Tonight's Movie: Sharpshooters (1938) at Cinecon

One of the films I most looked forward to at the Cinecon Classic Film Festival was a Labor Day screening of SHARPSHOOTERS (1938).

SHARPSHOOTERS is a 65-minute "B" movie from 20th Century-Fox which stars Brian Donlevy and Lynn Bari. One of the things which sparked my interest in ths film was how much I had previously enjoyed another Fox "B" starring Donlevy, 36 HOURS TO KILL (1936).

The movie was introduced by my friend John DiLeo, who traveled to the Cinecon Festival from Pennsylvania (photo below). He placed the movie in a larger context in the careers of its stars.

The following year Donlevy would have one of his greatest career successes, for his Oscar-nominated role as the villain in BEAU GESTE (1939). He would star in or play prominent supporting roles in many more fine movies, including Preston Sturges' THE GREAT MCGINTY (1940). Bari also had a busy career throughout the '40s.

The SHARPSHOOTERS title is a play on words; the poster says the film features "The Camera Daredevils."

Donlevy plays newsreel reporter Steve Mitchell, who as the movie begins witnesses the assassination of the king of a small European country. The incident is successfully captured on film by Steve's cameraman Waldo (Wally Vernon).

Despite the attempts of the local government to suppress news coverage regarding the murder, Steve gets the newsreel footage to his boss for worldwide distribution.

It transpires that a group is also attempting to depose the young heir to the throne, Prince Michael (Martin Joseph Spellman Jr.). Through their ingenuity Steve and Waldo manage to save Prince Michael, his uncle Prince Alexis (John King), and Prince Michael's American schoolteacher, Dianne (Bari).

I described this film on Twitter immediately afterward as "a bit silly, yes, but also tons of fun with a good cast. This is the kind of Cinecon programming I love!"

There's a lot of goofiness, with most of the cast simply having fun; there aren't any particularly deep characterizations, but there's lots of action along with some bits of humor to keep the audience engaged throughout.

I was surprised that Bari didn't end up being a romantic interest for Donlevy, the repartee in their first scene together to the contrary. But it's all highly entertaining and I would certainly watch it again.

The movie was directed by James Tinling, a name previously unknown to me. It was filmed in black and white by Barney McGill. The screenplay was written by Robert Ellis and Helen Logan from a story by Maurice Rapf and Lester Ziffren.

Cast members Bari and King were also seen later in the day in the Fox "B" CITY GIRL (1938).

The cast also includes Douglass Dumbrille, C. Henry Gordon, Sidney Blackmer, and Frank Puglia.

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