Joan Ogden Helen Twelvetrees Dick Ogden Robert Young Henry Trask Lewis Stone Released by MGM Directed by Harry Beaumont Run time: 76 minutes Proof That It’s a Pre-Code Film Men have their sexual indiscretions, women aren’t supposed to. Ask me if that makes any sense. Just a quick reminder that Read more…
Roger Standish Richard Dix Caroline Ogden Ann Harding Matilda Blake Edna May Oliver Released by RKO Directed by William Wellman Run time: 86 minutes Proof That It’s a Pre-Code Film There are a couple of particularly brutal episodes in this one, including a child begging for its life before dying Read more…
Marie / X-27 Marlene Dietrich Colonel Kranau Victor McLaglen Chief Gustav von Seyffertitz Released by Paramount Directed by Josef von Sternberg Run time: 91 minutes Proof That It’s a Pre-Code Film The opening shot is of Marlene Dietrich adjusting her stockings. It’s called an attention-getter. The opening also involves a Read more…
John Day Richard Dix Dorothy Day Madge Evans Mamie Una Merkel Released by MGM Directed by Charles Brabin Run time: 68 minutes Proof That It’s a Pre-Code Film Adultery. One man asks the prison librarian, “Do you have a book on sex?” There are a couple of murders here, and Read more…
Gibson Richard Dix Follette Mary Astor Von Furst Erich von Stroheim Red Joel McCrea Woody Robert Armstrong Fritz Hugh Herbert Released by RKO Directed by George Archainbaud Run time: 79 minutes Proof That It’s a Pre-Code Film Our leads not only enjoy each other’s company, but they enjoy fighting in Read more…
Capt. Fred Allison Leslie Howard Lt. Jack ‘Dig’ Digby Douglas Fairbanks Jr. Col. Carl Ehlrich Paul Lukas Released by Warner Bros. Directed by Roy Del Ruth Run time: 69 minutes Proof That It’s a Pre-Code Film Early in the film, a cadre of captured soldiers are stripped naked and forced Read more…
Mary Martin Billie Dove Susie Helen Ware Dick Rollins Douglas Fairbanks, Jr. Released by Warner Bros./First National Directed by John Francis Dillon Run time: 62 minutes Proof That It’s a Pre-Code Film Susie takes care of down-on-their-luck gangsters. When they come to her, she always proffers them her butler’s clothing. Read more…
Cary Lockwood Richard Barthelmess Shep Lambert David Manners Nikki Helen Chandler Released by Warner Bros. | Directed by William Dieterle Run time: 76 minutes Proof That It’s a Pre-Code Film Nikki is, “just an old hussy we found scattered around.” A friend named Frink is “a member of the wandering Read more…
Hans Harry Earles Frida Daisy Earles Cleopatra Olga Baclanova Phroso Wallace Ford Venus Leila Hyams Hercules Henry Victor Released by MGM | Directed by Tod Browning Run time: 64 minutes Proof That It’s a Pre-Code Film “They don’t realize I’m a man, with the same feelings they have!” Love comes Read more…
John Allen Edward G. Robinson Shirley Day Vivienne Osborne Bud Clark Preston Foster Released by Warner Bros. | Directed by Mervyn LeRoy Run time: 68 minutes Proof That It’s a Pre-Code Film There’s a surprisingly detailed discussion of electrocution death. “I ain’t gonna live with no lily!” When Bud gets Read more…