Above is a screen capture of Newill as one of the singing band members in the public domain film SOMETHING TO SING ABOUT (Grand National, 1937) which starred James Cagney. Newill doesn't get billing in the opening credits but "James Newill" is listed as a band member in the closing credits. He was about 26 years old when he did this film. |
(Courtesy of Les Adams) Above is the title lobby card from the first of the Renfrew "singing mountie" films, RENFREW OF THE ROYAL MOUNTED (Grand National, 1937). The heroine clutching James Newill's arm is pretty Carol Hughes. Among her many roles was the female lead in Roy Rogers' first starring film, UNDER WESTERN STARS (Republic, 1938) and she portrayed Dale Arden in the third Buster Crabbe/Flash Gordon serial, FLASH GORDON CONQUERS THE UNIVERSE (Universal, 1940). In the canoe are Chief Thunder Cloud (Victor Daniels) and Lightning, the Wonder Dog. (Courtesy of Les Adams) All (or most all) of the silver screen cowboys had product tie-ins. Here's a James Newill coat that was included in the pressbook for RENFREW OF THE ROYAL MOUNTED (Grand National, 1937). |