Acting
Esther Howard
Born April 2, 1892 · Butte, Montana, USA
Died March 8, 1965 · aged 72
Esther Howard (April 4, 1892 – March 8, 1965) was an American stage and film character actress who played a wide range of supporting roles, from man-hungry spinsters to amoral criminals, appearing in 108 films in her 23-year screen career. From 1940 to 1949, Howard was part of Preston Sturges' unofficial "stock company" of character actors, appearing in seven films written and directed by Sturges…
Known For
June Bride · 1948June Bride
★ 7.11948
MovieRomanceComedy
A magazine's staff, including bickering ex-lovers Linda and Carey, cover an Indiana wedding, which goes slightly wrong.
Sullivan's Travels · 1941Sullivan's Travels
★ 7.41941
MovieComedyRomance
Successful movie director John L. Sullivan, convinced he won't be able to film his ambitious masterpiece until he has suffered, dons a hobo disguise and sets off on a journey, aiming to "know trouble" first-hand. When all he finds is a train ride back to Hollywood and a beautiful blonde companion, he redoubles his efforts, managing to land himself in more trouble than he bargained for when he loses his memory and ends up a prisoner on a chain gang.
The Lady Gambles · 1949The Lady Gambles
★ 6.11949
MovieDrama
When Joan Boothe accompanies husband-reporter David to Las Vegas, she begins gambling to pass the time while he is doing a story. Encouraged by the casino manager, she gets hooked on gambling, to the point where she "borrows" David's expense money to pursue her addiction. This finally breaks up their marriage, but David continues trying to help her.
Merrily We Go to Hell · 1932Merrily We Go to Hell
★ 6.51932
MovieComedyDrama
A drunken newspaperman, Jerry Corbett, is rescued from his alcoholic haze by an heiress, Joan Prentice, whose love sobers him up and encourages him to write a play, but he lapses back into dipsomania.
Caged · 1950Caged
★ 7.11950
MovieCrimeDrama
A single mistake puts a 19-year old girl behind bars, where she experiences the terrors and torments of women in prison.
Murder, My Sweet · 1944Murder, My Sweet
★ 7.31944
MovieCrimeDrama
After being hired to find an ex-con's former girlfriend, Philip Marlowe is drawn into a deeply complex web of mystery and deceit.
Wedlock Deadlock · 1947Wedlock Deadlock
★ 7.01947
MovieComedy
Newlyweds Eddie (Joe DeRita) and Betty (Christine McIntyre) barely moved into their new house before Betty's mother (Esther Howard), aunt (Patsy Moran) and brother (Charles Williams) show up and give every indication of becoming permanent free-loading guests. Dick (William Newell) gives Eddie a plan that will cause his unwanted guests to vacate the premises, by having Dick and his wife, Ruby (Dorothy Granger), move in as Eddie's relatives, and even bigger pests, thereby causing Betty's relatives to move out. The plan works and Eddie and Betty are pleased until Dick announces that he and Ruby have intentions of staying on.
I Married a Witch · 1942I Married a Witch
★ 6.91942
MovieRomanceFantasy
A 17th-century witch returns to wreak havoc in the life of a descendant of the Puritan witch hunter who burned her, but runs afoul of her father when she discovers that her mischief might have found her true love.
Movies
June Bride · 1948June Bride
★ 7.11948
MovieRomanceComedy
A magazine's staff, including bickering ex-lovers Linda and Carey, cover an Indiana wedding, which goes slightly wrong.
Sullivan's Travels · 1941Sullivan's Travels
★ 7.41941
MovieComedyRomance
Successful movie director John L. Sullivan, convinced he won't be able to film his ambitious masterpiece until he has suffered, dons a hobo disguise and sets off on a journey, aiming to "know trouble" first-hand. When all he finds is a train ride back to Hollywood and a beautiful blonde companion, he redoubles his efforts, managing to land himself in more trouble than he bargained for when he loses his memory and ends up a prisoner on a chain gang.
The Lady Gambles · 1949The Lady Gambles
★ 6.11949
MovieDrama
When Joan Boothe accompanies husband-reporter David to Las Vegas, she begins gambling to pass the time while he is doing a story. Encouraged by the casino manager, she gets hooked on gambling, to the point where she "borrows" David's expense money to pursue her addiction. This finally breaks up their marriage, but David continues trying to help her.
Merrily We Go to Hell · 1932Merrily We Go to Hell
★ 6.51932
MovieComedyDrama
A drunken newspaperman, Jerry Corbett, is rescued from his alcoholic haze by an heiress, Joan Prentice, whose love sobers him up and encourages him to write a play, but he lapses back into dipsomania.
Caged · 1950Caged
★ 7.11950
MovieCrimeDrama
A single mistake puts a 19-year old girl behind bars, where she experiences the terrors and torments of women in prison.
Murder, My Sweet · 1944Murder, My Sweet
★ 7.31944
MovieCrimeDrama
After being hired to find an ex-con's former girlfriend, Philip Marlowe is drawn into a deeply complex web of mystery and deceit.
Wedlock Deadlock · 1947Wedlock Deadlock
★ 7.01947
MovieComedy
Newlyweds Eddie (Joe DeRita) and Betty (Christine McIntyre) barely moved into their new house before Betty's mother (Esther Howard), aunt (Patsy Moran) and brother (Charles Williams) show up and give every indication of becoming permanent free-loading guests. Dick (William Newell) gives Eddie a plan that will cause his unwanted guests to vacate the premises, by having Dick and his wife, Ruby (Dorothy Granger), move in as Eddie's relatives, and even bigger pests, thereby causing Betty's relatives to move out. The plan works and Eddie and Betty are pleased until Dick announces that he and Ruby have intentions of staying on.
