1933
Sailor’s Luck (1933) Review, with Sally Eilers and James Dunn
Sailors on shore leave run amok in this lousy comedy.
1932
The Sign of the Cross (1932) Review, with Fredric March and Claudette Colbert
One of the wildest orgies of all time hits the screen in Cecil B. DeMille’s The Sign of the Cross.
1933
Captured! (1933) Review, with Leslie Howard and Douglas Fairbanks Jr.
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…
1931
The Last Flight (1931) Review, with Richard Barthelmess, David Manners, & Helen Chandler
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…
1933
So This Is Africa (1933) Review, with Wheeler & Woolsey and Raquel Torres
Wilber Bert Wheeler Tarzana Raquel Torres Alexander Robert Woolsey Released by Columbia | Directed by Edward F. Cline Run time: 61 minutes Proof That It’s a Pre-Code Film “Hey! Come back here, you jackass!” “Oh see those Afri-cans.” “Virgin trees? Huh! They look pretty wild to me.” A swarm of Read more…
1934
Heat Lightning (1934) Review, with Aline MacMahon and Ann Dvorak
Olga Aline MacMahon Myra Ann Dvorak George Preston Foster Mrs. Tifton Glenda Farrell Frank Frank McHugh Mrs. Ashton-Ashley Ruth Donnelly Released by Warner Bros. | Directed by Mervy LeRoy Run time: 61 minutes Proof That It’s a Pre-Code Film Two women exit a car and beg the attendant: “Can you Read more…
1933
Deluge (1933) Review
Claire Arlington Peggy Shannon Helen Webster Lois Wilson Martin Webster Sidney Blackmer Released by Admiral Productions | Directed by Felix E. Feist Run time: 70 minutes Proof That It’s a Pre-Code Film There’s an apocalypse. People die! Violently! Our heroine, Claire, is a renowned swimmer who wears a modish two-piece Read more…
1932
Shanghai Express (1932) Review, with Marlene Dietrich, Anna May Wong and Colin Brook
Madeline / Shanghai Lily Marlene Dietrich Doctor Harvey Clive Brook Hui Fei Anna May Wong Henry Chang Warner Oland Sam Salt Eugene Pallatte Mr. Carmichael Lawrence Grant Released by Paramount Pictures | Directed by Josef Von Sternberg Run time: 83 minutes Proof That It’s a Pre-Code Film This film’s most Read more…
1931
Susan Lenox [Her Fall and Rise] (1931) Review, with Greta Garbo and Clark Gable
Helga/Susan Lenox Greta Garbo Rodney Clark Gable Ohlin Jean Hersholt Released by MGM | Directed by Robert Z. Leonard Proof That It’s Pre-Code Our female lead is threatened with rape and abuse constantly before turning to prostitution and gold digging. Susan Lenox: It’s A Man’s World “I think the most Read more…
1932
Panama Flo (1932) Review, with Helen Twelvetrees, Robert Armstrong, and Charles Bickford
Flo Helen Twelvetrees Babe Robert Armstrong McTeague Charles Bickford Released by Fox Pathe | Directed by Ryan Murphy Proof That It’s Pre-Code Drinking and speakeasies. Everyone is after Flo’s virtue. Or if they haven’t got it, they don’t believe she still has it. Not the nicest portrayal of South American Read more…