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Glorifying Gangsters

1933

Broadway Thru a Keyhole (1933) Review, with Constance Cummings, Paul Kelly, and Russ Columbo

Joan Constance Cummings Frank Paul Kelly Clark Russ Columbo Sybil Smith Blossom Seeley Hugh O’Connell Chuck Haskins Tex Kaley Texas Guinan Released by 20th Century Pictures | Directed by Lowell Sherman Run time: 91 minutes Proof That It’s a Pre-Code Film One character, Sybil, is a former burlesque queen, and Read more…

By Danny, 9 yearsNovember 14, 2016 ago
1932

20,000 Years in Sing Sing (1932) Review, with Spencer Tracy and Bette Davis

Joe Connors Spencer Tracy Fay Wilson Bette Davis Warden Paul Long Arthur Byron Hype Warren Hymer Bud Lyle Talbot Joe Louis Calhern Released by Warner Bros./First National | Directed by Michael Curtiz Run time: 78 minutes Proof That It’s a Pre-Code Film A number of prison guards and prisoners meet Read more…

By Danny, 9 yearsOctober 3, 2016 ago
1930

Shooting Straight (1930) Review, with Richard Dix

Larry / Ted Richard Dix Doris Powell Mary Lawlor Ace Martin Matthew Betz Released by RKO | Directed by George Archainbaud Run time: 72 minutes Shooting Straight: A Direct Shot “He doesn’t like to be referred to as a racketeer.” Shooting Straight is a fairly inoffensive, cute little movie. It’s Read more…

By Danny, 9 yearsAugust 5, 2016 ago
Night After Night 1932 George Raft Mae West
1932

Night After Night (1932) Review, with George Raft, Roscoe Karns, and Mae West

Joe Anton George Raft Jerry Healy Constance Cummings Iris Wynne Gibson Leo Roscoe Karns Mabel Alison Skipworth Maude Mae West Released by Paramount | Directed by Archie Mayo Proof That It’s Pre-Code “Why that dumb cluck!” George Raft awakens and undresses to bathe. We see a lot of him. Llllladies. Read more…

By Danny, 9 yearsJanuary 25, 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
Little Giant 1933 Edward G Robinson
1933

The Little Giant (1933) Review, with Edward G. Robinson and Mary Astor

Bugs Alhern Edward G. Robinson Al Daniels Russell Hopton Polly Cass Helen Vinson Ruth Wayburn Mary Astor Donald Cass Berton Churchill Edith Merriam Shirley Grey Released by Warner Brothers | Directed by Roy Del Ruth Proof That It’s Pre-Code Robinson’s Bugs Ahern is known as a mad gangster who murders Read more…

By Danny, 10 yearsOctober 5, 2015 ago
Penthouse 1933 pre-code hollywood Myrna Loy Warner Baxter
1933

Penthouse (1933) Review, with Warner Baxter and Myrna Loy

Jackson Durant Warner Baxter Gertie Waxted Myrna Loy Tony Gazotti Nat Pendleton  Jim Crelliman C. Henry Gordon Sue Leonard  Martha Sleeper Mimi Mae Clarke Released by MGM | Directed By W.S. Van Dyke Proof That It’s Pre-Code “Mouthpiece” Jackson Durant is more than happy to defend bootleggers and chorus girls– Read more…

By Danny, 10 yearsJuly 31, 2015 ago
Sing and Like It 1934 pre-code Zasu Pitts Nat Pendleton
1934

Sing and Like It (1934) Review, with Nat Pendleton and Zasu Pitts

Annie Snodgrass Zasu Pitts T. Fenny Sylvester Nat Pendleton Adam Frink Edward Everett Horton Toots McGuire Ned Sparks Ruby Pert Kelton Oswald John Qualen Released by RKO | Directed By William A. Seiter Proof That It’s Pre-Code Former actress-turned-kept woman Ruby (Kelton) insists, “I belong to the world!” Sylvester (Pendleton) Read more…

By Danny, 10 yearsJune 15, 2015 ago
24 Hours Clive Brook Miriam Hopkins Kay Francis pre-Code
1931

24 Hours (1931) Review, with Clive Brook, Kay Francis, and Miriam Hopkins

Jim Towner Clive Brook Fanny Towner Kay Francis Rosie Duggan Miriam Hopkins Tony Bruzzi Regis Toomey Hector Champion George Barbier David Melbourne Minor Watson Released by Paramount Pictures | Directed By Marion Gering Proof That It’s Pre-Code Drugs. Sex. Murder. 24 Hours: Counting Down the Minutes “It’s like having a Read more…

By Danny, 10 yearsJune 12, 2015 ago
1933

Moonlight and Pretzels (1933) Review

George Dwight Roger Pryor Sally Upton Mary Brian Nick Pappacropolis Leo Carrillo Released by Universal | Directed By Karl Freund Proof That It’s Pre-Code Nude silhouettes for those of you who love those. The gangsters aren’t such bad guys, even if they gamble often or make wager with women regarding Read more…

By Danny, 11 yearsNovember 7, 2014 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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List of Pre-Code Hollywood Films
Belle of the Nineties (1934) Review, with Mae West
Pre-Code.Com Site Index
Famous Actresses of Pre-Code Hollywood
What is Pre-Code Hollywood?
Pre-Code Movies on TCM in May 2025
The Sign of the Cross (1932) Review, with Fredric March and Claudette Colbert
My List of Essential Pre-Code Hollywood Films
Night After Night (1932) Review, with George Raft, Roscoe Karns, and Mae West
Doctor X (1932) Review, with Lee Tracy and Fay Wray
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