I Married a Witch · 1942I Married a Witch
★ 6.91942
MovieRomanceFantasy
A 17th-century witch returns to wreak havoc in the life of a descendant of the Puritan witch hunter who burned her, but runs afoul of her father when she discovers that her mischief might have found her true love.
Dick Tracy vs. Cueball · 1946Dick Tracy vs. Cueball
★ 5.51946
MovieCrimeThriller
A police detective uses his girlfriend to track down a homicidal maniac.
Without Reservations · 1946Without Reservations
★ 6.21946
MovieComedyRomance
Kit Madden is traveling to Hollywood, where her best-selling novel is to be filmed. Aboard the train, she encounters Marines Rusty and Dink, who don't know she is the author of the famous book, and who don't think much of the ideas it proposes. She and Rusty are greatly attracted, but she doesn't know how to deal with his disdain for the book's author.
Ride, Cowboy, Ride · 1939Ride, Cowboy, Ride
★ 6.01939
MovieWesternMusic
Dinny and his cowhand friends rescue Laura from a runaway stagecoach after it is robbed by outlaw Pancho Dominguez and his gang. Dinny is attracted to Laura, who isn't interested in him at all. The climax arises when Pancho's gang raids the town and robs the bank.
Dead End · 1937Dead End
★ 7.01937
MovieCrimeDrama
The lives of a young man and woman, an infamous gangster and a group of street kids converge one day in a volatile New York City slum.
The Virginian · 1946The Virginian
★ 6.21946
MovieWestern
Arriving at Medicine Bow, eastern schoolteacher Molly Woods meets two cowboys, irresponsible Steve and the "Virginian," who gets off on the wrong foot with her. To add to his troubles, the Virginian finds that his old pal Steve is mixed up with black-hatted Trampas and his rustlers...then finds himself at the head of a posse after said rustlers; and Molly hates the violent side of frontier life.
Swing, Sister, Swing · 1938Swing, Sister, Swing
★ 8.01938
MovieMusic
In this musical comedy, two star-struck small town kids head for the Big Apple and become famous for their jitterbug act. Their fame doesn't last long, but they had fun anyway. Songs include: "Baltimore Bubble," "Gingham Gown," "Just a Bore," "Wasn't It You," "Kaneski Waltz" (Frank Skinner, Charles Henderson).
Marie Antoinette · 1938Marie Antoinette
★ 6.61938
MovieDramaHistory
The young Austrian princess Marie Antoinette is arranged to marry Louis XVI, future king of France, in a politically advantageous marriage for the rival countries. The opulent Marie indulges in various whims and flirtations. When Louis XV passes and Louis XVI ascends the French throne, his queen's extravagant lifestyle earns the hatred of the French people, who despise her Austrian heritage.
True to Life · 1943True to Life
★ 8.01943
MovieComedy
A writer for a radio program needs some fresh ideas to juice up his show. For inspiration, he rents a room with a typical American family and begins to secretly write about their true life antics. The show becomes a big hit, but he begins to feel guilty about his charade when he falls in love with the family's pretty older daughter.
The Velvet Touch · 1948The Velvet Touch
★ 6.31948
MovieDramaThriller
After accidentally killing her lecherous producer, a famous actress tries to hide her guilt.
Champion · 1949Champion
★ 6.71949
MovieDrama
An unscrupulous boxer fights his way to the top, but eventually alienates all of the people who helped him on the way up.
The Yellow Ticket · 1931The Yellow Ticket
★ 5.11931
MovieAdventureDrama
A young Russian girl is forced into a life of prostitution in Czarist Russia, and she and a British journalist find their lives endangered when she reveals to him information regarding the social crimes rampant in her country.
Detour · 1945Detour
★ 7.21945
MovieDramaThriller
The life of Al Roberts, a pianist in a New York nightclub, turns into a nightmare when he decides to hitchhike to Los Angeles to visit his girlfriend.
Boobs in the Woods · 1940Boobs in the Woods
★ 7.51940
MovieComedy
Andy's annoying brother-in-law Gus gets him fired from his job, and then tag-a-longs on a vacation with Andy and his wife.
Klondike Annie · 1936Klondike Annie
★ 6.31936
MovieComedyDrama
Singer Rose Carlton, otherwise known as 'The San Francisco Doll', accidentally kills her controlling boyfriend when he tries to prevent her from leaving. To evade the police, Rose sets sail for Nome with captain Bull Bracket. When the ship takes on another passenger, reformer Annie Alden, Carlton's life is changed forever, and she sets out to honor a deeply personal debt.
Born to Kill · 1947Born to Kill
★ 6.71947
MovieCrimeDrama
A calculating divorcée risks her chances at wealth and security with a man she doesn't love by getting involved with a hotheaded murderer.
The Great McGinty · 1940The Great McGinty
★ 7.01940
MovieComedy
Told in flashback, Depression-era bum Dan McGinty is recruited by the city's political machine to help with vote fraud. His great aptitude for this brings rapid promotion from "the boss," who finally decides he'd be ideal as a new, nominally "reform" mayor; but this candidacy requires marriage. His in-name-only marriage to honest Catherine proves the beginning of the end for dishonest Dan...