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…
Kitty Lorraine Alice Brady Shirley Lorraine Maureen O’Sullivan Warren Foster Franchot Tone Released by MGM | Directed by Charles Brabin Run time: 84 minutes Proof That It’s a Pre-Code Film In one of the most unique scenes of the entire pre-Code era, the titular ‘stage mother’ offers to hook her Read more…
Mary Sidney Fox Gus Paul Lukas Lewis Stone Mr. Jones Released by Universal | Directed by John M. Stahl Run time: 90 minutes Proof That It’s a Pre-Code Film “How about you go to–“ The first act takes place in a speakeasy. A man and woman are living together before Read more…
Florence Loretta Young Maizee Winnie Lightner Daniel Lyle Talbot Released by Warner Bros. | Directed by George Amy & Busby Berkeley Run time: 64 minutes Proof That It’s a Pre-Code Film It’s about forced prostitution, virginity, and petulant male power grabs. She Had to Say Yes: It’s an Awful, Awful Read more…
Blacky Gorman Joel McCrea Marge Ginger Rogers Glory Marian Nixon Released by RKO | Directed by William Seiter Run time: 71 minutes Proof That It’s a Pre-Code Film “That’s mighty white of you!” “C’mon, you peeping toms, we’ve got a lot of drinking to do!” At one point, Glory turns Read more…
Alexander Hamilton George Arliss Betsy Hamilton Doris Kenyon Senator Roberts Dudley Diggs Released by Warner Bros. | Directed by John G. Adolfi Run time: 70 minutes Proof That It’s a Pre-Code Film Hamilton has an extramarital affair that nearly tears apart the country. Alexander Hamilton: An Upstanding Citizen “Alexander, you’re Read more…
Mary Loretta Young Margaret Loretta Young George Jack Mulhall Released by Warner Bros. | Directed by William Beaudine Run time: 74 minutes Proof That It’s a Pre-Code Film The film begins at a speakeasy called the Peking Pleasure Palace, which lacks a certain amount of exoticism in its Chinese staff. Read more…
Lola Loretta Young Ken Norman Foster Agnes Aline MacMahon Released by Warner Bros. | Directed by Thornton Freeland Run time: 67 minutes Proof That It’s a Pre-Code Film A working women succeeds in a man’s world. Men wake up in the morning with one thing on their mind. Week-End Marriage: Read more…
Wayne Lowell Sherman Helene Andrews Irene Dunne Agatha Carraway Mae Murray Released by RKO | Directed by Lowell Sherman Run time: 76 minutes Proof That It’s a Pre-Code Film “I’m a firm believer in that a woman’s place is next to her husband.” Noel Francis keeps slipping in and out Read more…
Charley “Beauty” Steele Conrad Nagel Rosalie Loretta Young Billy William Janney Released by Warner Bros. | Directed by Frank Lloyd Run time: 68 minutes Proof That It’s a Pre-Code Film The old amnesia/remarriage/”General Hospital” hogwash. People keep trying to kill Charley Steele and, frankly, it’s kind of a relief when Read more…