Public Domain Movies

Beloved humorist and political commentator Will Rogers stars as down-to-earth Solomon like Judge Priest who presides over his post Civil War Kentucky courtroom with compassion and humor. His pride is wounded when a political rival forces him to remove himself from the bench in a controversial assault case. Nevertheless, "private citizen" Priest will take desperate measures to see that justice is served.

Love Laughs at Andy Hardy (1946) starring Mickey Rooney, Bonita Granville, Dorothy Ford, Lewis Stone In a bittersweet entry in the series, Love Laughs at Andy Hardy takes the title seriously. Andy returns home from World War II, and hopes to return to college. And, to reignite his romance with Kay. There are the normal shenanigans, such as locking himself out of the house, or the big dance with 6’2″ Coffy. She’s one of the nicest people in the movie, in fact. https://family-friendly-movies.com/comedy/love-laughs-at-andy-hardy/

Midnight Manhunt (1945) starring William Gargan, Ann Savage, George Zucco A dead body is discovered in a wax museum and two rival reporters compete to break the story in this fast-paced, tough-talking crime caper. Renowned criminal Joe Wells is shot in his hotel room and stumbles into a wax museum, where office boy Clutch (Leo Gorcey) sweeps the floor and butchers the English language ("I figured it out by the process of mental reduction"). Feisty reporter Sue Gallagher (Ann Savage) discovers Wells' body and rushes to file the scoop, but is interrupted when her part-time lover and news colleague Pete Willis (William Gargan) learns of the story. Tensions flare up even more when Wells' killer (George Zucco) corners Sue in search of the corpse, unaware that Clutch has found it and moved it out of the museum!

Borrowed Wives (1930) starring Rex Lease, Vera Reynolds Peter Foley has plans to marry Alice Blake and he needs to in a hurry because if he is not married by midnight he'll lose his inheritance! But when her plane is delayed one of his creditors, Mr. Parker, shows up to collect his debt. When learns of Foley's situation he decides that his flirty secretary will pretend to be his wife so they can both get their money. Will the ruse fool the uncle that is next in line for the inheritance or the family lawyer who is mysterious late and just as important will Alice forgive Peter's deception? Add into the mix the pugnacious traffic cop bull who is after Peter for traffic infractions who just so happens to be Julia's beau and you've got the receipt for laughs galore!

Pollyanna 1920 is the silent comedic drama that tells the story of an orphan sent to live with her uncaring Aunt Polly. Pollyanna's joyous love for life is deeply compelling and affects the embittered Polly after an act of sacrifice puts the young girl's life in danger. Pollyanna's optimism eventually spreads throughout the New England town where she now lives, changing it and the people for the better.

In The Strange Love of Martha Ivers, a man is reunited with his childhood friend and her husband. She believes he knows the truth about the death of her rich aunt years earlier.

In Captain January, Shirley Temple lives with a lighthouse keeper (Guy Kibble)who rescued her when her parents drowned. A truant officer decides she should go to boarding school, but she's rescued by relatives. Buddy Ebsen dances "At The Codfish Ball" with Shirley.

The East Side Kids throw Hank (Gabriel Dell) out of the gang when he starts working for crook Butch Brocalli. Danny earns a reward by being instrumental in Butch's arrest, and wants to surprise everyone by buying baseball uniforms for the boys. Muggs, however, mistakenly assumes that Danny is trying to keep the money - so he and other gang members force Danny to turn over the cash so they can buy an old car. Danny is seriously beaten when Brocalli escapes.The gang members offer to sell their newfound car to pay for Danny's much needed operation, but a kind-hearted brain surgeon, Dr. Ornsby, comes up with his own solution. One of the most serious of the Monogram comedies, Leo Gorcey's dramatic prayer for Danny's recovery is a rare and unforgettable moment in theEast Side Kidsseries.

Africa Screams (1949) starring Bud Abbott, Lou Costello, Hillary Brooke, Joe Besser, Shemp Howard Abbott and Costello’s movie, Africa Screams, has Bud Abbott and Lou Costello, working as book sellers. They connive their way onto a trip to Africa, where Hillary Brooke is looking for diamonds …. And is willing to sell Lou to a hungry witchdoctor!

The Dentist (1932) starring W. C. Fields - a very funny comedy short, where W. C. Fields cares more about golf than his patients, his daughter wants to marry an ice man, and several hilarious scenes in the dentist's chair!

Father's Little Dividend (1951) starring Spencer Tracy, Joan Bennett, Elizabeth Taylor Academy Award winners Elizabeth Taylor and Spencer Tracy return in their starring roles from "Father of the Bride" in this delightful comedy of battling in-laws--Father's Little Dividend. Stanley and Ellie Banks (Tracy and Joan Bennett) have barely had time to recover from their daughter's (Taylor) wedding when they learn they are to be grandparents. Their dreams of peace and quiet are soon shattered by baby wails and dirty diapers!

In The Silent Command (1923) Capt. Decatur (Edmund Lowe) must stop a terrorist (Bela Lugosi in his first American film role) from destroying the Panama Canal and the United States Navy's Atlantic Fleet

Girl Shy (1924) starring Harold Lloyd, Jobyna Ralston, Richard Daniels Girl Shy(1924), where Harold is a small-time tailor's apprentice who can't speak to women. But nevertheless has penned a how-to book entitled "The Secret of Making Love." And on a train, he manages to make the acquaintance of the lovely Jobyna Ralston, and help her out. Can love bloom from this?

