MorganBoris Karloff PenderelMelvyn Douglas Sir PorterhouseCharles Laughton Margaret WavertonGloria Stuart Gladys AKA “Perkins”Lilian Bond Horace FemmErnest Thesiger Released by Universal PicturesDirected by James WhaleRuntime: 72 minutes Proof That It’s Pre-Code People die, murders were committed, whatever, let’s get the hell out of here. The Old Dark House: Bumps in the Read more
Hey! It’s October! Finally. This year is the year I’ve decided to become a Halloween person. There aren’t many holidays for me– I’m not patriotic or religious, and while I’m all for Labor Day (yay, Labor) and Veterans Day (yay, Vets), there still isn’t a set tradition for either handing Read more
Dr. Silas BrentonLowell Sherman Dr. John ParkerBenton Churchill Georgia RandLila Lee Directed by Lowell ShermanReleased by World Wide PicturesRuntime: 73 minutes Proof That It’s Pre-Code Dr. Brenton (Sherman) assails himself with a bevy of women. We see one arrive in his apartment and we cut to a short while later Read more
Mae ThorpeDorothy Hall June ThorpeJudith Wood Joseph Von SchraderPaul Lukas Directed by Dorothy ArznerReleased by Paramount PicturesRuntime: 77 minutes Proof That It’s Pre-Code One of our leading ladies gets fired for not sleeping with boss; of course, this is the ‘nice guy’ who later reneges on his decision. Not really Read more
OliviaAnn Harding NickLaurence Olivier Mrs. TruesdaleZasu Pitts Directed by Robert MiltonReleased by RKORuntime: 73 minutes Proof That It’s Pre-Code A hotelier very skeptical about a married couple appearing wanting to get a room, but doesn’t believe them until a certificate is furnished. Divorce, with the couple reuniting despite subsequent marriages. Read more
Wow. So, uh, it’s September, huh? Really snuck up on me. I ended up getting way too into Summer Under the Stars this year and logging around 90 movies just from watching TCM. There was some really fun new-to-me discoveries– Revelee with Beverly, Gypsy, This Land is Mine, You and Read more
Madame Du BarryDolores del Rio King Louis XVReginald Owen Armand d’AiguillonVictor Jory Directed by: William DieterleReleased by: Warner Bros.Run time: 79 minutes Proof That It’s (Almost) Pre-Code “Madam, what are you trying to do to France?”“Oh, just what it’s doing to me.” We’re introduced to Du Barry (del Rio) in Read more
Mary MarloweMary Pickford John CarltonLeslie Howard SunshineNed Sparks Released by United ArtistsDirected by Frank BorzageRun time: 90 minutes Proof that It’s Pre-Code High infant mortality rate. Extramarital sex. Leslie Howard at one point gets doused in petticoats. Secrets: Love Through the Ages “I’m saving a man from drowning tonight.” With Read more
How’s everyone’s 2020 going? I have decided to have amnesia and pretend that this is January 1st now. Everything is terrible, but at least I’m sure it can’t get any worse. Anyway, August on TCM is one of my favorite times of the year with Summer Under the Stars, entire Read more
