James Parrott

James Parrott

From Wikipedia James Parrott (August 2, 1897 – May 10, 1939) was an American actor and film director; and the younger brother of film comedian Charley Chase. James Gibbons Parrott was born in Baltimore, Maryland, to Charles and Blanche Thompson Parrott. In 1903, his father died from a heart attack, leaving the family in bad financial shape, which forced them to move in with a relative. Charley Jr. quit school, so he could go to work, in order to support his mother and brother. Eventually the call of the stage beckoned him, and Charley Jr. left home at age 16 to travel the vaudeville circuit as a singer and comedic performer. By the time James had reached his teens, he too, had quit school, and became involved with the street gangs of Baltimore. Later, Charley's connections in the film industry helped get his younger brother established in movies, and he would appear during the 1920s in a series of relatively successful comedies for producer Hal Roach. He was billed first as "Paul Parrott," then "Jimmie Parrott." Approximately 75 comedies were produced from 1921 to 1923, with titles continuing to be released through Pathé until 1926. Frequent co-stars included Marie Mosquini, Jobyna Ralston, Eddie Baker, and Sunshine Sammy. Parrott is probably best known as a comedy director. As "James Parrott," he specialized in the two-reel misadventures of Laurel and Hardy, including the Oscar-winning classic The Music Box, and Helpmates. During the 1930s Parrott had acquired serious drinking and drug problems (his diet medications were really addictive amphetamines) and although still able to direct quality shorts, he had developed a reputation as unreliable. By the mid-1930s his work was spotty: Stan Laurel used him sporadically to contribute gags to the Laurel and Hardy features, and he would direct an Our Gang short in 1934, plus several acceptable entries in Thelma Todd-Patsy Kelly series. By 1937, Parrott was accepting any jobs that came his way. He could no longer be counted on to direct or write, and relied on his brother to support him financially. There was a brief marriage to Ruby Ellen McCoy in 1937, but as his various addictions worsened, so did his state of mind. Parrott died at the age of 41 of heart failure. His brother Charley was devastated, and died 13 months later.

  • Title: James Parrott
  • Popularity: 1.499
  • Known For: Directing
  • Birthday: 1897-08-01
  • Place of Birth: Baltimore, Maryland, USA
  • Homepage:
  • Also Known As: James G. Parrott, Jimmie Parrott, Jimmy Parrott, Paul Parrott, James Gibbons Parrott
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James Parrott Movies

  • 1921
    imgMovies

    Big Town Ideas

    Big Town Ideas

    1 1921 HD

    A woman and her dog defend an innocent man.

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  • 1920
    imgMovies

    Way Out West

    Way Out West

    1 1920 HD

    Way Out West silent comedy

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  • 1926
    imgMovies

    Between Meals

    Between Meals

    1 1926 HD

    James Parrott & Ernest Morrison gets chased around a lot. Filmed in 1921 and copyrighted in 1922, but not released until 1926.

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  • 1922
    imgMovies

    Shine 'Em Up

    Shine 'Em Up

    5 1922 HD

    Paul's career as a shoeshine man is interrupted when he is mistaken for an escaped convict, but after the Station Master gives him a job at the train...

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  • 1923
    imgMovies

    Post No Bills

    Post No Bills

    5 1923 HD

    Paul Parrott plays an obsessive-compulsive bill poster in this thoroughly average Hal Roach comedy from 1923. Hired to help publicize a new Gloria...

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  • 1923
    imgMovies

    Paste and Paper

    Paste and Paper

    1 1923 HD

    Well executed but unexceptional one-reeler about a couple of incompetent paperhangers. James Parrott, brother of Charley Chase, was an equally...

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  • 1925
    imgMovies

    Are Parents Pickles?

    Are Parents Pickles?

    1 1925 HD

    James Parrott joins every lodge in town to get in good with people as he tries to sell his fire extinguishers.

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  • 1918
    imgMovies

    An Ozark Romance

    An Ozark Romance

    1 1918 HD

    Harold visits the Ozarks, where he has some funny experiences with a mountain girl and her eccentric family.

