go

    Heads We Go

    1 1933 HD

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  • 1934
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    The Girl in Possession

    The Girl in Possession

    1 1934 HD

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  • 1919
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    Coppers and Scents

    Coppers and Scents

    1 1919 HD

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  • 1919
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    Her First False Hare

    Her First False Hare

    1 1919 HD

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  • 1920
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    A Flivver Wedding

    A Flivver Wedding

    1 1920 HD

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  • 1921
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    Fresh Air

    Fresh Air

    1 1921 HD

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  • 1923
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    Love's Handicap

    Love's Handicap

    1 1923 HD

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  • 1921
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    Cleaned and Dry

    Cleaned and Dry

    1 1921 HD

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  • 1970
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    Squirrel Food

    Squirrel Food

    1 1970 HD

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  • 1923
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    Paging Love

    Paging Love

    1 1923 HD

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  • 1924
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    A Wild Goose Chase

    A Wild Goose Chase

    1 1924 HD

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  • 1924
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    Home Cooking

    Home Cooking

    1 1924 HD

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  • 1929
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    The Compulsory Husband

    The Compulsory Husband

    1 1929 HD

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  • 1929
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    Week-End Wives

    Week-End Wives

    8 1929 HD

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  • 1929
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    Atlantic

    Atlantic

    4.9 1929 HD

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  • 1928
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    Adam's Apple

    Adam's Apple

    1 1928 HD

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  • 1935
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    So You Won't Talk

    So You Won't Talk

    1 1935 HD

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  • 1928
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    A Perfect Gentleman

    A Perfect Gentleman

    7 1928 HD

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  • 1935
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    Man of the Moment

    Man of the Moment

    5 1935 HD

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  • 1924
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    The Golf Bug

    The Golf Bug

    1 1924 HD

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  • 1918
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    The Belles of Liberty

    The Belles of Liberty

    1 1918 HD

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  • 1923
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    Taxi Please

    Taxi Please

    1 1923 HD

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  • 1927
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    Horse Shoes

    Horse Shoes

    1 1927 HD

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  • 1925
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    Keep Smiling

    Keep Smiling

    1 1925 HD

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  • 1945
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    A Bell for Adano

    A Bell for Adano

    5.5 1945 HD

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  • 1919
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    Too Much Johnson

    Too Much Johnson

    1 1919 HD

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  • 1919
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    Camping Out

    Camping Out

    5 1919 HD

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  • 1918
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    The Sheriff

    The Sheriff

    1 1918 HD

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  • 1921
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    In and Out

    In and Out

    1 1921 HD

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  • 1918
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    Did She Do Wrong?

    Did She Do Wrong?

    1 1918 HD

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  • 1933
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    Leave It to Me

    Leave It to Me

    1 1933 HD

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  • 1941
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    Great Guns

    Great Guns

    5.771 1941 HD

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  • 1935
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    No Limit

    No Limit

    6.5 1935 HD

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  • 1924
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    Pay or Move

    Pay or Move

    5 1924 HD

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  • 1935
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    Man of the Moment

    Man of the Moment

    5 1935 HD

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  • 1936
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    Keep Your Seats, Please

    Keep Your Seats, Please

    6 1936 HD

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  • 1934
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    The Church Mouse

    The Church Mouse

    4.5 1934 HD

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  • 1930
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    The Jerry Builders

    The Jerry Builders

    1 1930 HD

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  • 1940
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    Olympic Honeymoon

    Olympic Honeymoon

    1 1940 HD

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  • 1933
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    Leave It to Me

    Leave It to Me

    1 1933 HD

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  • 1939
    imgTifaga

    Shipyard Sally

    Shipyard Sally

    4 1939 HD

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  • 1936
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    Queen of Hearts

    Queen of Hearts

    1 1936 HD

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  • 1927
    imgTifaga

    Chasing Choo Choos

    Chasing Choo Choos

    4 1927 HD

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  • 1938
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    Keep Smiling

    Keep Smiling

    1 1938 HD

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  • 1930
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    Why Sailors Leave Home

    Why Sailors Leave Home

    1 1930 HD

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  • 1924
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    Hot Sands

    Hot Sands

    1 1924 HD

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  • 1932
    imgTifaga

    For the Love of Mike

    For the Love of Mike

    1 1932 HD

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  • 1932
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    The Tenderfoot

    The Tenderfoot

    6 1932 HD

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  • 1923
    imgTifaga

    Oils Well!

