Writing

Joe Ansen

Born — Died

1908-10-03 — 1999-01-08

Place of birth

Brooklyn, New York City, New York, USA

Known for

Writing

Credits

33 titles

Known for

Diamond Demon poster
7.6

The unusual talents of Johnny Price, a minor league baseball pitcher and trick artist, are showcased in this Pete Smith Specialty. Among other talents, Mr. Price can throw two (and, in certain situations three) baseballs simultaneously to different people. The catchers can be side by side, with one high and one low, or standing on the pitcher's mound and second base while Price throws the ball from the catcher's position. He can even perform these feats while suspended upside-down.

Diamond Demon

1947

Curious Contests poster
10.0

This Pete Smith Specialty shows newsreel footage events that live up to the title. They include, among others, a diaper derby (the father who puts a diaper on his child fastest wins), a fireman's ball (two teams of fire fighters use high-pressure water hoses to move a large ball to score goals), and a basket race (men run a footrace while balancing a "tower" of ten baskets on their heads).

Curious Contests

1950

Fancy Answers poster
7.0

In this Pete Smith Speciality, the audience is asked a series of multiple-choice questions on various subjects.

Fancy Answers

1941

Babes in Bagdad poster
5.8

The Kadi of Bagdad has harem troubles in this low budget comedy from Edgar Ulmer.

Babes in Bagdad

1952

The Golden Gloves Story poster
6.5

Joe Riley is a boxing referee whose life-code is the same as the sporting rules of the prizefight ring. Two Golden Glove (a tournament for amateur prizefighters) contestants Nick Martel, a tough, pugnacious kid from Chicago who has had to fight for everything he has in life, and Bob Gilmore, from the other side of life's tracks, are also competing for the affections of Riley's daughter, Patty.

The Golden Gloves Story

1950

Jungle Headhunters poster
7.0

This documentary follows a Central and South American expedition led by explorer Lewis Cotlow.

Jungle Headhunters

1951

Behind the camera

Diamond Demon poster
7.6

The unusual talents of Johnny Price, a minor league baseball pitcher and trick artist, are showcased in this Pete Smith Specialty. Among other talents, Mr. Price can throw two (and, in certain situations three) baseballs simultaneously to different people. The catchers can be side by side, with one high and one low, or standing on the pitcher's mound and second base while Price throws the ball from the catcher's position. He can even perform these feats while suspended upside-down.

Diamond Demon

1947

Curious Contests poster
10.0

This Pete Smith Specialty shows newsreel footage events that live up to the title. They include, among others, a diaper derby (the father who puts a diaper on his child fastest wins), a fireman's ball (two teams of fire fighters use high-pressure water hoses to move a large ball to score goals), and a basket race (men run a footrace while balancing a "tower" of ten baskets on their heads).

Curious Contests

1950

Fancy Answers poster
7.0

In this Pete Smith Speciality, the audience is asked a series of multiple-choice questions on various subjects.

Fancy Answers

1941

Babes in Bagdad poster
5.8

The Kadi of Bagdad has harem troubles in this low budget comedy from Edgar Ulmer.

Babes in Bagdad

1952

The Golden Gloves Story poster
6.5

Joe Riley is a boxing referee whose life-code is the same as the sporting rules of the prizefight ring. Two Golden Glove (a tournament for amateur prizefighters) contestants Nick Martel, a tough, pugnacious kid from Chicago who has had to fight for everything he has in life, and Bob Gilmore, from the other side of life's tracks, are also competing for the affections of Riley's daughter, Patty.

The Golden Gloves Story

1950

Jungle Headhunters poster
7.0

This documentary follows a Central and South American expedition led by explorer Lewis Cotlow.

Jungle Headhunters

1951

Hollywood Scout poster
6.5

This short film focuses on a day in the life of a Hollywood talent scout assigned to cast animals.

Hollywood Scout

1945

Fish Tales poster
7.0

In this short film, champion fisherman Ernie St. Claire tries to catch a large salmon in Oregon's Rogue River.

Fish Tales

1954

Just Suppose poster
7.0

An off-camera narrator takes us through various scenarios of "just suppose". First we watch what would happen if a private detective behaved at home as he does in the movies; it's a ticket to a domestic disturbance. Next, a son gets to treat his father the way his father treats him. In the third episode, to a shopkeeper's chagrin, a man shops for a hat the way a woman does. In the final sketch, we suppose a household in which the man gets pregnant and has a baby, while the mom, clueless about little children, is the one with the career.

Just Suppose

1948

South Seas Adventure poster
5.9

Cinerama takes you on a South Seas Adventure to tropical islands set like sparkling jewels in dreamy cerulean waters. Thrill to the lure of sunbrowned, luscious maidens and a paradise of coconut palms, coral strand and blue lagoons. Enchanted South Pacific archipelagos beckon with all the beauty and color of a painter’s palette. Stepping stones in the vast expanse of far-away seas, they promise romance, adventure, excitement—an irresistible blend of fascinating people and exotic places.