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  • 1923
    imgMovies

    The Uncovered Wagon

    The Uncovered Wagon

    5 1923 HD

    Hal Roach short is a spoof of the 1923 Western COVERED WAGON, which was a huge hit for Paramount. In this film a group of people are heading out West...

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  • 1923
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    Shoot Straight

    Shoot Straight

    1 1923 HD

    SHOOT STRAIGHT - starring Paul Parrott, with Jobyna Ralston, Eddie Baker and George Rowe. A rarely-seen comedy short. Parrott is a hapless hunter in...

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  • 1922
    imgMovies

    Blaze Away

    Blaze Away

    1 1922 HD

    Paul is practicing the art of being a cowboy. He consults a book before firing his gun, climbing onto a saddle on top of a chair and then falling off...

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  • 1922
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    Harvest Hands

    Harvest Hands

    5 1922 HD

    Paul, a great college athlete, is sent to his uncle's farm to be developed, but turns against the continual round of chores. And at the table he is...

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  • 1919
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    Young Mr. Jazz

    Young Mr. Jazz

    5.8 1919 HD

    While running away from his girl's father, Harold's car breaks down in front of a dance hall run by crooks. Harold has to not only stay one step...

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  • 1920
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    Don't Park Here

    Don't Park Here

    4 1920 HD

    Not one but two of Charlie Chaplin impersonators, Harry Mann and Monty Banks, a film directed by Charley Chase still under the name of Charles...

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  • 1922
    imgMovies

    The Sleuth

    The Sleuth

    1 1922 HD

    Paul Parrott stars as a detective in a hotel trying to recognize a fake sheik

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  • 1923
    imgMovies

    Dear Ol' Pal

    Dear Ol' Pal

    1 1923 HD

    Two lifelong friends vie for the affection of the same woman.

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  • 1926
    imgMovies

    Soft Pedal

    Soft Pedal

    1 1926 HD

    An opportunistic umbrella salesman attempts to save a musician and his daughter from blackmail.

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  • 1922
    imgMovies

    The Golf Bug

    The Golf Bug

    5.5 1922 HD

    The Golf Bug,1922, directed by James D. Davis, starring James "Paul" Parrott and Jobyna Ralston, is a short silent comedy film.

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  • 1923
    imgMovies

    Jailed and Bailed

    Jailed and Bailed

    1 1923 HD

    A silent comedy short starring Jobyna Ralston and James Parrott.

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  • 1924
    imgMovies

    A Deep Sea Panic

    A Deep Sea Panic

    1 1924 HD

    A cruel sea captain shanghais Jimmie to work on his ship, but Jimmie's girlfriend also stows away on board, disguised as a sailor.

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  • 1919
    imgMovies

    Count Your Change

    Count Your Change

    5 1919 HD

    Harold becomes the victim of a clever bulldog pup who chases him in and out of various places.

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  • 1919
    imgMovies

    An Auto Nut

    An Auto Nut

    5 1919 HD

    A crooked lawyer sells his car.

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  • 1930
    imgMovies

    The King

    The King

    4.3 1930 HD

    The king is a juvenile dolt who tries the patience of the shrewish queen. While she's in the throne room awaiting him, he's outside playing with...

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  • 1918
    imgMovies

    Hey There

    Hey There

    6.9 1918 HD

    In this early short Harold Lloyd sneaks into a movie studio in order to locate an attractive young lady he's just met at a snack bar. He's retrieved...

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  • 1919
    imgMovies

    Don't Shove

    Don't Shove

    5.5 1919 HD

    Harold and his rival fight over Bebe on her birthday, first at her home and then at a nearby skating rink.

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  • 1922
    imgMovies

    Shiver and Shake

    Shiver and Shake

    1 1922 HD

    A landlord is attending his new tenants' rollicking and well-attended housewarming party. As midnight arrives, a ghostly apparition appears outside...

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  • 1919
    imgMovies

    Do You Love Your Wife?

    Do You Love Your Wife?

    5.7 1919 HD

    Stan plays a janitor at a hotel dropping letters and trying to retrieve them with a vacuum, getting wet, helping a lady shoot her cheating husband...

