Yes, somehow, inexplicably, it really is May.

The good news: May 2020 sees none other than Eddie G. Robinson as the TCM Star of the Month, with many of his best pre-Code roles making an apperance on the network. There’s also a showing of 1933’s The Silver Cord, a fun underseen drama, in primetime on the 3rd, followed by the underseen and fantastic Sin of Nora Moran.

On the other hand, everything is awful. I hope you and yours are well.

For my patrons over on Patreon, the last of the Pre-Code Pals pins went out. (Why it took so long is an exciting tale of envelopes, hours the post office is open, my wife’s lunch breaks and– well, whatever.) A friendly reminder: if you want to support my site, you can become a Patron over at Patreon. Cheers!

Pre-Code Movies on TCM in [MONTH]

Please note:

All times listed here are Eastern Standard. This schedule is subject to change (like if someone dies or the world ends– you know how it is).
Plot descriptions and casts lists below come from TCM. See the full listings for the month here.

Date & Time	Film
2nd 12:00 PM	The Public Enemy (1931)
	An Irish-American street punk tries to make it big in the world of organized crime. Dir: William A. Wellman Cast: James Cagney , Jean Harlow , Edward Woods . BW- 84 mins, CC,
3rd 2:00 AM	Horse Feathers (1932)
	In an effort to beef up his school’s football team, a college president mistakenly recruits two loonies. Dir: Norman McLeod Cast: Groucho Marx , Harpo Marx , Chico Marx . BW- 67 mins, CC,
3rd 8:00 PM	The Silver Cord (1933)
	A mother manages her sons a little too closely. Dir: John Cromwell Cast: Irene Dunne , Joel McCrea , Laura Hope Crews . BW- 76 mins, CC,
3rd 9:30 PM	The Sin of Nora Moran (1933)
	Dir: Phil Goldstone Cast: Cora Sue Collins , Zita Johann , Alan Dinehart . BW- 65 mins, CC,
3rd 10:45 PM	Once to Every Woman (1934)
	An able nurse clashes with a new doctor at her hospital. Dir: Lambert Hillyer Cast: Ralph Bellamy , Fay Wray , Walter Connolly . BW- 64 mins, CC,
5th 8:00 AM	Viva Villa! (1934)
	Rousing biography of the bandit chief who led the battle for Mexican independence. Dir: Jack Conway Cast: Wallace Beery , Leo Carrillo , Fay Wray . BW- 112 mins, CC,
5th 8:00 PM	The Scarlet Empress (1934)
	A young innocent masters the decadent ways of Imperial Russia in order to reign as Catherine the Great. Dir: Josef von Sternberg Cast: Marlene Dietrich , John Lodge , Sam Jaffe . BW- 105 mins, CC,
7th 8:00 PM	Little Caesar (1930)
	A small-time hood shoots his way to the top, but how long can he stay there? Dir: Mervyn LeRoy Cast: Edward G. Robinson , Douglas Fairbanks , Glenda Farrell . BW- 78 mins, CC,
7th 9:30 PM	Tiger Shark (1932)
	A tuna fisherman marries a woman in love with another man. Dir: Howard Hawks Cast: Edward G. Robinson , Richard Arlen , Zita Johann . BW- 77 mins, CC,
8th 4:00 AM	The Little Giant (1933)
	When Prohibition ends, a bootlegger tries to break into high society. Dir: Roy Del Ruth Cast: Edward G. Robinson , Mary Astor , Helen Vinson . BW- 76 mins, CC,
8th 5:30 AM	Two Seconds (1932)
	In the last moments of his life, a criminal reviews the circumstances that led him to death row. Dir: Mervyn LeRoy Cast: Edward G. Robinson , Vivienne Osborne , Guy Kibbee . BW- 67 mins, CC,
8th 6:45 AM	The Hatchet Man (1932)
	When he’s forced to kill his best friend, a Chinese hit man adopts the man’s daughter. Dir: William A. Wellman Cast: Edward G. Robinson , Loretta Young , Dudley Digges . BW- 73 mins, CC,
9th 10:00 PM	The Front Page (1931)
