1932
Okay America! (1932) Review, with Lew Ayres
Lew Ayres is a tough-talking gossip columnist out to save the nation in Okay America! (32).
1933
The Keyhole (1933) Review, with Kay Francis and George Brent
Kay Francis and George Brent do their best to lift this One Way Passage ripoff.
1933
East of Fifth Avenue (1933) Review, with Wallace Ford and Mary Carlisle
Vic Howard Wallace Ford Edna Howard Mary Carlisle Kitty Green Dorothy Tree Released by Columbia Directed by Albert S. Rogell Run time: 72 minutes Proof That It’s a Pre-Code Film There are two plot lines here that would be on the bad side of the censors. The first is Dorothy’s Read more…
1931
City Streets (1931), with Sylvia Sydney and Gary Cooper
“Kid”Gary Cooper NanSylvia Sydney “The Big Fella”Paul Lukas Directed by Rouben MamoullianReleased by Paramount PicturesRuntime: 82 minutes Proof That It’s Pre-Code Concerns bootleggers and beer barons. City Streets: Wrong Ways “Good kid. You’ll never tell nobody nothing.” Rouben Mamoullian’s City Streets is a particularly stylish entry in the early-30s gangster Read more…
1932
The Old Dark House (1932) Review, with Boris Karloff
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…
1934
Madame Du Barry (1934) Review, with Dolores Del Rio
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…
1931
Expensive Women (1931) Review, with Dolores Costello and Warren William
Connie Newton Dolores Costello Neil Hartley Warren William Melville Raymond H.B. Warner Released by Warner Bros. Directed by Hobart Henley Run time: 60 minutes Proof That It’s a Pre-Code Film Our first shot of our heroine is of her in the bathtub, scrubbing up. Connie gets a call from her Read more…
1933
Gambling Ship (1933) Review, with Cary Grant
Ace Corbin Cary Grant Eleanor Benita Hume Manning Jack La Rue Released by Paramount Directed by Louis J. Gasnier and Max Marcin Run time: 72 minutes Proof That It’s a Pre-Code Film Benita Hume pops out of the shower at one point and (it’s difficult to capture in a screenshot) Read more…
All Reviews
Unashamed (1932) Review, with Helen Twelvetrees
Joan Ogden Helen Twelvetrees Dick Ogden Robert Young Henry Trask Lewis Stone Released by MGM Directed by Harry Beaumont Run time: 76 minutes Proof That It’s a Pre-Code Film Men have their sexual indiscretions, women aren’t supposed to. Ask me if that makes any sense. Just a quick reminder that Read more…
1932
The Roadhouse Murder (1932) Review, with Dorothy Jordan and Eric Linden
Chick Brian Eric Linden Mary Agnew Dorothy Jordan Jeff Dale Roscoe Karns Released by RKO Directed by J. Walter Ruben Run time: 72 minutes Proof That It’s a Pre-Code Film Opens with a man inflating his hemorrhoid pillow. This shot is quickly followed by a drunk, disgruntled reporter typing this Read more…