Pre-Code.Com
  •  Home
  • What is Pre-Code Hollywood?
    • What is Pre-Code Hollywood?
    •  What is The Production Code?
    • A Timeline of the Pre-Code Hollywood Era
  •  The Movies
    •  The Essential Pre-Codes
    •  List of Pre-Code Films
    •  Academy Award Nominees and Winners
    •  Review List and Site Index
    •  Highest Grossing Films
  •  Discover
    •  Actors
    •  Actresses
    •  The Studios
      •  Warner Brothers
      •  MGM
      •  Paramount Pictures
      •  Fox Films
      •  RKO
  • The Pre-Code Companion
  • TCMFF

Crime

Strange Love of Molly Louvain pre-code hollywood Ann Dvorak Lee Tracy
1932

The Strange Love of Molly Louvain (1932) Review, with Ann Dvorak and Lee Tracy

Molly Louvain Ann Dvorak Scotty Cornell Lee Tracy Nicky Grant Leslie Fenton Jimmy Hook Richard Cromwell Captain Slade Charles Middleton Pops Guy Kibbee Released by Warner Brothers/First National | Directed By Michael Curtiz Proof That It’s Pre-Code Molly Louvain gets pregnant out of wedlock and has a child. Molly Louvain Read more…

By Danny, 11 yearsJune 22, 2015 ago
Fog Over Frisco (1934)
1934

Fog Over Frisco (1934) Review, with Bette Davis and Margaret Lindsey

Arlene Bette Davis Val Margaret Lindsay Tony Donald Woods Spencer Lyle Talbot Izzy Hugh Herbert Chief O’Malley Alan Hale Bradford Arthur Byron Jake Bello Irving Pichel Maynard Douglas Dumbrille Released by Warner Brothers | Directed By William Dieterle Proof That It’s Pre-Code Notably, the night club at the beginning of Read more…

By Danny, 11 yearsDecember 6, 2014 ago
The Maltese Falcon (1931)
1931

The Maltese Falcon (1931) Review, with Ricardo Cortez and Bebe Daniels

Sam Spade Ricardo Cortez Ruth Wonderly Bebe Daniels Casper Gutman Dudley Digges Effie Perine Una Merkel Iva Archer Thelma Todd Dr. Joel Cairo Otto Matieson Released by Warner Brothers | Directed By Roy Del Ruth Proof That It’s Pre-Code Sam Spade likes the ladies. More on that below. Homosexual subtext Read more…

By Danny, 11 yearsDecember 1, 2014 ago
The Circus Queen Murder (1933)
1933

The Circus Queen Murder (1933) Review, with Adolphe Menjou

Thatcher Colt Adolphe Menjou Sebastian Donald Cook La Tour Greta Nissen Miss Kelly Ruthelma Stevens Jim Dugan Harry Holman Flandrin Dwight Frye Released by Columbia | Directed By Roy William Neill Proof That It’s Pre-Code A married circus performer is having an affair and everyone wants in on it. A Read more…

By Danny, 11 yearsNovember 28, 2014 ago
Bright Lights (1930)
1930

Bright Lights (1930) Review, with Dorothy Mackaill

Louanne Dorothy Mackaill Wally Dean Frank Fay Miguel Parada Noah Beery Released by Warner Brothers | Directed by Michael Curtiz Proof That It’s Pre-Code “Why don’t you marry that guy and forget him?” We meet Dorothy Mackaill in the movie lounging in a negligee cooing a parrot on her outstretched Read more…

By Danny, 11 yearsOctober 27, 2014 ago
Hatchet Man (1932)
1932

The Hatchet Man (1932), with Edward G. Robinson and Loretta Young

Wong Low Get Edward G. Robinson Sun Toya San Loretta Young Harry En Hai Leslie Fenton Released by Warner Brothers | Directed By William A. Wellman Proof That It’s Pre-Code It’s a movie about Chinese-Americans which means, yes, the main cast is caked in yellow face. It also deals with Read more…

By Danny, 12 yearsAugust 25, 2014 ago
1931

Little Caesar (1931) Review, with Edward G. Robinson and Douglas Fairbanks Jr.