South Seas Adventure

1958

No artwork available
7.0

In this Pete Smith Specialty short, a husband endures the trials of being married to a wife with irritating traits.

I Love My Wife BUT!

1947

No artwork available
10.0

In this Pete Smith Specialty short, a wife endures the trials of being married to a husband with traits that drive her crazy.

I Love My Husband, But!

1946

Crashing the Movies poster
7.0

This Pete Smith Specialty short shows newsreel clips of people performing strange stunts. Among those featured are a motorcyclist driving through a pane of glass, a car being driven up a ramp and crashing on top of other cars, a human loop-the-loop, and a man who has a cannonball shot at his abdomen at close range.

Crashing the Movies

1950

No artwork available
NR

A humorous look at some typical housework troubles that may arise. A Pete Smith Specialty short.

The Man Around the House

1955

Movie Pests poster
6.1

This Pete Smith Specialty short takes a humorous look at the inconsiderate pests whose annoying habits make enjoying a movie impossible.

Movie Pests

1944

No artwork available
10.0

In this Pete Smith Specialty, the audience is asked multiple-choice questions about various sports. Depending on the question, the correct answer is revealed after 5 or 10 seconds.

Early Sports Quiz: What's Your I.Q. No. 13

1947

What About Daddy? poster
7.0

The trials and tribulations of a husband as his pregnant wife gets closer to the delivery date.

What About Daddy?

1942

No artwork available
7.2

In this Pete Smith Specialty short, a series of vignettes illustrate some ways that mothers-in-law irritate, and/or cause problems for, their son-in-law.

I Love My Mother-In-Law But...

1948

The Proud Bird from Shanghai poster
NR

Chinese pheasants set loose in Oregon in 1881 find it difficult to survive in their new home, where there are different kinds of predators, but eventually they multiply and create a breed of ring-necked pheasants that can be found throughout the country.

The Proud Bird from Shanghai

1973

Seeing Hands poster
6.3

This serious Pete Smith Specialty series entry encourages industry to hire people with disabilities to help with the war effort. As a boy, Ben Helwig was blinded in an accident while playing baseball. He eventually acquired a guide dog and now works in a defense plant.

Seeing Hands

1943

Calling All Pa's poster
6.7

In this Pete Smith Specialty short, a new father experiences the trials and tribulations of fatherhood.

Calling All Pa's

1942

No artwork available
6.5

In this Pete Smith Specialty short, answers are sought regarding some things people may have wondered about.

Have You Ever Wondered?

1947

First Aid poster
6.7

This short film is a humorous look at basic first aid techniques for mishaps that often occur around the house.

First Aid

1943

Let's Cogitate poster
7.5

Short film covering a variety of topics that folks may have wondered about.

Let's Cogitate

1948

Did'ja Know? poster
5.0

This short looks at the following questions: How would you act as an expectant father? How many greeting cards are sold in the USA each year? Why do indoor radiators make that pounding noise? Why do mammals yawn?

Did'ja Know?

1950

No artwork available
7.0

The profession of capturing animals in action on celluloid is both an art and science. Some of the most exciting footage can be obtained in different ways. Examples are: a large herd, such as of reindeer, moving as one; slow motion footage of fast moving animals, such as racing greyhounds, especially when they do something unexpected; mothers and their newborn offspring doing what comes naturally; animals placed among special props; animals placed in human situations; combining the exciting and dangerous, such as the running of the bulls in Pamplona and the bullfights to follow; placing animals that are not natural companions together; and placing animals in the situation of a challenge, such as a bunch of bananas just out of reach of a hungry monkey. Many of these elements are combined into the final sequence of a steeplechase race.

Animals in Action

1955

Things We Can Do Without poster
7.3

A Pete Smith Specialty shorts series entry. Dave demonstrates a variety of household items and furniture which, while modern, is much more trouble than the progress is worth.

Things We Can Do Without

1953

Cash Stashers poster
6.8

This Pete Smith Specialty short shows, humorously, the disastrous results when people save their money in unsafe places.

Cash Stashers

1953

Sure Cures poster
5.7

This comedic Pete Smith Specialty short examines the folly of using "home remedies" for various ills.

Sure Cures

1946

Seventh Column poster
7.0

This humorous short film shows how carelessness and accidents can harm the war effort, and steps on how to avoid them.

Seventh Column

1943

No artwork available
NR

Harry Horseknuckle tries to figure out what to do with some strange and unwanted gifts.

Just What I Needed

1955

No artwork available
9.0

Two expert badminton players demonstrate how the best play the game, including some slick trick shots. Meanwhile, befuddled bungler Bellamy B. Birdbrain bumbles his way through building a backyard badminton court. (This film is played in its entirety in MGM's short feature "The Great Morgan")

Badminton

1945

No artwork available
5.0

This Pete Smith Specialty comedic short details the troubles the average woman faces with maintaining beauty and fitness.

Gettin' Glamour

1946