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  • 1922
    imgMovies

    Touch all the Bases

    Touch all the Bases

    1 1922 HD

    After many difficulties getting into a baseball game with his girl, Paul is pressed into service as a pinch hitter.

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  • 1923
    imgMovies

    Watch Your Wife

    Watch Your Wife

    1 1923 HD

    A James Parrott comedy short.

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  • 1922
    imgMovies

    The Landlubber

    The Landlubber

    3 1922 HD

    Paul Parrott comedy produced by Hal Roach.

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  • 1919
    imgMovies

    Hustling for Health

    Hustling for Health

    5.1 1919 HD

    Stan Laurel is picked up at the train depot and brought back by the husband to the family home where the wife is having a suffragette meeting. None...

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  • 1924
    imgMovies

    Sittin' Pretty

    Sittin' Pretty

    5 1924 HD

    When Charlie borrows the policeman's uniform of his girl's father and captures a lunatic, his prospective father-in-law dons the uniform just in time...

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  • 1925
    imgMovies

    The Caretaker's Daughter

    The Caretaker's Daughter

    3.5 1925 HD

    The two-reel silent film comedy The Caretaker's Daughter was distributed by Pathe in 1925. Produced by the prolific Hal Roach, the film stars the...

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  • 1922
    imgMovies

    Take Next Car

    Take Next Car

    1 1922 HD

    In this 1922 Pathe-distributed, Hal Roach silent-era comedy, the owner of a local streetcar business is in danger of losing his franchise, but the...

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  • 1922
    imgMovies

    Bone Dry

    Bone Dry

    1 1922 HD

    Paul plays at being a detective until dad, who is a revenue officer, sends him out to prove his worth by rounding up some desperate moonshiners.

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  • 1918
    imgMovies

    Hit Him Again

    Hit Him Again

    1 1918 HD

    A short film starring Harold Lloyd.

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  • 1918
    imgMovies

    Fireman Save My Child

    Fireman Save My Child

    5.5 1918 HD

    In this popular two reeler where Harold runs to the rescue of a woman on a fire engine, he is seen hanging on the moving vehicle by the released...

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  • 1918
    imgMovies

    Look Pleasant, Please

    Look Pleasant, Please

    5 1918 HD

    A photo studio operator seems only interested in flirting with women. Hilarity ensues.

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  • 1918
    imgMovies

    Just Rambling Along

    Just Rambling Along

    5.2 1918 HD

    A nervy young man follows a pretty lady into a diner to flirt with her, but winds up getting stuck with the tab.

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  • 1926
    imgMovies

    Pay the Cashier

    Pay the Cashier

    1 1926 HD

    The penniless tourist, "Appetite Andy" (Paul Parrott) stops by at the Hollywood Cafateria (sic) where the gullible boss (Mark Jones) welcomes him in...

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  • 1918
    imgMovies

    Bride and Gloom

    Bride and Gloom

    1 1918 HD

    A short film starring Harold Lloyd.

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  • 1920
    imgMovies

    His First Flat Tire

    His First Flat Tire

    1 1920 HD

    Sid Smith plays a chauffeur to James Parrott who helps a vamp captivate his boss while foiling a bank robbery.

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  • 1923
    imgMovies

    No Pets

    No Pets

    1 1923 HD

    James Parrott having a lot of pets destroying the place.

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  • 1923
    imgMovies

    Tight Shoes

    Tight Shoes

    1 1923 HD

    The setting is a shoe store and the action is pretty frenetic. You get to see Paul lose the store's money, catch a shoe thief, knock down a bunch of...

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  • 1923
    imgMovies

    Join the Circus

    Join the Circus

    1 1923 HD

    'Snub' Pollard wants to hang himself but figures joining the circus was better idea.

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  • 1923
    imgMovies

    Take the Air

    Take the Air

    1 1923 HD

    James Parrott, little Sammy Brooks, Baker and Jones ("the strong guy" = the drunk) are all workers on a construction-sit run by violent and...

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  • 1924
    imgMovies

    Get Busy

    Get Busy

    5 1924 HD

    A couple of pals tries to stay out of trouble, without much luck.

