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Justifiable Homicide

1931

The Public Enemy (1931) Review, with James Cagney

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

By Danny, 12 yearsAugust 15, 2014 ago
1933

Lady Killer (1933) Review, with James Cagney and Mae Clarke

Dan Quigley James Cagney Myra Mae Clarke Lois Underwood Margaret Lindsay Released by Warner Brothers | Directed By Roy Del Ruth Proof That It’s Pre-Code “I’m not a madam!” “Well… I wouldn’t know about that.” The main character is a conman who goes from card swindling, running a casino, grand Read more

By Danny, 12 yearsJuly 7, 2014 ago
1933

I Cover the Waterfront (1933) with Claudette Colbert and Ben Lyon

      Joe Miller Ben Lyon Julie Kirk Claudette Colbert Eli Kirk Ernest Torrence       One Punch McCoy Hobart Cavanaugh Ortegus Maurice Black John Phelps Purnell Pratt Released by Reliance Pictures/Edward Small Productions | Directed By James Cruze Proof That It’s Pre-Code Seagulls keep ruining reporter Joe Miller’s Read more

By Danny, 12 yearsJune 20, 2014 ago
1934

Cleopatra (1934), with Claudette Colbert and Warren William

Cleopatra Claudette Colbert Julius Caesar Warren William Marc Antony Henry Wilcoxon Released by Paramount Pictures | Directed By Cecil B. DeMille Proof That It’s Pre-Code-ish The film’s title card is placed on a strategically lit nude woman. Much of Claudette Colbert’s wardrobe is focused on showing as much of her Read more

By Danny, 12 yearsJune 13, 2014 ago
1931

Mata Hari (1931) Review, with Greta Garbo and Ramon Navarro

Mata Hari Greta Garbo Alexis Rosanoff Ramon Novarro General Shubin Lionel Barrymore Andriani Lewis Stone DuBois C. Henry Gordon Carlotta Karen Morley Released by MGM | Directed By George Fitzmaurice Proof That It’s Pre-Code The titular Mata Hari is an exotic dancer who doubles as a spy in Paris during Read more

By Danny, 12 yearsJune 2, 2014 ago
The Story of Temple Drake (1933)
1934

The Story of Temple Drake (1933) Review, with Miriam Hopkins

Temple Drake Miriam Hopkins Stephen Benbow William Gargan Trigger Jack La Rue Released by Paramount Pictures | Directed By Stephen Roberts Proof That It’s Pre-Code I’m going to go ahead and just quote Thomas Doherty’s Pre-Code Hollywood on this one: The Story of Temple Drake is a model of pre-Code Read more

By Danny, 12 yearsMay 9, 2014 ago
1932

Blessed Event (1932) Review, with Lee Tracy and Dick Powell

It’s Picture Snatcher again, only crappy.

By Danny, 12 yearsMay 2, 2014 ago
Massacre (1934)
1934

Massacre (1934) Review, with Richard Barthelmess and Ann Dvorak

Joe Thunder Horse … Richard Barthelmess Lydia … Ann Dvorak Sam … Clarence Muse Quissenberry … Dudley Diggs Dr. Turner … Arthur Hohl Shanks … Sidney Toler Proof That It’s Pre-Code Oh, hey, it confronts racial prejudice and social issues in that Warner Brothers “let’s be as sensationalistic as possible” Read more

By Danny, 13 yearsNovember 25, 2013 ago
1932

White Zombie (1932) Review, with Bela Lugosi

Legendre … Bela Lugosi Madeline Parker … Madge Bellamy Neil Parker … John Harron Charles Beaumont … Robert Frazer Dr. Bruner … Joseph Cawthorn Coach Driver … Clarence Muse Proof That It’s Pre-Code A hypnotized woman is the plaything of devious men, who use the living dead to exact terror Read more

By Danny, 13 yearsOctober 18, 2013 ago
Mystery of the Wax Museum (1933)
1933

The Mystery of the Wax Museum (1933) Review, with Glenda Farrell, Fay Wray, and Lionel Atwill

Florence Dempsey … Glenda Farrell Charlotte Duncan … Fay Wray Ivan Igor … Lionel Atwill Joe Worth … Edwin Maxwell Ralph Burton … Allen Vincent Jim … Frank McHugh Proof That It’s Pre-Code Our plucky reporter lead, Florence Dempsey, gives a wave and cheerful shouts, “You can go to some Read more

By Danny, 13 yearsOctober 11, 2013 ago

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Celebrating Hollywood, 1930 to 1934, when movies were sexy, scandalous and a hell of a lot of fun. Learn more about the era here or explore the site's many reviews here.

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