Dr. Jack Griffin Claude Rains Flora Gloria Stuart Dr. Arthur Kemp William Harrigan Released by Universal | Directed By James Whale Proof That It’s Pre-Code A naked man instigates a reign of terror throughout Great Britain. He also pushes a baby carriage over. Basically, the invisible man murders a ton Read more
Rasputin Lionel Barrymore Prince Chegodieff John Barrymore The Czarina Ethel Barrymore The Czar Ralph Morgan Natasha Diana Wynyard The Czarevitch Tad Alexander Released by MGM | Directed By Charles Brabin and Richard Boleslawski Proof That It’s Pre-Code Rasputin, the charmer, is clearly blackmailing women into having sex with him. Rasputin Read more
Jim Turner Edward G. Robinson Marge Mayhew Genevieve Tobin Val Wilson Glenda Farrell Released by Warner Brothers/First National | Directed By Alfred E. Green Proof That It’s Pre-Code Marge protests after her husband starts kissing her on the front lawn. “Jim, stop that! The neighbors will think we’re not married!” Read more
Bob Brown Warren William Caroline Jean Muir John Smith David Landau Released by Warner Brothers | Directed By Robert Florey Proof That It’s Pre-Code The film’s opening shot, before it’s revealed to be an innocent examination (but still with plenty of pointed jokes about it): “You said you were bringing Read more
Knobby Walsh Jimmy Durante Nina Madero Lupe Velez Joe Palooka Stuart Erwin Mayme Palooka Marjorie Rambeau Pete Palooka Robert Armstrong Trixie Thelma Todd Released by United Artists | Directed By Benjamin Stoloff Proof That It’s Pre-Code The rather disgusting “National Geographic”/”it’s okay to show black women’s breasts if they’re uncivilized Read more
Tira Mae West Jack Clayton Cary Grant Slick Wiley Ralf Harolde Benny Pinkowitz Gregory Ratoff Big Bill Barton Edward Arnold Kirk Lawrence Kent Taylor Released by Paramount Pictures | Directed By Wesley Ruggles Proof That It’s Pre-Code It’s a film about Tira, “The woman who discovered you didn’t need to 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
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
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