Laurel Hardy Eddie’s Little Girl Jacquie Lyn Released by Hal Roach Studios Directed by George Marshall, Harry Black, Ray McCarey and Lloyd French Run time: 68 minutes Proof That It’s Pre-Code In this lighthearted, rollicking Laurel & Hardy picture, we are treated to a scene where ‘Eddie’s Little Girl’ is Read more…
Kylenko George Bancroft Maria Miriam Hopkins Dmitri Alan Mowbray Released by Paramount Directed by John Cromwell Run time: 72 minutes Proof That It’s a Pre-Code Film The plot hinges on a single night of lovemaking where Maria must seduce and distract Kylenko from his duties as a sailor. When he Read more…
Count Franz von Degenthal Herbert Marshall Jenny Kent Mary Boland Lela Fischer Sari Maritza Released by Paramount Directed by Stuart Walker Run time: 66 minutes Proof That It’s a Pre-Code Film “He ought to attract all the unsatisfied ladies of Vienna. Of Europe!” “Don’t forget America. America is full of Read more…
Death Fredric March Grazia Evelyn Venable Sir Guy Standing Duke Lambert Released by Paramount Directed by Mitchell Leisen Run time: 80 minutes Proof That It’s a Pre-Code Film “I’m too restless for marriage. Besides, I’ve had that once.” Death Takes a Holiday: Knocking on Heaven’s Door “A moment ago I Read more…
“Kid”Gary Cooper NanSylvia Sydney “The Big Fella”Paul Lukas Directed by Rouben MamoullianReleased by Paramount PicturesRuntime: 82 minutes Proof That It’s Pre-Code Concerns bootleggers and beer barons. City Streets: Wrong Ways “Good kid. You’ll never tell nobody nothing.” Rouben Mamoullian’s City Streets is a particularly stylish entry in the early-30s gangster Read more…
MorganBoris Karloff PenderelMelvyn Douglas Sir PorterhouseCharles Laughton Margaret WavertonGloria Stuart Gladys AKA “Perkins”Lilian Bond Horace FemmErnest Thesiger Released by Universal PicturesDirected by James WhaleRuntime: 72 minutes Proof That It’s Pre-Code People die, murders were committed, whatever, let’s get the hell out of here. The Old Dark House: Bumps in the Read more…
Dr. Silas BrentonLowell Sherman Dr. John ParkerBenton Churchill Georgia RandLila Lee Directed by Lowell ShermanReleased by World Wide PicturesRuntime: 73 minutes Proof That It’s Pre-Code Dr. Brenton (Sherman) assails himself with a bevy of women. We see one arrive in his apartment and we cut to a short while later Read more…
Mae ThorpeDorothy Hall June ThorpeJudith Wood Joseph Von SchraderPaul Lukas Directed by Dorothy ArznerReleased by Paramount PicturesRuntime: 77 minutes Proof That It’s Pre-Code One of our leading ladies gets fired for not sleeping with boss; of course, this is the ‘nice guy’ who later reneges on his decision. Not really Read more…
OliviaAnn Harding NickLaurence Olivier Mrs. TruesdaleZasu Pitts Directed by Robert MiltonReleased by RKORuntime: 73 minutes Proof That It’s Pre-Code A hotelier very skeptical about a married couple appearing wanting to get a room, but doesn’t believe them until a certificate is furnished. Divorce, with the couple reuniting despite subsequent marriages. Read more…
Madame Du BarryDolores del Rio King Louis XVReginald Owen Armand d’AiguillonVictor Jory Directed by: William DieterleReleased by: Warner Bros.Run time: 79 minutes Proof That It’s (Almost) Pre-Code “Madam, what are you trying to do to France?”“Oh, just what it’s doing to me.” We’re introduced to Du Barry (del Rio) in Read more…