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  • 1926
    imgMovies

    Don't Butt In

    Don't Butt In

    1 1926 HD

    James Parrott doing all kinds of handy work.

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  • 1923
    imgMovies

    The Smile Wins

    The Smile Wins

    1 1923 HD

    James Parrott as a very persistent book salesman.

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  • 1925
    imgMovies

    The House of Flickers

    The House of Flickers

    1 1925 HD

    The troubles of a movie projectionist in a newly-purchased theater are chronicled in this two-reeler starring Paul Parrot and Mildred June.

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  • 1922
    imgMovies

    Face the Camera

    Face the Camera

    1 1922 HD

    Hapless photographer James Parrott attempts to shoot a bathing beauty pageant.

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  • 1919
    imgMovies

    A Sammy in Siberia

    A Sammy in Siberia

    5.2 1919 HD

    A bumbling American soldier saves a girl from a bunch of Cossacks.

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  • 1938
    imgMovies

    Block-Heads

    Block-Heads

    6.963 1938 HD

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  • 1929
    imgMovies

    Furnace Trouble

    Furnace Trouble

    1 1929 HD

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  • 1929
    imgMovies

    Lesson No. 1

    Lesson No. 1

    1 1929 HD

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  • 1929
    imgMovies

    Stewed, Fried and Boiled

    Stewed, Fried and Boiled

    1 1929 HD

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  • 1932
    imgMovies

    The Music Box

    The Music Box

    7.58 1932 HD

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  • 1930
    imgMovies

    Below Zero

    Below Zero

    6.5 1930 HD

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  • 1932
    imgMovies

    The Chimp

    The Chimp

    6.547 1932 HD

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  • 1932
    imgMovies

    County Hospital

    County Hospital

    6.807 1932 HD

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  • 1929
    imgMovies

    Perfect Day

    Perfect Day

    7 1929 HD

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  • 1928
    imgMovies

    Should Married Men Go Home?

    Should Married Men Go Home?

    6.4 1928 HD

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  • 1928
    imgMovies

    Should Married Men Go Home?

    Should Married Men Go Home?

    6.4 1928 HD

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  • 1927
    imgMovies

    Fluttering Hearts

    Fluttering Hearts

    5 1927 HD

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  • 1930
    imgMovies

    The Laurel-Hardy Murder Case

    The Laurel-Hardy Murder Case

    6.8 1930 HD

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  • 1930
    imgMovies

    Night Owls

    Night Owls

    7.4 1930 HD

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  • 1928
    imgMovies

    Their Purple Moment

    Their Purple Moment

    6.521 1928 HD

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  • 1930
    imgMovies

    Brats

    Brats

    6.8 1930 HD

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  • 1930
    imgMovies

    Another Fine Mess

    Another Fine Mess

    6.8 1930 HD

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  • 1930
    imgMovies

    Blotto

    Blotto

    7.2 1930 HD

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  • 1929
    imgMovies

    The Hoose-Gow

    The Hoose-Gow

    6.646 1929 HD

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  • 1929
    imgMovies

    They Go Boom!

    They Go Boom!

