With the Internet Archive Top 100, you’re never too far from a film noir. World in My Corner is a film noir boxing movie starring Audie Murphy, known more for his Westerns. He plays an aspiring young boxer from Jersey City sponsored by a millionaire. He falls for the millionaire’s daughter, then decides to work for a crooked fight promoter to earn the money he thinks he needs to persuade her to marry him.

Murphy was one of the most decorated American combat soldiers of World War II, receiving every military combat award for valor available from the U.S. Army, as well as French and Belgian awards for heroism. This was his follow-up to the film version of his autobiography, To Hell and Back which set a box-office record for Universal at the time. Enjoy!

This entry in the Internet Archive Top 100 is a little unusual. Both IMDb voters and Leonard Maltin give this film ratings that should push it much higher on the list, but those are for the original German-language version, not this English version that was made simultaneously.

The Blue Angel presents the tragic transformation of a respectable professor to a cabaret clown and his descent into madness. It was the first feature-length German full-talkie, and it brought international fame to Marlene Dietrich as the woman who lures the professor away from his high school. Even when struggling with English, they’re all good at going bad.

The Perils of Pauline is a musical comedy depicting the semi-fictionalized life of a star of silent serials. Betty Hutton stars as Pearl White as she leaves her factory job to join a touring theatrical troupe, then bolts to Hollywood where she lands the leading role in the 1914 serial, The Perils of Pauline.

I find it interesting that IMDb voters prefer the serial to the Technicolor version, which Leonard Maltin gave 3 (of 4) stars, calling it a “lively, entertaining musical-comedy” with a “colorful atmosphere” and some actual silent-film veterans. Personally, I’m grateful any time there’s something playful and fun to watch in the Internet Archive Top 100.

Marlon Brando’s only director credit came for this Western, in which he also starred. One-Eyed Jacks is the story of a bank robber who takes the loot and leaves his partner to be captured. Then the partner escapes from jail and searches for the man who left him behind.

IMDb reports that Brando’s original version, shot over the course of two years, was almost five hours long and had to be recut by the studio. The film was Paramount Pictures’ last feature released in VistaVision. It’s a colorful spectacle in the Internet Archive Top 100.

The Rage of Paris is a fast-paced romantic comedy starring Danielle Darrieux as an unemployed model, about to be evicted from her apartment, who hits on the idea of finding a rich husband to solve her problems. She finds a likely candidate, but his friend knows her past and could scuttle matrimonial negotiations.

The Internet Archive Top 100 needs more screwball comedies like this one. Leonard Maltin gave it 3 stars (out of 4), and IMDb users pretty much agree. Give it a try!