    Oils Well!

    1 1923 HD

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  • 1938
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    We're Going to Be Rich

    We're Going to Be Rich

    5 1938 HD

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  • 1933
    imgTifaga

    You Made Me Love You

    You Made Me Love You

    6.8 1933 HD

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  • 1931
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    Tonight's the Night - Pass It On

    Tonight's the Night - Pass It On

    1 1931 HD

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  • 1930
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    The Black Hand Gang

    The Black Hand Gang

    5 1930 HD

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  • 1933
    imgTifaga

    Heads We Go

    Heads We Go

    1 1933 HD

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  • 1934
    imgTifaga

    Falling in Love

    Falling in Love

    1 1934 HD

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  • 1930
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    Almost a Honeymoon

    Almost a Honeymoon

    1 1930 HD

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  • 1930
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    Almost a Honeymoon

    Almost a Honeymoon

    1 1930 HD

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  • 1930
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    Amateur Night in London

    Amateur Night in London

    1 1930 HD

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  • 1930
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    Amateur Night in London

    Amateur Night in London

    1 1930 HD

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  • 1928
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    Cocktails

    Cocktails

    1 1928 HD

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  • 1929
    imgTifaga

    The Compulsory Husband

    The Compulsory Husband

    1 1929 HD

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  • 1930
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    Eve's Fall

    Eve's Fall

    1 1930 HD

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  • 1930
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    His First Car

    His First Car

    1 1930 HD

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  • 1930
    imgTifaga

    Kiss Me Sergeant

    Kiss Me Sergeant

    1 1930 HD

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  • 1927
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    Play Safe

    Play Safe

    1 1927 HD

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  • 1930
    imgTifaga

    The Musical Beauty Shop

    The Musical Beauty Shop

    1 1930 HD

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  • 1930
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    The New Waiter

    The New Waiter

    1 1930 HD

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  • 1930
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    Not So Quiet on the Western Front

    Not So Quiet on the Western Front

    1 1930 HD

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  • 1931
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    Old Soldiers Never Die

    Old Soldiers Never Die

    1 1931 HD

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  • 1931
    imgTifaga

    Old Soldiers Never Die

    Old Soldiers Never Die

    1 1931 HD

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  • 1931
    imgTifaga

    Poor Old Bill

    Poor Old Bill

    5 1931 HD

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  • 1932
    imgTifaga

    Money for Nothing

    Money for Nothing

    1 1932 HD

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  • 1931
    imgTifaga

    What a Night!

    What a Night!

    1 1931 HD

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  • 1931
    imgTifaga

    What a Night!

    What a Night!

    1 1931 HD

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  • 1931
    imgTifaga

    My Wife's Family

    My Wife's Family

    1 1931 HD

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  • 1935
    imgTifaga

    18 Minutes

    18 Minutes

    10 1935 HD

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  • 1926
    imgTifaga

    Atta Boy

    Atta Boy

    1 1926 HD

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  • 1934
    imgTifaga

    Votre sourire

    Votre sourire

    1 1934 HD

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  • 1935
    imgTifaga

    Hello, Sweetheart

    Hello, Sweetheart

    1 1935 HD

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  • 1934
    imgTifaga

    The Girl in Possession

    The Girl in Possession

    1 1934 HD

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  • 1934
    imgTifaga

    The Girl in Possession

    The Girl in Possession

    1 1934 HD

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  • 1935
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    Father and Son

    Father and Son

    1 1935 HD

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  • 1932
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    L'amour et la veine

    L'amour et la veine

    1 1932 HD

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  • 1927
    imgTifaga

    Horse Shoes

    Horse Shoes

    1 1927 HD

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  • 1927
    imgTifaga

    Horse Shoes

    Horse Shoes

    1 1927 HD

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  • 1927
    imgTifaga

    Horse Shoes

    Horse Shoes

    1 1927 HD

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  • 1925
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    Keep Smiling

    Keep Smiling

    1 1925 HD

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