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Women With Power

1934

The Merry Widow (1934) Review, with Maurice Cheavalier and Jeanette MacDonald

Danilo Maurice Chevalier Sonia Jeanette MacDonald Ambassador Edward Everett Horton King George Barbier Queen Una Merkel Orderly Sterling Holloway Released by Metro Goldwyn Mayer | Directed by Ernst Lubitsch Proof That It’s Pre-Code-ish How sexually carefree and attractive is the Chevalier character this go around? At a mod Parisian brothel, Read more…

By Danny, 10 yearsApril 18, 2016 ago
1932

The Famous Ferguson Case (1932) Review, with Joan Blondell and Tom Brown

Bruce Foster Tom Brown Maizie Dickson Joan Blondell Bob Parks Kenneth Thompson Released by Warner Bros. | Directed by Lloyd Bacon Run time: 74 minutes Proof That It’s a Pre-Code Film There’s a murder set off by a pair of adulterers… adultering. “That’s not your business!” “No, that’s monkey business!” Read more…

By Danny, 10 yearsApril 14, 2016 ago
1930

The Blue Angel (1930) Review, with Marlene Dietrich and Emil Jannings

Lola Lola Marlene Dietrich Professor Rath Emil Jannings The Magician Kurt Gerron Released by Paramount Pictures | Directed by Josef Von Sternberg Proof That It’s a Pre-Code Film Our lead singer, Lola Lola, has what men want, and is more than willing to pass it along. The Blue Angel: Destroyed Read more…

By Danny, 10 yearsApril 1, 2016 ago
Kiss Before the Mirror 1933
1933

The Kiss Before the Mirror (1933) Review, with Frank Morgan and Nancy Carroll

Paul Frank Morgan Maria Nancy Carroll Walter Paul Lukas Hilda Jean Dixon Schultz Charlie Grapewin Lucy Gloria Stuart Released by Paramount | Directed By James Whale Proof That It’s Pre-Code A premeditated murder is committed, and surely it’s okay to do that sometimes, right? One of the reporters seems a Read more…

By Danny, 11 yearsSeptember 25, 2015 ago
Gold Diggers of 1933 Joan Blondell pre-Code musical Warren William Ruby Keeler Dick Powell Ailene MacMahon Guy Kibbee Ned Sparks Ginger Rogers
1933

Gold Diggers of 1933 (1933) Review, with Joan Blondell, Warren William, Ruby Keeler, Dick Powell, Guy Kibbee, and Aline MacMahon

Carol Joan Blondell Lawrence Warren William Trixie Aline MacMahon Polly Ruby Keeler Brad Dick Powell Peabody Guy Kibbee Barney Ned Sparks Fay Ginger Rogers Singer Etta Moten Released by Warner Brothers | Directed by Mervyn LeRoy Proof That It’s Pre-Code One of the musical numbers is called “Pettin’ in the Read more…

By Danny, 11 yearsSeptember 18, 2015 ago
Queen Christina 1933 pre-code hollywood greta garbo john gilbert
1933

Queen Christina (1933) Review, with Greta Garbo and John Gilbert

Queen Christina Greta Garbo Antonio John Gilbert Magnus Ian Keith Oxenstierna Lewis Stone Ebba Elizabeth Owen Aage C. Aubrey Smith Released by MGM | Directed By Rouben Mamoulian Proof That It’s Pre-Code The titular queen is quite obviously a bisexual and also crossdresses. Christina compares nights of passionate lovemaking to Read more…

By Danny, 11 yearsJune 1, 2015 ago
1932

The Penguin Pool Murder (1932) Review, with Edna May Oliver and James Gleason

Hildegarde Withers Edna May Oliver Inspector Piper James Gleason Gwen Mae Clarke Philip Donald Cook Hemingway Clarence Wilson Barry Robert Armstrong Released by RKO | Directed By George Archainbaud The Penguin Pool Murder: Whirlpool of Intrigue We’re going to do something a little differently this week. Instead of my usual Read more…

By Danny, 11 yearsMay 13, 2015 ago
Let Us Be Gay (1930)
1930

Let Us Be Gay (1930) Review, with Norma Shearer and Marie Dressler

 Kitty Brown Norma Shearer Bob Brown Rod LaRocque Mrs. Bouccicault Marie Dressler Madge Hedda Hopper Wallace Tyrell Davis Townley Gilbert Emery Diane Sally Eilers Bruce Raymond Hackett Whitman Wilfred Noy Released by MGM | Directed By Robert Z. Leonard Proof That It’s Pre-Code Crumbum Kitty Brown goes from housewife to Read more…

By Danny, 11 yearsApril 13, 2015 ago
1930

Monte Carlo (1930) Review, with Jack Buchanan and Jeanette MacDonald

Countess Helene Mara Jeanette MacDonald Count Rudolph Farriere Jack Buchanan Prince Otto Von Liebenheim Claude Allister Released by Paramount Pictures | Directed By Ernst Lubitsch Proof That It’s Pre-Code Jeanette MacDonald is probably wearing just a neglige for about 25% of the movie. The Prince Liebenheim’s introductory song assures us Read more…

By Danny, 11 yearsMarch 13, 2015 ago
Big Business Girl 1931 review
1931

Big Business Girl (1931) Review, with Loretta Young, Ricardo Cortez, and Joan Blondell

Claire McIntyre Loretta Young Robert J. Clayton Ricardo Cortez Johnny Saunders Frank Albertson Released by Warner Brothers | Directed By William A. Seiter Proof That It’s Pre-Code A college party sees one couple heading outside to be alone. “Will I be safe with you out there in the dark?” “Safe? Read more…

By Danny, 11 yearsJanuary 5, 2015 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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