Thou Shalt Not: The Scoop on Sin “Well, I think is that the denial of reality was what the Production Code was all about. When you establish these kinds of moral views, you’re not trying to describe the world as it really is. You’re trying to describe the world as Read more…
Wilkie Spencer Tracy Hogan William Boyd Mitchell George Cooper Mary Ann Dvorak The Colonel Billy Bevan Fifi Yola D’Avril Released by United Artists | Directed By A. Edward Sutherland Proof That It’s Pre-Code The best part of being a lifeguard is the women. Sometime you may even get two! Someone Read more…
Johnny Dangerously Michael Keaton Lil Marilu Henner Danny Vermin Joe Piscopo Ma Kelly Maureen Stapleton Tommy Kelly Griffin Dunne Jock Dundee Peter Boyle Released by 20th Century Fox | Directed By Amy Heckerling Johnny Dangerously: Once. Once. “Dames are put on this earth to weaken us, drain our energy, and 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…
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…