Pre-Code.Com Site News for September 2014 Pre-Code fans, maniacs, and nerds, if you have Turner Classic Movies, this is your month. The channel is dedicating four full 24-hour days to showing nothing but pre-Code films. On top of that, there are still scattered showings throughout as well. They’ve got tons Read more
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
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
Niki Maurice Chevalier Franzi Claudette Colbert Anna Miriam Hopkins Released by Paramount Pictures | Directed By Ernst Lubitsch Proof That It’s Pre-Code “We are not afraid to skirmish in the dark…” One of Niki’s friends wants his permission to cheat on his wife. “You’re crazy about a girl and you Read more
Good news, everyone! In the six weeks since I announced the collaborative book Thoughts on The Thin Man, progress has been made! Besides finally finishing up grad school and getting to the prospect of finally receiving my Thin Man DVDs in the mail (ordered July 5th, estimated arrival August 21st?!), Read more
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
Matt Nolan James Cagney Sue Riley Nolan Loretta Young Skeets George E. Stone Pop Riley Guy Kibbee Ruby Leila Bennett Buck Gerard David Landau Released by Warner Brothers | Directed By Roy Del Ruth Proof That It’s Pre-Code If you’ve ever wanted to see a woman get slapped around, well, Read more
Chick Douglas Fairbanks Jr. Ruth Joan Blondell Scrap Iron Guy Kibbee Bushy Sloan Alan Hale The Drunk Frank McHugh Kendall David Landau Released by Warner Brothers | Directed By Alfred E. Green Proof That It’s Pre-Code The film’s opening minutes read like a checklist of Code no-nos. There are prostitutes, Read more
Helen Bette Davis Don Gene Raymond Nick Monroe Owsley Hugo Frank McHugh Iris Claire Dodd Peggy Kay Strozzi Released by Warner Brothers | Directed By Robert Florey Proof That It’s Pre-Code A woman decides to flout modern morality and sleep with a man she loves before marriage. However, he begs Read more
Tom Cardigan John Barrymore June Perry Helen Twelvetrees Vanny Powers William Boyd Released by RKO | Directed By George Archainbaud Proof That It’s Pre-Code Our lead character has a fridge full of alcohol. And a table full. Several table fulls. The dude likes to drink. He may Read more