Acting

Don Downen

Born 1914-12-19 · Los Angeles, California, USA

Acting credits

Frisco Kid poster
7.0

After a roustabout sailor avoids being shanghaied in 1850s San Francisco, his audacity helps him rise to a position of power in the vice industry of the infamous Barbary Coast.

Frisco Kid

1935

'G' Men poster
6.6

James “Brick” Davis, a struggling attorney, owes his education to a mobster, but always has refused to get involved with the underworld. When a friend of his is gunned down by a notorious criminal, Brick decides to abandon the exercise of the law and join the Department of Justice to capture the murderer.

'G' Men

1935

Bullets or Ballots poster
6.6

After Police Captain Dan McLaren becomes police commissioner, former detective Johnny Blake publicly punches him, convincing rackets boss Al Kruger that Blake is sincere in his effort to join the mob. "Bugs" Fenner, meanwhile, is certain that Blake is a police agent.

Bullets or Ballots

1936

Kid Galahad poster
7.1

Fight promoter Nick Donati grooms a bellhop as a future champ, but has second thoughts when the 'kid' falls for his sister.

Kid Galahad

1937

Road Gang poster
7.0

A crusading young reporter planning a series of articles about a corrupt politician is framed for a crime and sentenced to serve five years at a prison farm.

Road Gang

1936

Satan Met a Lady poster
5.8

In the second screen version of The Maltese Falcon, a detective is caught between a lying seductress and a lady jewel thief.

Satan Met a Lady

1936

The Singing Kid poster
7.0

Neurotic Broadway star Al Jackson faces professional ruin when he loses his voice. While recuperating in the country, he falls in love with farm girl Ruth Haines, the pretty aunt of precocious little Sybil Haines.

The Singing Kid

1936

Don't Bet on Blondes poster
5.8

Owen, a small time bookie, decides to open an insurance business as it involves lesser risk. His first client is Colonel Youngblood who insures his daughter, Marilyn, against marriage.

Don't Bet on Blondes

1935

Freshman Love poster
7.0

A star rower is forced to join a good school under a pseudonym because his wealthy dad doesn't like schools that have high academic standards.

Freshman Love

1936

A Night at the Ritz poster
6.5

A PR man talks a swanky hotel into hiring his girlfriend's brother as chef.

A Night at the Ritz

1935

Mary Jane's Pa poster
6.8

Sam Preston is a small-town newspaper publisher who suffers from wanderlust. Leaving his family, he thinks well-provided for, he packs a suitcase and hits the road. Ten years later he comes back to find the newspaper shuttered and his family gone.

Mary Jane's Pa

1935

Her Husband's Secretary poster
6.0

A businessman buys trouble when he hires his wife"s best friend as his secretary.

Her Husband's Secretary

1937

The Payoff poster
5.5

An honest sports columnist's greedy wife persuades him to go easy on a cheat, famous for crooked sports deals.

The Payoff

1935

Man Hunt poster
10.0

A bored small-town teacher gets mixed up with an escaped bank robber.

Man Hunt

1936

Varsity Show poster
6.8

Winfield College students rebel against a stodgy professor who won't permit "swing" music be played in their varsity show. They appeal to a big Broadway alumnus and have him direct their show. What they don't know is that this "star's" last three shows were flops.

Varsity Show

1937

Mr. Dodd Takes the Air poster
5.6

A country bumpkin becomes a singing sensation on the radio.

Mr. Dodd Takes the Air

1937

Page Miss Glory poster
6.7

A country girl goes to the city and gets a job in a posh hotel, and winds up becoming an instant celebrity thanks to an ambitious photographer.

Page Miss Glory

1935

The Case of the Black Cat poster
7.0

Lawyer Perry Mason is summoned to the Laxter mansion in the dead of night to write granddaughter Wilma out of invalid Peter Laxter's will, to keep her from marrying suspected fortune hunter Doug. Peter dies in a mysterious fire and Laxter's two grandsons, Sam Laxter and Frank Oafley, inherit his estate on the condition old caretaker Schuster and his cat Clinker are kept on. When cat-hating Sam threatens Clinker, Perry steps in and learns Laxter's death was suspicious and the family fortune and diamonds are missing. Schuster's found dead in his basement apartment, Laxter's nurse Louise is murdered with Schuster's crutch, and circumstantial evidence brings Doug to trial for Louise's death. Mason's investigation produces a surprise witness who turns the trial around. Written by Sister Grimm

The Case of the Black Cat

1936

Ever Since Eve poster
5.8

Madge Winton, a beautiful secretary, makes herself look homely in order to avoid advances by lecherous bosses. When her new employer, writer Freddy Matthews, accidentally sees her without her disguise, she has to pretend to be her roommate Sadie.

Ever Since Eve

1937

The Case of the Stuttering Bishop poster
7.2

A Bishop from Australia comes to Perry to ask him to take a case of a woman wrongly accused of manslaughter 22 years before. The case would involve the wealthy Mr. Brownley and the fact that his alleged granddaughter may be an imposter. With that, the Bishop leaves and is clubbed in his hotel room. Soon after, he leaves on a boat and Perry meets the woman - Ida Gilbert. Perry goes to see Mr. Brownley, but gets nowhere. Later that night, Brownley is to meet Ida, but he is shot by a woman who drops Ida's gun. Ida is arrested for the murder of Mr. Brownley and Perry gets involved.

The Case of the Stuttering Bishop

1937

Hot Water poster
6.5

The Jones family is in an uproar when Dad's campaign for mayor appears sabotaged by an anonymous newspaper article.

Hot Water

1937

Talent Scout poster
6.7

A Hollywood heartthrob helps a small-town girl achieve stardom.

Talent Scout

1937

Midnight Court poster
5.1

After losing his bid for district attorney, an aspiring young lawyer agrees to defend a ring of car thieves.

Midnight Court

1937

Man of Iron poster
7.0

A construction company foreman's life changes--not necessarily for the better--when he is promoted to an executive position.

Man of Iron

1935