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".

  • Npe: Monty Banks
  • Cov Nrov: 2.928
  • Paub Txog: Directing
  • Hnub yug: 1897-07-14
  • Qhov chaw yug: Cesena, Forlì-Cesena, Emilia-Romagna, Italy
  • Homepage:
  • Kuj Paub Li: 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

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  • 1927
    imgMovies

    Play Safe

    Play Safe

    1 1927 HD

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  • 1941
    imgMovies

    Blood and Sand

    Blood and Sand

    6.4 1941 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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  • 1919
    imgMovies

    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
    imgMovies

    The Garage

    The Garage

    6.037 1920 HD

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  • 1922
    imgMovies

    Derby Day

    Derby Day

    1 1922 HD

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  • 1924
    imgMovies

    Pay or Move

    Pay or Move

    5 1924 HD

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  • 1923
    imgMovies

    The Covered Schooner

    The Covered Schooner

    1 1923 HD

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  • 1924
    imgMovies

    Wedding Bells

    Wedding Bells

    1 1924 HD

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  • 1934
    imgMovies

    The Church Mouse

    The Church Mouse

    4.5 1934 HD

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  • 1925
    imgMovies

    Africa F.O.B.

    Africa F.O.B.

    1 1925 HD

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  • 1940
    imgMovies

    Olympic Honeymoon

    Olympic Honeymoon

    1 1940 HD

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  • 1918
    imgMovies

    A Scrap of Paper

    A Scrap of Paper

    5 1918 HD

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  • 1952
    imgMovies

    Elstree Story

    Elstree Story

    1 1952 HD

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  • 1916
    imgMovies

    The Purple Mask

    The Purple Mask

    1 1916 HD

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  • 1920
    imgMovies

    Don't Park Here

    Don't Park Here

    4 1920 HD

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  • 1927
    imgMovies

    Chasing Choo Choos

    Chasing Choo Choos

    4 1927 HD

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  • 1927
    imgMovies

    Flying Luck

    Flying Luck

    1 1927 HD

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  • 1919
    imgMovies

    Love

    Love

    5.6 1919 HD

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  • 1923
    imgMovies

    Oils Well!

    Oils Well!

    1 1923 HD

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  • 1922
    imgMovies

    Brilliantine the Bull Fighter

    Brilliantine the Bull Fighter

    1 1922 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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  • 1939
    imgMovies

    Shipyard Sally

    Shipyard Sally

    4 1939 HD

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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

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  • 1936
    imgMovies

    Queen of Hearts

    Queen of Hearts

    1 1936 HD

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  • 1923
    imgMovies

    Six A.M.

    Six A.M.

    8.5 1923 HD

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  • 1923
    imgMovies

    Always Late

    Always Late

    1 1923 HD

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  • 1961
    imgMovies

    Days of Thrills and Laughter

    Days of Thrills and Laughter

    5.5 1961 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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  • 1918
    imgMovies

    A Blind Pig

    A Blind Pig

    1 1918 HD

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  • 1926
    imgMovies

    Atta Boy

    Atta Boy

    1 1926 HD

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  • 1919
    imgMovies

    One Night Only

    One Night Only

    1 1919 HD

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  • 1921
    imgMovies

    A Bedroom Scandal

    A Bedroom Scandal

    1 1921 HD

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  • 1921
    imgMovies

    Where Is My Wife?

    Where Is My Wife?

    1 1921 HD

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  • 1933
    imgMovies

    Heads We Go

    Heads We Go

    1 1933 HD

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  • 1934
    imgMovies

    The Girl in Possession

    The Girl in Possession

    1 1934 HD

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  • 1919
    imgMovies

    Her First False Hare

    Her First False Hare

    1 1919 HD

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  • 1919
    imgMovies

    Coppers and Scents

    Coppers and Scents

    1 1919 HD

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  • 1920
    imgMovies

    A Flivver Wedding

    A Flivver Wedding

    1 1920 HD

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  • 1923
    imgMovies

    Love's Handicap

    Love's Handicap

    1 1923 HD

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  • 1921
    imgMovies

    Fresh Air

    Fresh Air

    1 1921 HD

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  • 1921
    imgMovies

    Cleaned and Dry

    Cleaned and Dry

    1 1921 HD

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  • 1970
    imgMovies

    Squirrel Food

    Squirrel Food

    1 1970 HD

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  • 1923
    imgMovies

    Paging Love

    Paging Love

    1 1923 HD

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  • 1924
    imgMovies

    A Wild Goose Chase

    A Wild Goose Chase

    1 1924 HD

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  • 1924
    imgMovies

    Home Cooking

    Home Cooking

    1 1924 HD

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  • 1929
    imgMovies

    The Compulsory Husband

    The Compulsory Husband

    1 1929 HD

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  • 1929
    imgMovies

    Week-End Wives

    Week-End Wives

    8 1929 HD

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  • 1929
    imgMovies

    Atlantic

    Atlantic

    4.9 1929 HD

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  • 1928
    imgMovies

    Adam's Apple

    Adam's Apple

    1 1928 HD

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  • 1935
    imgMovies

    So You Won't Talk

    So You Won't Talk

    1 1935 HD

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  • 1928
    imgMovies

    A Perfect Gentleman

    A Perfect Gentleman

    7 1928 HD

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  • 1935
    imgMovies

    Man of the Moment

    Man of the Moment

    5 1935 HD

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  • 1924
    imgMovies

    The Golf Bug

    The Golf Bug

    1 1924 HD

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  • 1927
    imgMovies

    Horse Shoes

    Horse Shoes

    1 1927 HD

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  • 1918
    imgMovies

    The Belles of Liberty

    The Belles of Liberty

    1 1918 HD

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  • 1923
    imgMovies

    Taxi Please

    Taxi Please

    1 1923 HD

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  • 1925
    imgMovies

    Keep Smiling

    Keep Smiling

    1 1925 HD

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  • 1945
    imgMovies

    A Bell for Adano

    A Bell for Adano

    5.5 1945 HD

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  • 1919
    imgMovies

    Too Much Johnson

    Too Much Johnson

    1 1919 HD

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  • 1919
    imgMovies

    Camping Out

    Camping Out

    5 1919 HD

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  • 1918
    imgMovies

    The Sheriff

    The Sheriff

    1 1918 HD

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  • 1921
    imgMovies

    In and Out

    In and Out

    1 1921 HD

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  • 1918
    imgMovies

    Did She Do Wrong?

    Did She Do Wrong?

    1 1918 HD

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  • 1933
    imgMovies

    Leave It to Me

    Leave It to Me

    1 1933 HD

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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

    L'amour et la veine

    L'amour et la veine

    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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