All Reviews
Take a Chance (1933) Review, with James Dunn and Cliff Edwards
An independent musical comedy that doesn’t make much merriment.
1930
King of Jazz (1930) Review, with Paul Whiteman
Paul Whiteman John Boles Laura La Plante Released by Universal Directed by John Murray Anderson Run time: 99 minutes Proof That It’s a Pre-Code Film There are a few mildly racy sketches, like one where an adulterer hides in the closet when the husband returns home. King of Jazz: Happy Read more…
1930
Alias French Gertie (1930) Review, with Bebe Daniels and Ben Lyon
Gertie Bebe Daniels Jimmy Hartigan Ben Lyon Kelsey Robert Emmett O’Connor Released by RKO Directed by George Archainbaud Run time: 68 minutes Proof That It’s a Pre-Code Film A frantic Jimmy reaches down the front of Gertie’s dress to retrieve a stolen necklace. We follow a pair of career criminals Read more…
1930
The Matrimonial Bed (1930) Review, with Frank Fay and Lilyan Tashman
Leopold TrebelFrank Fay Gustave CortonJames Gleason SylvaineLilyan Tashman Released by Warner Bros. Directed by Michael Curtiz Run time: 67 minutes Proof That It’s a Pre-Code Film That old cliche about promiscuous hairdressers that are handsome sex machines… I guess it had to start somewhere. Plenty of gay panic jokes, with Read more…
1933
Air Hostess (1933) Review, with Evelyn Knapp, James Murray, and Thelma Todd
Kitty King Evelyn Knapp Ted Hunter James Murray Sylvia Carleton Thelma Todd Released by Columbia Directed by Albert Rogell Run time: 67 minutes Proof That It’s a Pre-Code Film By now I am very used to the cringe in old movies when the husband sticks his wife over his knee Read more…
1932
A Passport to Hell (1932) Review, with Elissa Landi
Elissa Landi is a woman with a past who seduces a dolt in colonial Africa on the eve of World War I. And it gets more complex from there.
1930
A Lady to Love (1930) Review, with Vilma Bánky and Edward G. Robinson
Edward G. Robinson displays his MAGNIFICENT. ACTING. TALENT. in this misbegotten talkie from 1930.
1932
A Fool’s Advice (1932) (AKA Meet the Mayor) Review, with Frank Fay
Well, would you put a good movie on the shelf for five years?
1932
No One Man (1932) Review, with Carole Lombard and Ricardo Cortez
Penelope ‘Nep’ Newbold Carole Lombard Bill Hanaway Ricardo Cortez Dr. Karl Bemis Paul Lukas Released by Paramount Directed by Lloyd Corrigan Run time: 71 minutes Proof That It’s a Pre-Code Film “It’s pretty dull here in Palm Beach– unless you’re interested in marriage or divorce.” Penelope (Lombard) is a 22-year-old Read more…
1933
Crime of the Century (1933) Review, with Wynne Gibson and Stuart Erwin
Can anyone stop Jean Hersholt from committing the perfect murder– or will they commit it themselves?!