Rico Edward G. Robinson Joe Douglas Fairbanks Jr. Olga Glenda Farrell Released by Warner Brothers | Directed By Mervyn LeRoy Proof That It’s Pre-Code Homosexual undertones galore. From a few guys checking out Douglas Fairbanks Jr.’s dance moves to Rico’s gushing toady, it’s hard not to read the whole thing Read more…

By Danny, 12 yearsAugust 22, 2014 ago
1931

The Public Enemy (1931) Review, with James Cagney

Tom Powers James Cagney Gwen Allen Jean Harlow Matt Doyle Edward Woods Mike Powers Donald Cook Ma Powers Beryl Mercer Mamie Joan Blondell Released by Warner Brothers | Directed By William A. Wellman Proof That It’s Pre-Code Our hero is a thug and he’s punished for his actions. But, boy, Read more…

By Danny, 12 yearsAugust 15, 2014 ago
1933

Lady Killer (1933) Review, with James Cagney and Mae Clarke

Dan Quigley James Cagney Myra Mae Clarke Lois Underwood Margaret Lindsay Released by Warner Brothers | Directed By Roy Del Ruth Proof That It’s Pre-Code “I’m not a madam!” “Well… I wouldn’t know about that.” The main character is a conman who goes from card swindling, running a casino, grand Read more…

By Danny, 12 yearsJuly 7, 2014 ago
Love Is A Racket 1932
1932

Love is a Racket (1932) Review, with Douglas Fairbanks Jr.

Jimmy Russell Douglas Fairbanks Jr.  Stanley Fiske Lee Tracy Sally Condon Ann Dvorak       Bernie Olds Warren Hymer Eddie Shaw Lyle Talbot Mary Wodehouse Frances Dee Released by Warner Brothers | Directed By William A. Wellman Proof That It’s Pre-Code Unpunished murder, my friends. The good old fashioned Read more…

By Danny, 12 yearsJanuary 13, 2014 ago

Posts pagination

Previous 1 2 3 4 5 Next
Coming in October 2025!

From me and Kim Luperi.
Order now at:
- Amazon
- Barnes & Noble
- Bookshop.org
- Larry Edmunds

Joan Blondell

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.

Support the site on Patreon Instagram! Follow us on BlueSky Follow us on TikTok Follow us on Letterboxd Follow us on Twitter
Top Posts & Pages
List of Pre-Code Hollywood Films
Belle of the Nineties (1934) Review, with Mae West
Pre-Code.Com Site Index
Famous Actresses of Pre-Code Hollywood
What is Pre-Code Hollywood?
Pre-Code Movies on TCM in May 2025
The Sign of the Cross (1932) Review, with Fredric March and Claudette Colbert
My List of Essential Pre-Code Hollywood Films
Night After Night (1932) Review, with George Raft, Roscoe Karns, and Mae West
Doctor X (1932) Review, with Lee Tracy and Fay Wray
Categories
Recent Posts
  • Family Movie Night Menus by Leonard and Jessie Maltin Book Review
  • Pre-Code Movies on TCM in April 2026
  • Pre-Code Movies on TCM in March 2026
  • Pre-Code Movies on TCM and Criterion Channel, February 2026
  • Along Came Youth (1930) Review, with Charles ‘Buddy’ Rogers, Stuart Erwin, and Frances Dee
  • Pre-Code Movies on TCM in January 2026
  • Pre-Code Movies on TCM in December 2025
  • Pre-Code Movies on TCM and Criterion Channel in November 2025
  • The Pre-Code Essentials Book Tour
  • Pre-Code Films on TCM in October 2025
Subscribe to Blog via Email

Enter your email address to subscribe to this blog and receive notifications of new posts by email.

Join 798 other subscribers
View this profile on Instagram

Pre-Code.com (@precodedotcom) • Instagram photos and videos

  • About Danny
  • Actors of the Pre-Code Hollywood Era
  • Books About Pre-Code Hollywood
  • Class I & II Pictures
  • Community & Other Blogs
  • Directors
  • Famous Actresses of Pre-Code Hollywood
  • Frequently Asked Questions About Pre-Code.Com
  • How to Find Pre-Code Hollywood Films
  • Pre-Code.Com Site Index
  • Ricardo Cortez – The Original Sam Spade
  • Studios in the Pre-Code Era
  • TCM Classic Film Festival Coverage
  • The Pre-Code Companion
  • The Production Code
  • What is Pre-Code Hollywood?
Hestia | Developed by ThemeIsle
 

Loading Comments...