Proof That It’s Pre-Code It’s about a lady gangster who takes over a mob through her wits rather than with her body– which is pretty rare for a Pre-Code. She’s vicious, cunning, and makes suckers out of her enemies. Blondie goes into the hospital to visit her gangster cohort who Read more…
The Particulars of the Picture Myra Mae Clarke Roy Douglass Montgomery Directed by James Whale Proof That It’s Pre-Code Prostitutes! Plenty of them, all morally conflicted about their place in the world. Oh, and some scantily clad backstage antics for good measure. As per the ever perceptive IMDB keywords, “Nipples Read more…
Lily Barbara Stanwyck Courtland Trenholm George Brent Mr. Stevens Donald Cook Chico Theresa Harris Mr. Carter Henry Kolker Mr. Sipple Arthur Hohl Proof That It’s Pre-Code The film’s main conceit is that all life is exploitation, and you must simply be the one doing the exploiting. One book thumping scholar Read more…
Proof That It’s Pre-Code Getting a little ahead of myself, but the movie is about two couples on their honeymoon, so there’s that. And it leads to some naughty moments, including Norma Shearer showing off: The next twist of the plot is that one member of each couple were married Read more…
Barbara O’Neill Barbara Stanwyck Bradley Carlton Ricardo Cortez Eddie Miller … Monroe Owlsey Proof That It’s Pre-Code Ten Cents a Dance is about professional dance hall girls, who don’t come across like prostitutes at all. I mean, sure, they stand around, looking bored (“while you wait, you advertise”), waiting for Read more…
Proof That It’s Pre-Code Our main character and eventual hero is a gangster, though he’s not much in the Jimmy Cagney way. There’s a makeover required, and a male hairdresser, Pierre, is requested. The gangster denies him entrance until he’s convinced that the guy is… well, okay to be around Read more…
Proof That It’s Pre-Code |
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| Lois Ames… Kay Francis |
Tommy Sherman… David Manners |
Ruth Holman… Una Merkel |
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| Andy Doyle… Andy Devine |
Freddie Ames… Kenneth Thompson |
Directed by William Dieterle |
Proof That It’s Pre-Code So, uh, you ever seen a woman in prison movie? Catfights and other assorted nastiness, though nothing as extreme and as crazy sexist as you’d get about thirty years later. There’s a nice long scene where our protagonist is introduced to her fellow inmates who have Read more…
Proof That It’s Pre-Code Adultery. Duh. Our characters get sloshed in a speakeasy, with Joan Blondell busting out some fantastic drunk acting. A noble act of suicide saves the day. It should be noted that it does not look painless, though. Line that wouldn’t mean the same thing nowadays: “I’m Read more…
Proof That It’s Pre-Code One of those gold digging pictures that we’re all so fond of: “Who said anything about love? I’m talking about money.” Ruth Donnelly, playing a mom, makes a suggestion to her daughter: “Don’t wear this. Wear your blue dress. Shows more of your… girlish laughter.” 😉 Read more…