Mr. Celebrity

The very wealthy, good-intentioned grandparents of orphan Danny Mason want to take him from his beloved Uncle Jim, a down-on-his-luck racetrack veterinarian. To avoid losing custody, Danny and Jim hide out at Celebrity Ranch, where their fates entwine with the other residents: silent film stars, Francis X. Bushman, Clara Kimball Young, ex heavyweight champion Jim Jeffries (all playing themselves), and a beautiful novelist who captures the doctor's affections. To help with expenses, Jim offers to mend an injured racehorse, Mr. Celebrity, for competition. But the stakes are highest when a detective tracks down Jim with a subpoena for custody, and he and Danny face what could be their biggest loss.

With an estimated 500 films and scores of television episodes under his belt, director William Beaudine was known as "One-Shot" for his ability to shoot a scene in one take. This prolific director's body of work ranges from the silent film era, The Canadian (1926) and Sparrows (1926) to controversial films such as Mom and Dad (1945) and over half of the Bowery Boy films. Likable performer James Seay headlines a cast of recognizable supporting players including Gavin Gordon, John Berkes and Michael Mark. Mr. Celebrity features a heart-warming performance by actor turned stuntman Buzzy Henry.

• drama