The Electric House (1922) starring Buster Keaton, Virginia Fox First, The Electric House is a very different, but very funny, Buster Keaton silent short film. It deals with Buster, mistakenly hired after graduation by the Dean to rewire his house. Although he’s a botanist! But, with the aid of a book — Electricity Made Easy — he actually manages it. Much of the comedy comes from the automation in the house: https://famousclowns.org/buster-keaton/buster-keaton-movies/electric-house-1922/

Three Ages (1923) starring Buster Keaton, Margaret Leahy, Wallace Beery Buster Keaton's "Three Ages" (1923, 63 min.) is a silent comedy of truly epic proportions. This clever parody of D.W. Griffith's "Intolerance" follows Buster's hard-luck romantic misadventures throughout world history: from the dawn of man in the Stone Age through the gladiator arenas of Ancient Rome to the city streets of the American Jazz Era.

Battling Butler (1926) starring Buster Keaton, Sally O’Neil, Francis McDonald Buster Keaton remarked that Battling Butler was his favorite of all his films. Based on a Broadway play, the story revolves around a case of mistaken identity between two Alfred Butlers. One is an effete millionaire (Keaton), the other the heavyweight champion of the world (Francis McDonald). Coincidence brings them to the same backwoods Kentucky neighborhood, where Keaton finds love with a mountain girl. But not before antagonizing Butler-the-brute into a Madison Square Garden grudge match. https://famousclowns.org/buster-keaton/buster-keaton-movies/battling-butler/

The Hunchback of Notre Dame 1923 starring Lon Chaney, Patsy Ruth Miller In fifteenth century Paris, the brother of the archdeacon plots with the gypsy king to foment a peasant revolt. Meanwhile, a freakish hunchback falls in love with the gypsy queen.

The Amazing Mr. X (1948) starring Lynn Bari, Richard Carlson, Turhan Bey Christine Faber (Lynn Bari) doubts her own sanity after hearing the voice of her dead husband calling to her from the sea. Against the wishes of her new fiance Martin (Richard Carlson), she begins to see a mysterious man known only as Alexis (Turhan Bey) who claims to be able to make psychic contact with spirits from beyond. Although Alexis continually provides accurate information known only to Christine and her late husband, she begins to suspect him of being a fraud. Expressive use of shadows and light add to the macabre sense of nightmare in this masterful chiller.

Lady Gangster (1942) starring Faye Emerson, Frank Wilcox, Jackie Gleason In Lady Ganster, an aspiring actress gets mixed up with a group of bank robbers. This leads to her being caught up in a $40,000 heist …. And ultimately to prison. There she helps stage a break-out. And then she rescues a man from the mob.

Sherlock Holmes and The Secret Weapon (1942) starring Basil Rathbone, Nigel Bruce, Lionel Atwill In Sherlock Holmes and The Secret Weapon, Sherlock Holmes battles his nemesis Professor Moriarty. This time, to keep him away from a newly developed bomb sight the English hope to use on Hitler.

Smash-Up: the story of a woman (1947) starring Susan Hayward, Lee Bowman, Eddie Albert In Smash-Up, a nightclub singer seeks refuge in alcohol which drive away her husband and child. With the help of her husband, she overcomes her addiction. One of Hayward's best performances. This was her breakthrough role after a decade in Hollywood, and it deservedly earned her her first Academy Award Nomination for Best Actress.

Pot o'Gold (1941) starring Jimmy Stewart, Paulette Goddard Classic comedy featuring Jimmy Stewart as a failing music store owner whose insanely funny uncle wants him to join his food factory business, to get him away from the Irish family of musicians next door. Paulette Goddard, who is also a member of the musical Irish family next door, finds herself getting involved in Stewart's problems. Goddard is totally unaware that Stewart and his uncle are related. Stewart finds himself trying to help the Irish family get gigs. He ends up placing them on his uncle's radio show while he has cleverly shuffled his music-hating uncle off to Canada.

Road To Bali was the 6th. in the series of 'Road' pictures and the only one to be filmed in Technicolor. Bing Crosby and Bob Hope play two song and dance men in Australia who go on the run to avoid a shotgun wedding. Looking for work they sign on as deep sea divers to recover treasure for Prince Ken Arok (Murvyn Vye). They set sail to the Island of Batu where they meet the beautiful Princess Lala (Dorothy Lamour) and vie for her affection whilst attempting to recover the sunken jewels. Comedy, adventure and memorable song and dance numbers combine to make this movie fun filled family entertainment.

The Stranger (1946) starring Orson Welles, Edward G. Robinson, Loretta Young In The Stranger, Wilson of the War Crimes Commission is seeking Franz Kindler, mastermind of the Holocaust, who has effectively erased his identity. Wilson releases Kindler’s former comrade Meinike and follows him to Harper, Connecticut, where he is killed before he can identify Kindler. Now Wilson’s only clue is Kindler’s fascination with antique clocks; but though Kindler seems secure in his new identity, he feels his past closing in. https://family-friendly-movies.com/drama/the-stranger/

The Stork Club (1945) starring Betty Hutton, Barry Fitzgerald, Don Defore A hat-check girl at the Stork Club (Betty Hutton) saves the life of a drowning man (Barry Fitzgerald). A rich man, he decides to repay her by anonymously giving her a bank account, a luxury apartment and a charge account at a department store. When her boyfriend (DeFore) returns from overseas, he thinks she is a kept woman.