1932
The Sign of the Cross (1932) Review, with Fredric March and Claudette Colbert
One of the wildest orgies of all time hits the screen in Cecil B. DeMille’s The Sign of the Cross.
1932
Forgotten Commandments (1932) Review, with Sari Maritza and Gene Raymond
Paul Ossipoff Gene Raymond Anya Sorina Sari Maritza Prof. Marinoff Irving Pichel Released by Paramount Directed by Louis Gasnier and William Schorr Run time: 75 minutes Proof That It’s a Pre-Code Film This is a film set in godless Communist Russia, so it’s kind of iffy what you could have 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…
1931
Never the Twain Shall Meet (1931) Review, with Leslie Howard and Karen Morley
Dan Pritchard Leslie Howard Tamea Conchita Montenegro Maisie Karen Morley Released by MGM Directed by W.S. Van Dyke Run time: 79 minutes Proof That It’s a Pre-Code Film “You make one big mistake in not watching me dress!” “She’s a very delightful little savage.” “You like wine?” “Oh yes. It Read more…
1930
Girl of the Port (1930) Review, with Sally O’Neil
Josie Sally O’Neil Whiskey Johnny Reginald Sharland McEwan Mitchell Lewis Released by RKO | Directed by Bert Glennon Run time: 65 minutes Proof That It’s a Pre-Code Film “That one was old when ‘Fanny’ was a girl’s name!” Josie is a former burlesque dancer and girl of all ports. She Read more…
1931
Trader Horn (1931) Review, with Harry Carey and Edwina Booth
Trader Horn Harry Carey Peru Duncan Renaldo Nina – The White Goddess Edwina Booth Released by MGM | Directed by W.S. Van Dyke Run time: 122 minutes Proof That It’s a Pre-Code Film It’s racist as hell. Another film that posits that black women’s breasts aren’t as sinful to see Read more…
1930
The Green Goddess (1930) Review, with George Arliss and Ralph Forbes
The Raja George Arliss Dr. Traherne Ralph Forbes Lucilla Alice Joyce Released by Warner Bros. | Directed by Alfred E. Green Run time: 73 minutes Proof That It’s a Pre-Code Film Look, there’s an evil Indian king and he really wants to nail this (married) white lady. There are no Read more…
1932
Shanghai Express (1932) Review, with Marlene Dietrich, Anna May Wong and Colin Brook
Madeline / Shanghai Lily Marlene Dietrich Doctor Harvey Clive Brook Hui Fei Anna May Wong Henry Chang Warner Oland Sam Salt Eugene Pallatte Mr. Carmichael Lawrence Grant Released by Paramount Pictures | Directed by Josef Von Sternberg Run time: 83 minutes Proof That It’s a Pre-Code Film This film’s most Read more…
1932
Chandu the Magician (1932) Review, with Bela Lugosi, Irene Ware and Edmund Lowe
Chandu Edmund Lowe Princess Nadji Irene Ware Roxor Bela Lugosi Released by Fox Film | Directed by William Cameron Menzies & Marcel Varnel Proof That It’s Pre-Code Death rays! … wait, that’s not exclusive to the early 1930s? Lots of mysticism and indulging in the mystics. One not particularly effective Read more…
1931
Frankenstein (1931) Review, with Boris Karloff, Colin Clive and Mae Clarke
Dr. Henry Frankenstein Colin Clive Elizabeth Mae Clarke The Monster Boris Karloff Released by Universal Pictures | Directed By James Whale Proof That It’s Pre-Code A man directly likens himself to God. (Accidental) cold-blooded child murder. Frankenstein: The Sins of the Father “Dangerous? Poor, old Waldman. Have you never wanted Read more…