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Race and/or Blackface

1931

The Prodigal (1931) Review, with Lawrence Tibbett and Esther Ralston

Jeffrey Farraday Lawrence Tibbett Tony Farraday Esther Ralston Mrs. Farraday Emma Dunn Doc Roland Young Snipe Cliff Edwards Rodman Farraday Purnell Pratt Released by Metro-Goldwyn-Mayer | Directed by Harry A. Pollard Run time: 76 minutes Proof That It’s a Pre-Code Film “The last place I’d worry about being caught by Read more…

By Danny, 9 yearsFebruary 20, 2017 ago
1931

Trader Horn (1931) Review, with Harry Carey and Edwina Booth

Trader Horn Harry Carey Peru Duncan Renaldo Nina – The White Goddess Edwina Booth Released by MGM | Directed by W.S. Van Dyke Run time: 122 minutes Proof That It’s a Pre-Code Film It’s racist as hell. Another film that posits that black women’s breasts aren’t as sinful to see Read more…

By Danny, 9 yearsFebruary 6, 2017 ago
1930

The Green Goddess (1930) Review, with George Arliss and Ralph Forbes

The Raja George Arliss Dr. Traherne Ralph Forbes Lucilla Alice Joyce Released by Warner Bros. | Directed by Alfred E. Green Run time: 73 minutes Proof That It’s a Pre-Code Film Look, there’s an evil Indian king and he really wants to nail this (married) white lady. There are no Read more…

By Danny, 9 yearsFebruary 3, 2017 ago
1931

Pardon Us (1931) Review, with Laurel and Hardy

Oliver Oliver Hardy Stan Stanley Laurel The Tiger Walter Long Released by Hal Roach Studios  | Directed by James Parrott Run time: 70 minutes Proof That It’s a Pre-Code Film There’s a long sequence in the middle of the film where Laurel & Hardy have escaped prison and disguise themselves Read more…

By Danny, 9 years ago
1932

Bird of Paradise (1932) Review, with Joel McCrea and Dolores del Rio

Johnny Joel McCrea Luana Dolores del Rio Mac John Halliday Released by RKO | Directed by King Vidor Run time: 82 minutes Proof That It’s a Pre-Code Film “What is this place?” “Probably one of the Virgin Islands.” “I hope not!” There are a couple of South Seas orgies. Ya Read more…

By Danny, 9 yearsJanuary 16, 2017 ago
1932

The Phantom President (1932) Review, with George M. Cohan, Claudette Colbert, and Jimmy Durante

T.K. Blair / Doc Varney George M. Cohan Curly Cooney Jimmy Durante Felicia Hammond Claudette Colbert Released by Paramount | Directed by Norman Taurog Run time: 78 minutes Proof That It’s a Pre-Code Film Cohan puts on blackface for a number. Yay. Sidney Toler puts on yellow face once more. Read more…

By Danny, 9 yearsNovember 7, 2016 ago
1931

Dirigible (1931) Review, with Jack Holt, Ralph Graves and Fay Wray

Jack Jack Holt ‘Frisky’ Ralph Graves Helen Fay Wray Released by Columbia | Directed by Frank Capra Run time: 100 minutes Proof That It’s a Pre-Code Film I can’t tell if this was suggestive or not: “You know, wives and south poles weren’t meant to mix!” Dirigible: Hot Air “When Read more…

By Danny, 10 yearsSeptember 12, 2016 ago
1933

Ann Carver’s Profession (1933) Review, with Fay Wray, Gene Raymond, and Claire Dodd

Ann Carver Fay Wray Bill Graham Gene Raymond Carole Rodgers Claire Dodd Released by Columbia | Directed by Edward Buzzell Run time: 68 minutes Proof That It’s a Pre-Code Film A woman… with a college degree! And… and she doesn’t want to sit around the house! It’s madness I tell Read more…

By Danny, 10 yearsSeptember 2, 2016 ago
1931

Side Show (1931) Review, with Winnie Lightner and Charles Butterworth

Babs Winnie Lightner Sidney Charles Butterworth Joe Donald Cook Released by First National/Vitaphone/WB | Directed by Roy Del Ruth Run time: 64 minutes Proof That It’s a Pre-Code Film Star Lightner dresses in a hula skirt and has no qualms about flipping it up, down, and all around. Another job Read more…

By Danny, 10 yearsMay 20, 2016 ago
1934

Imitation of Life (1934) Review, with Claudette Colbert, Louise Beavers, and Warren William

Beatrice Pullman Claudette Colbert Delilah Johnson Louise Beavers Stephen Archer Warren William Peola Johnson Fredi Washington Jessie Pullman Rochelle Hudson Elmer Smith Ned Sparks Released by Universal Pictures | Directed by John M. Stahl Proof That It’s Pre-Code-ish The relationship between two women, one black and one white, and their Read more…

By Danny, 10 yearsMay 6, 2016 ago

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Pre-Code.Com celebrates Hollywood films made from 1930 to 34, when the talkies were new and censorship was lax. Learn more about the era here, or browse our many reviews.

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Night After Night (1932) Review, with George Raft, Roscoe Karns, and Mae West
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