Released by Paramount | Directed By Dave Fleischer I’ll Be Glad When You’re Dead: Et Al The Betty Boop cartoons that Dave Fleischer put out are kind of a weird rarity. Besides the occasional Jewish in-joke originating from its director, they often showcased African-American singers and acts who were rarely Read more
Released by MGM | Directed By Jules White Show Business: Nothing Like It “Say, you don’t need to get so high hat. Your ancestors swung through trees too.” Of all the Zasu Pitts/Thelma Todd shorts I’ve watched, “Show Business” is the one with the most screen time devoted to getting Read more
Released by MGM | Directed By Hal Roach On the Loose: Loosely Done “And those two Cornell freshman. Were they fresh!” “On the Loose” probably isn’t going to convert many people who haven’t seen any of the other Todd & Pitts shorts that I’ve been working through this week. Besides Read more
Released by MGM | Directed By George Marshall The Soilers: Working Their Way Through “The Soilers” is a bit of a letdown. This one finds Zasu and Thelma out in the suburbs trying to sell magazine subscriptions to help themselves “work their way through college.” This is patently unsuccessful since Read more
Released by MGM | Directed By George Marshall Alum and Eve: Tripping the Light Fantastic “And I suppose when the doctor comes in he’ll take out my other appendix!” “Alum and Eve” is one of the most surreal of the non-Betty Boop shorts I’ve sat through, a short where a Read more
Released by Paramount | Directed By Mort Blumenstock A Broadway Romeo: Smarm City “But I hardly know you!” “Baby, that’s my only chance.” I knew a girl growing up who was obsessed with Jack Benny. I suppose many of my older readers will find nothing strange about this, but in Read more
Katrin Greta Garbo Walter Herbert Marshall Jack George Brent Released by Metro Goldwyn Mayer | Directed By Richard Boleslawski Proof That It’s Pre-Code-ish The film opens with Katrin’s sister’s wedding, and she gives her sister a neglige for a wedding present. “But don’t tell mother, she’ll think it’s wicked.” “But Read more
Lisbeth Norma Shearer Alan Neil Hamilton Steve Robert Montgomery Released by MGM | Directed By George Fitzmaurice Proof That It’s Pre-Code A kiss so hot and passionate that it almost crashes a couple into the ground. Never kiss an airline pilot while they’re flying is what I’m saying here. The Read more
Captain Ivan Orloff Ivan Lebedeff Countess Diana Dorchy Genevieve Tobin Baroness Alma Corri Betty Compson Released by RKO | Directed By Richard Boleslawski Proof That It’s Pre-Code Plenty of suggestive hints to the effectiveness of Captain Orloff’s campaign with the ladies. “He made me tell him things I wouldn’t tell Read more
Bradshaw Paul Muni Gerry Glenda Farrell Shammy Ned Sparks Released by Warner Brothers | Directed By Mervyn LeRoy Proof That It’s Pre-Code “You can take that contract AND–“ Uh, there are gangsters? Hi, Nellie!: Heartache at the Fourth Estate “You’re the editor.” “You’re telling me?” I love Paul Muni. When Read more