    6.9 1929 HD

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  • 1933
    imgMovies

    Twice Two

    Twice Two

    6.7 1933 HD

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  • 1928
    imgMovies

    Two Tars

    Two Tars

    6.6 1928 HD

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  • 1928
    imgMovies

    Habeas Corpus

    Habeas Corpus

    6.7 1928 HD

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  • 1932
    imgMovies

    Helpmates

    Helpmates

    7.2 1932 HD

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  • 1930
    imgMovies

    Hog Wild

    Hog Wild

    6.9 1930 HD

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  • 1930
    imgMovies

    Night of Goblins

    Night of Goblins

    5.8 1930 HD

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  • 1926
    imgMovies

    Get 'Em Young

    Get 'Em Young

    5 1926 HD

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  • 1927
    imgMovies

    A One Mama Man

    A One Mama Man

    1 1927 HD

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  • 1930
    imgMovies

    Shivering and Shaking

    Shivering and Shaking

    6.8 1930 HD

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  • 1934
    imgMovies

    Washee Ironee

    Washee Ironee

    6.8 1934 HD

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  • 1924
    imgMovies

    The 'Fraidy Cat

    The 'Fraidy Cat

    6.8 1924 HD

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  • 1930
    imgMovies

    Thieves

    Thieves

    6.9 1930 HD

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  • 1934
    imgMovies

    Mixed Nuts

    Mixed Nuts

    6.2 1934 HD

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  • 1927
    imgMovies

    Now I'll Tell One

    Now I'll Tell One

    5.8 1927 HD

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  • 1931
    imgMovies

    The Panic Is On

    The Panic Is On

    2 1931 HD

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  • 1927
    imgMovies

    Forgotten Sweeties

    Forgotten Sweeties

    3 1927 HD

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  • 1931
    imgMovies

    Rough Seas

    Rough Seas

    1 1931 HD

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  • 1932
    imgMovies

    Girl Grief

    Girl Grief

    5 1932 HD

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  • 1931
    imgMovies

    The Pip from Pittsburg

    The Pip from Pittsburg

    6.5 1931 HD

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  • 1935
    imgMovies

    The Tin Man

    The Tin Man

    7 1935 HD

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  • 1934
    imgMovies

    Benny, from Panama

    Benny, from Panama

    6 1934 HD

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  • 1934
    imgMovies

    Opened by Mistake

    Opened by Mistake

    1 1934 HD

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  • 1935
    imgMovies

    Sing Sister Sing

    Sing Sister Sing

    6 1935 HD

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  • 1926
    imgMovies

    Wise Guys Prefer Brunettes

    Wise Guys Prefer Brunettes

    4 1926 HD

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  • 1934
    imgMovies

    A Duke for a Day

    A Duke for a Day

    1 1934 HD

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  • 1935
    imgMovies

    Treasure Blues

    Treasure Blues

    1 1935 HD

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  • 1935
    imgMovies

    The Misses Stooge

    The Misses Stooge

    1 1935 HD

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  • 1925
    imgMovies

    Chasing the Chaser

    Chasing the Chaser

    6 1925 HD

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  • 1930
    imgMovies

    The Night Life

    The Night Life

    8 1930 HD

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  • 1925
    imgMovies

    Unfriendly Enemies

    Unfriendly Enemies

    6 1925 HD

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  • 1926
    imgMovies

    Along Came Auntie

    Along Came Auntie

    6.2 1926 HD

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  • 1937
    imgMovies

    Way Out West

    Way Out West

    7.018 1937 HD

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  • 1924
    imgMovies

    Love's Detour

    Love's Detour

    1 1924 HD

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  • 1927
    imgMovies

    Many Scrappy Returns

    Many Scrappy Returns

    1 1927 HD

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  • 1927
    imgMovies

    Are Brunettes Safe?

    Are Brunettes Safe?

