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…
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…
Flint Walter Huston Kingsland Conrad Nagel Ann Whitehall Virginia Bruce Tula Lupe Velez Hogan Mitchell Lewis Gregg C. Henry Gordon Released by MGM | Directed By William J. Cowen Proof That It’s Pre-Code Lupe Velez enters the movie in thin strips of cloth. Flint likes calling the Read more…
Ruby Jean Harlow Eddie Clark Gable Gypsy Dorothy Burgess Lily Mae Theresa Harris Bertha Muriel Kirkland Al Stuart Erwin Released by MGM | Directed By Sam Wood Proof That It’s Pre-Code Our introduction to Ruby (Harlow) involves Eddie (Gable) running into her apartment and Read more…
Helen, AKA The Blonde Venus Marlene Dietrich Ned Herbert Marshall Nick Cary Grant Released by Paramount Pictures | Directed By Josef Von Sternberg Proof That It’s Pre-Code There’s a bevy of beautiful women skinny dipping in the opening scene. Most seem to be wearing flesh-colored underwear for a few of Read more…
Wong Low Get Edward G. Robinson Sun Toya San Loretta Young Harry En Hai Leslie Fenton Released by Warner Brothers | Directed By William A. Wellman Proof That It’s Pre-Code It’s a movie about Chinese-Americans which means, yes, the main cast is caked in yellow face. It also deals with Read more…
Chick Douglas Fairbanks Jr. Ruth Joan Blondell Scrap Iron Guy Kibbee Bushy Sloan Alan Hale The Drunk Frank McHugh Kendall David Landau Released by Warner Brothers | Directed By Alfred E. Green Proof That It’s Pre-Code The film’s opening minutes read like a checklist of Code no-nos. There are prostitutes, Read more…
Harold Horne Harold Lloyd Barbara Barbara Kent Charcoal, the Janitor Willie Best Released by Paramount Pictures | Directed By Clyde Bruckman Proof That It’s Pre-Code Someone gets called a ‘pansy’. There’s a ritzy ‘Emperor’s Club’ where everyone enjoys getting sloshed. Feet First: And Safety… Oh, Well, You Know “That’s not Read more…
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…
Judy Jones Claudette Colbert Stewart Corder William Gargan Arnold Ainger Herbert Marshall Mrs. Mardick Mary Boland Montague Leo Carillo The Chief Tetsu Komai Released by Paramount Pictures | Directed By Cecil B. DeMille Proof That It’s Pre-Code Since the film is about commonly accepted morality shrinking away in a survival Read more…