This week’s mystery movie was the 1935 MGM film Sequoia with Jean Parker, Russell Hardie, Samuel S. Hinds, Paul Hurst, Ben Hall, Willie Fung and Harry Lowe Jr.
Screenplay by Ann Cunningham, Sam Armstrong and Carey Wilson.
Based on the novel Malibu by Vance Hoyt.
Musical score by Herbert Stothart.
Recording by Douglas Shearer.
Photographed by Chester A. Lyons.
Edited by Charles Hochberg.
Directed by Chester M. Franklin.
Produced by John W. Considine Jr.
Further information on Sequoia is available from the AFI Catalog.
Fun fact: The animal stars of the film, Gato and Malibu, appeared at first-run showings of the film.
Sequoia has apparently never been commercially released in English, though a German-dubbed version may be found in certain regions of the Internet. I recorded it when it aired on TCM a few years ago.
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I picked Sequoia by going through the trades and yes, I’m back to Harrison’s Reports because the other publications are more geared toward exhibitors or otherwise cumbersome to use.
Which New York Times critic is going to hate this movie? Will it be Frank S. Nugent? Mordaunt Hall? One of the “alphabet critics?”
I’m astonished! Andre Sennwald gets the call (February 23, 1935), and he likes it!
Let us not peer too closely at the alchemy by which Chester M. Franklin persuades a deer and a puma to provide two of the year’s great performances in Sequoia. It is enough for us to know that the Capitol has succeeded its distinguished film edition of David Copperfield with a remarkable photoplay of wildlife in the California mountains. In technical achievement, in photographic beauty and in the poetry of pure emotion, this drama of a strange friendship is a phenomenal photoplay. If Sequoia were only the technical triumph of making the biblical lion and lamb lie down together, Mr. Franklin could be applauded for his success in arranging a unique practical joke. But the film possesses genuine artistic distinction and it encompasses an emotional cycle that is more profoundly touching than most human make-believe.
For Monday, we have a mysterious lad.
Update: This is Harry Lowe Jr.
For Tuesday, Monday’s mysterious lad has a mystery parent.
Update: This is Willie Fung holding Harry Lowe Jr.
For “Hm Wednesday,” we have some enigmatic critters.
Update: This is Malibu and Gato.
Brain Trust roll call: Mary Mallory (Tuesday’s mysterious fellow), Chrisbo (Tuesday’s mysterious gent), Incredible Inman (Tuesday’s mysterious chef), Suz n Chaz (Tuesday’s mysterious guest), Anne Papineau (Tuesday’s mysterious chap), Mike Hawks (Tuesday’s enigmatic fellow) and Benito (Tuesday’s mystery personage).
For “Aha Thursday,” we have two mysterious fellows.
Update: This is Samuel S. Hinds and Russell Hardie.
Brain Trust roll call: L.C. (mystery movie and mysterious cast), Mary Mallory (mystery movie, Monday’s mysterious lad and Wednesday’s mystery critters), Stacia (mystery movie and all mysterious guests), Mike Hawks (mystery movie and Monday’s mysterious lad), and Anne Papineau (mystery movie, Monday’s mystery lad and Wednesday’s enigmatic critters).
For Friday, we have a mysterious leading lady and the starring critters.
Update: This is Jean Parker with Gato and Malibu.
Brain Trust roll call: Mary Mallory (Thursday’s mystery guests), Suz N Chaz (mystery movie and all mystery guests), Mike Hawks (Thursday’s mystery guests), Dan Nather (Mystery movie and all mystery guests) and Anne Papineau (Thursday’s mystery guests).
ladailymirror.com 
It’s definitely Willie Fung. You might want to pin it at the top, because I don’t think Mike Hawks is going to scroll through everything to find it.
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Willie Fung Tuesday?
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Willie Fung for Tuesday. I’m guessing the mystery movie is “Stowaway.”
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That’s the great Willie Fung (also in last week’s Mystery Movie) in…..so many movies to choose from!
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Willie Fung?
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Willie Fung.
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The charming Chinese gent Willie Fung today
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On Tuesday, Willie Fung?
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Sequoia (1934) w/Willie Fung, Harry Lowe, Jr, Jean Parker, Samuel Hinds, Russell Hardie, Edward Brophy, Paul Hurst…
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THE VIRGINIAN? But Willie is in 2 somewhat westerns with Jack Mulhall.
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SEQUOIA! Jean Parker brings home a small puma called “Gato” and a fawn called “Malibu.”
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Harry Lowe Jr. is our boy from Monday, Gato and Malibu today. Please tell me the animals survive.
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Sequoia (1934) — Tuesday is Willie Fung, Wednesday would be Malibu and Gato, I think the little boy on Monday is Harry Lowe, Jr. I read an article about the movie saying he stole the show and I don’t doubt it, he’s cute as the dickens.
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Harry Lowe, Jr. in SEQUOIA.
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On Monday, Harry Lowe Jr. in “Sequoia.” On Wednesday, Gato the puma and fawn Malibu
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Samuel S. Hinds and Russell Hardie.
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Sequoia (1934) with Samuel S. Hinds, Willie Fung, Russell Hardie, Jean Parker (Friday?) with gato and Malibu the cute animals.
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Samuel S. Hinds and Russell Hardie.
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When I saw the deer and the puma yesterday, I said to myself, “Hm — if they rate that highly on the week’s schedule, they’ve got to be Malibu and Gato from SEQUOIA.”
Which leads me to think that’s Harry Lowe, Jr on Monday, Willie Fung on Tuesday,
and Samuel S. Hinds and Donald Douglas today.
I’m glad you chose this movie, Larry — it deserves to be better known.
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Samuel S. Hinds and Russell Hardie
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Jean Parker with Gato and Malibu
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Jean Parker.
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Our star, Jean Parker, as “Toni Martin”
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I’m way too late to this party. Only recognized Samuel S. Hinds (IAWL’s doomed Papa) on Thursday and had zero time to search until tonight. Never heard of this movie. Sounds interesting though and look forward to the Saturday breakdown. Anyhooo…
Sequoia 1934
Jean Parker, Russell Hardle, Samuel S. Hinds, Willie Fung, Harry Lowe Jr. and the real stars of the show, Gato and Malibu.
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Chester Franklin had been directing since the late teens and John Considine Jr.’s father ran one of the vaudeville circuits.
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