    1 1927 HD

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  • 1927
    imgMovies

    The Lighter That Failed

    The Lighter That Failed

    1 1927 HD

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  • 1927
    imgMovies

    Never the Dames Shall Meet

    Never the Dames Shall Meet

    1 1927 HD

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  • 1928
    imgMovies

    All for Nothing

    All for Nothing

    1 1928 HD

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  • 1929
    imgMovies

    Ruby Lips

    Ruby Lips

    1 1929 HD

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  • 1931
    imgMovies

    Messing Around

    Messing Around

    1 1931 HD

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  • 1931
    imgMovies

    Pardon Us

    Pardon Us

    6.48 1931 HD

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  • 1930
    imgMovies

    Brats

    Brats

    6.8 1930 HD

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  • 1930
    imgMovies

    Hog Wild

    Hog Wild

    6.9 1930 HD

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  • 1931
    imgMovies

    Come Clean

    Come Clean

    7.2 1931 HD

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  • 1931
    imgMovies

    One Good Turn

    One Good Turn

    7 1931 HD

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  • 1932
    imgMovies

    Helpmates

    Helpmates

    7.2 1932 HD

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  • 1932
    imgMovies

    The Music Box

    The Music Box

    7.58 1932 HD

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  • 1932
    imgMovies

    The Chimp

    The Chimp

    6.547 1932 HD

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  • 1932
    imgMovies

    Their First Mistake

    Their First Mistake

    6.4 1932 HD

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  • 1933
    imgMovies

    Twice Two

    Twice Two

    6.7 1933 HD

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  • 1933
    imgMovies

    The Midnight Patrol

    The Midnight Patrol

    6.5 1933 HD

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  • 1926
    imgMovies

    Wandering Papas

    Wandering Papas

    5.1 1926 HD

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  • 1926
    imgMovies

    On the Front Page

    On the Front Page

    5.7 1926 HD

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  • 1926
    imgMovies

    On the Front Page

    On the Front Page

    5.7 1926 HD

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  • 1921
    imgMovies

    The Pickaninny

    The Pickaninny

    1 1921 HD

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  • 1932
    imgMovies

    Young Ironsides

    Young Ironsides

    1 1932 HD

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  • 1924
    imgMovies

    Just a Minute

    Just a Minute

    5 1924 HD

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  • 1924
    imgMovies

    Just a Minute

    Just a Minute

    5 1924 HD

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  • 1924
    imgMovies

    Powder and Smoke

    Powder and Smoke

    5.2 1924 HD

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  • 1924
    imgMovies

    Powder and Smoke

    Powder and Smoke

    5.2 1924 HD

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  • 1924
    imgMovies

    Hard Knocks

    Hard Knocks

    5.2 1924 HD

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  • 1924
    imgMovies

    Hard Knocks

    Hard Knocks

    5.2 1924 HD

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  • 1924
    imgMovies

    Don't Forget

    Don't Forget

    4.5 1924 HD

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  • 1924
    imgMovies

    Don't Forget

    Don't Forget

    4.5 1924 HD

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  • 1932
    imgMovies

    Mr. Bride

    Mr. Bride

    5.5 1932 HD

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  • 1935
    imgMovies

    Do Your Stuff

    Do Your Stuff

    1 1935 HD

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  • 1926
    imgMovies

    There Ain't No Santa Claus

    There Ain't No Santa Claus

    6 1926 HD

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  • 1930
    imgMovies

    Radiomanía

    Radiomanía

    1 1930 HD

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  • 1927
    imgMovies

    Us

    Us

    0.5 1927 HD

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  • 1927
    imgMovies

    Assistant Wives

    Assistant Wives

    1 1927 HD

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  • 1927
    imgMovies

    The Sting of Stings

    The Sting of Stings

    1 1927 HD

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  • 1931
    imgMovies

    Haunted at Midnight

    Haunted at Midnight

    8.5 1931 HD

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  • 2002
    imgMovies

    Laurel & Hardy - Highlights

    Laurel & Hardy - Highlights

    8.5 2002 HD

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  • 1938
    imgMovies

    Swiss Miss

    Swiss Miss

    6.2 1938 HD

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  • 1931
    imgMovies

    One of the Smiths

    One of the Smiths

    1 1931 HD

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  • 1931
    imgMovies

    Skip the Maloo!

    Skip the Maloo!

    1 1931 HD

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  • 1931
    imgMovies

    What a Bozo!

    What a Bozo!

    1 1931 HD

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  • 1931
    imgMovies

    The lady from Chicago

    The lady from Chicago

    1 1931 HD

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  • 1925
    imgMovies

    Should Sailors Marry?

    Should Sailors Marry?

    5.4 1925 HD

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  • 1932
    imgMovies

    Now We'll Tell One

    Now We'll Tell One

    1 1932 HD

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  • 1928
    imgMovies

    Chasing Husbands

    Chasing Husbands

    1 1928 HD

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  • 1927
    imgMovies

    Bigger and Better Blondes

    Bigger and Better Blondes

    1 1927 HD

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  • 1927
    imgMovies

    What Women Did for Me

    What Women Did for Me

    1 1927 HD

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  • 1926
    imgMovies

    Say It with Babies

    Say It with Babies

    5 1926 HD

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  • 1925
    imgMovies

    Laughing Ladies

    Laughing Ladies

    1 1925 HD

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  • 2007
    imgMovies

    Joe Strummer: The Future Is Unwritten

    Joe Strummer: The Future Is Unwritten

    7.2 2007 HD

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