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Drinking During Prohibition

1930

The Flirting Widow (1930) Review, with Dorothy Mackaill, Basil Rathbone and Sally Eilers

Celia Dorothy Mackaill John Smith Basil Rathbone Evelyn Leila Hyams Released by First National/Warner Brothers | Directed by William Seiter Proof That It’s Pre-Code Celia accidentally drops a watch down her dress and has to fish around for it. John enjoys the view. “We’ll have to go without any clothes!” Read more…

By Danny, 10 yearsJanuary 15, 2016 ago
1932

Crooner (1932) Review, with David Manners and Ann Dvorak

Ted Taylor David Manners Judy Mason Ann Dvorak Peter Sturgis Ken Murray Released by Warner Bros. | Directed by Lloyd Bacon Proof That It’s Pre-Code Saxophone player Ted Taylor thinks he’s getting a good reaction from a stage manager, but the guy’s only checking out a woman in a leotard Read more…

By Danny, 10 yearsJanuary 8, 2016 ago
Bad Company 1931 Helen Twevetrees Ricardo Cortez
1931

Bad Company (1931) Review, with Helen Twelvetrees and Ricardo Cortez

Helen Helen Twelvetrees Goldie Gorio Ricardo Cortez Steve John Garrick Released by RKO Pathe | Directed by Tay Garnett Proof That It’s Pre-Code Plenty of drinking and gambling. To tell a person to get lost, they’re simply ordered to “Screw.” A butler has had multiple wives A nasty gangster lures Read more…

By Danny, 10 yearsDecember 18, 2015 ago
Her Man 1930 Helen Twelvetrees
1930

Her Man (1930) Review, with Helen Twelvetrees, Phillips Holmes, and Ricardo Cortez

Frankie Helen Twelvetrees Johnnie Ricardo Cortez Dan Phillips Holmes Annie Marjorie Rambeau Sport Frank Pangborn Nelly Thelma Todd Released by Pathe (RKO) | Directed by Tay Garnett Proof That It’s Pre-Code Look, you can’t say it, but this movie is filled to the brim with prostitutes. Oh, and murder. And Read more…

By Danny, 10 yearsDecember 14, 2015 ago
Big City Blues 1932 Joan Blondell
1932

Big City Blues (1932) Review, with Eric Linden and Joan Blondell

Bud Eric Linden Vida Joan Blondell Cousin Gibby Walter Catlett Hummell Guy Kibbee The Station Agent Grant Mitchell Ms. Cartlich Jobyna Howland Released by Warner Brothers | Directed by Mervyn LeRoy Proof That It’s Pre-Code A bootlegger, before informing a client about yet another ‘change of address’, pleasantly tells his Read more…

By Danny, 10 yearsDecember 9, 2015 ago
Panama Flo Helen Twelvetrees 1932
1932

Panama Flo (1932) Review, with Helen Twelvetrees, Robert Armstrong, and Charles Bickford

Flo Helen Twelvetrees Babe Robert Armstrong McTeague Charles Bickford Released by Fox Pathe | Directed by Ryan Murphy Proof That It’s Pre-Code Drinking and speakeasies. Everyone is after Flo’s virtue. Or if they haven’t got it, they don’t believe she still has it. Not the nicest portrayal of South American Read more…

By Danny, 10 yearsDecember 7, 2015 ago
All Reviews

Is My Face Red? (1932) Review, with Helen Twelvetrees and Ricardo Cortez

Bill Poster Ricardo Cortez Peggy Helen Twelvetrees Mildred Jill Esmond Tony Sidney Toler Maloney Robert Armstrong The Operator Zasu Pitts Released by RKO | Directed by William A. Seiter Proof That It’s Pre-Code An old man is running around with a showgirl who calls him ‘popsie wopsie’. Our protagonist smacks Read more…

By Danny, 10 yearsDecember 4, 2015 ago
1932

Alias Mary Smith (1932) Review

Joan AKA Mary Smith Blanche Mehaffey Buddy John Darrow Scoop Raymond Hatton Released by Mayfair Pictures Corporation | Directed by E. Mason Hopper Proof That It’s Pre-Code The A.D.A. is visited by a woman named Mary Smith. His butler was absent because he was, “playing ping pong with the maid next Read more…

By Danny, 10 yearsNovember 2, 2015 ago
Gold Diggers of 1933 Joan Blondell pre-Code musical Warren William Ruby Keeler Dick Powell Ailene MacMahon Guy Kibbee Ned Sparks Ginger Rogers
1933

Gold Diggers of 1933 (1933) Review, with Joan Blondell, Warren William, Ruby Keeler, Dick Powell, Guy Kibbee, and Aline MacMahon

Carol Joan Blondell Lawrence Warren William Trixie Aline MacMahon Polly Ruby Keeler Brad Dick Powell Peabody Guy Kibbee Barney Ned Sparks Fay Ginger Rogers Singer Etta Moten Released by Warner Brothers | Directed by Mervyn LeRoy Proof That It’s Pre-Code One of the musical numbers is called “Pettin’ in the Read more…

By Danny, 11 yearsSeptember 18, 2015 ago
College Coach 1933 pre-Code Pat O'Brien Ann Dvorak Dick Powell Lyle Talbot
1933

College Coach (1933) Review, with Pat O’Brien, Ann Dvorak and Dick Powell

Coach Gore Pat O’Brien Claire Ann Dvorak Buck Weaver Lyle Talbot Phil Sargeant Dick Powell Barnett Hugh Herbert Dr. Sargeant Arthur Byron Released by Warner Brothers | Directed By William A. Wellman Proof That It’s Pre-Code Buck Weaver keeps a picture of a scantily clad woman in his dorm room. Read more…

By Danny, 11 yearsSeptember 11, 2015 ago

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Pre-Code.Com celebrates Hollywood films made from 1930 to 34, when the talkies were new and censorship was lax. Learn more about the era here, or browse our many reviews.

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