Paul Muni Articles

Ann Dvorak, Paul Muni, Dr. Socrates Ann Dvorak Pt.3: SCARFACE, Warner Bros. Leading Lady, But Never a Star Ann Dvorak played opposite most big names at Warner Bros. in the 1930s. In addition to the aforementioned Joan Blondell and Bette Davis, there were Warren William, Paul Muni, Douglas Fairbanks Jr., James Cagney, Dick Powell, Pat O'Brien, and Richard Barthelmess, among others. How did she get [...]

Edward G. Robinson in Mervyn LeRoy's Little Caesar Turner Classic Movies' Moguls & Movie Stars, A History of Hollywood continues this evening with "Brother, Can You Spare a Dream?" which takes us to the beginning of the talkie era and the Great Depression. That was the time when most studios faced bankruptcy; directors, screenwriters, and actors formed unions; the Academy of Motion Picture Arts and [...]

Ethnicity in Film: Luise Rainer, Nancy Kwan The issue of ethnicity and movie roles came up to me a few years ago, while I was working on a biography of Mexican-born actor Ramon Novarro (above), Beyond Paradise. I'd read much about white performers playing non-white roles, but basically nothing about non-white actors playing white roles. Yet, back in those days it wasn't that uncommon. Although [...]

Paul Muni, Luise Rainer in The Good Earth The ethnic controversy surrounding the casting of Gérard Depardieu as Alexandre Dumas in Safy Nebbou's The Other Dumas reminded me of Arthur Dong's 2007 documentary Hollywood Chinese, which discusses how Caucasian actors usually played major Chinese roles in American movies up to the not-too-distant past. Among those featured in Hollywood Chinese, whether in clips or as talking [...]