	A crusading newspaper editor tricks his retiring star reporter into covering one last case. Dir: Lewis Milestone Cast: Adolph Menjou , Pat O’Brien , Mary Brian . BW- 101 mins, CC,
11th 10:00 AM	42nd Street (1933)
	The definitive backstage musical, complete with the dazzling newcomer who goes on for the injured star. Dir: Lloyd Bacon Cast: Warner Baxter , Bebe Daniels , George Brent . BW- 89 mins, CC,
11th 11:45 AM	Footlight Parade (1933)
	A producer fights labor problems, financiers and his greedy ex-wife to put on a show. Dir: Lloyd Bacon Cast: James Cagney , Joan Blondell , Ruby Keeler . BW- 103 mins, CC,
12th 6:00 AM	Spitfire (1934)
	A backwoods faith healer falls for a married man from the big city. Dir: John Cromwell Cast: Katharine Hepburn , Robert Young , Ralph Bellamy . BW- 86 mins, CC,
13th 2:15 PM	Dinner at Eight (1933)
	A high-society dinner party masks a hotbed of scandal and intrigue. Dir: George Cukor Cast: Marie Dressler , John Barrymore , Wallace Beery . BW- 111 mins, CC,
13th 6:45 PM	The Expert (1932)
	An elderly man complicates his married son’s life when he moves in. Dir: Archie Mayo Cast: Charles “Chic” Sale , Dickie Moore , Lois Wilson . BW- 67 mins, CC,
15th 4:45 AM	The Man With Two Faces (1934)
	An actor uses his skills to protect his sister from her sinister husband. Dir: Archie Mayo Cast: Edward G. Robinson , Mary Astor , Ricardo Cortez . BW- 73 mins, CC,
18th 7:15 AM	Doctor X (1932)
	A reporter investigates a series of cannibalistic murders at a medical college. Dir: Michael Curtiz Cast: Lionel Atwill , Fay Wray , Lee Tracy . C- 76 mins, CC,
18th 10:00 AM	Dr. Jekyll and Mr. Hyde (1932)
	Robert Louis Stevenson’s classic tale of a scientist who unleashes the beast within. Dir: Rouben Mamoulian Cast: Fredric March , Miriam Hopkins , Rose Hobart . BW- 96 mins, CC,
19th 6:00 AM	The Mad Genius (1931)
	A deranged ballet teacher will stop at nothing to keep control of his protegee. Dir: Michael Curtiz Cast: John Barrymore , Marian Marsh , Charles Butterworth . BW- 81 mins, CC,
20th 12:00 PM	A Notorious Affair (1930)
	A beautiful noblewoman gives up wealth and society for love of a two-timing musician. Dir: Lloyd Bacon Cast: Billie Dove , Basil Rathbone , Kay Francis . BW- 67 mins, CC,
20th 4:30 PM	Sadie McKee (1934)
	A working girl suffers through three troubled relationships on her road to prosperity. Dir: Clarence Brown Cast: Joan Crawford , Gene Raymond , Franchot Tone . BW- 93 mins, CC,
21st 8:00 AM	Fugitive Lovers (1934)
	A cross-country bus trip brings together a chorus girl and an escaped convict. Dir: Richard Boleslavsky Cast: Robert Montgomery , Madge Evans , Ted Healy . BW- 82 mins, CC,
21st 10:00 PM	Smart Money (1931)
	A barber’s good luck turns him into a big-time gambling boss. Dir: Alfred E. Green Cast: Edward G. Robinson , James Cagney , Evalyn Knapp . BW- 81 mins, CC,
22nd 10:15 AM	Morning Glory (1933)
	A stage struck girl travels to New York determined to make it on Broadway. Dir: Lowell Sherman Cast: Katharine Hepburn , Douglas Fairbanks , Adolphe Menjou . BW- 74 mins, CC,
28th 1:45 AM	Five Star Final (1931)
	An unscrupulous newspaper editor searches for headlines at any cost. Dir: Mervyn LeRoy Cast: Edward G. Robinson , Marian Marsh , H. B. Warner . BW- 89 mins, CC,
28th 5:30 AM	Silver Dollar (1932)
	A farmer strikes it rich out West, then leaves his wife for a young beauty. Dir: Alfred E. Green Cast: Edward G. Robinson , Bebe Daniels , Aline MacMahon . BW- 83 mins, CC,
31st 8:45 AM	Duck Soup (1933)
	When he’s named dictator of Freedonia, a con artist declares war on the neighboring kingdom. Dir: Leo McCarey Cast: Groucho Marx , Harpo Marx , Chico Marx . BW- 69 mins, CC,