Christina Irene Dunne David Joel McCrea Mother Laura Hope Crews Robert Eric Linden Hester Frances Dee The Doctor Gustav von Seyffertitz Released by RKO Directed by John Cromwell Run time: 74 minutes Proof That It’s a Pre-Code Film Irene Dunne plays a lady scientist. Her mentor praises her, saying, “You Read more
Terry Lawrence Tibbett Nenita Lupe Velez Romance Ernest Torrence O.O. Jones Jimmy Durante Crystal Karen Morley Elvira Louise Fazenda Released by MGM Directed by W.S. Van Dyke Run time: 86 minutes Proof That It’s a Pre-Code Film The film starts with a pack of rowdy Marines down at the tattoo Read more
Tarzan Johnny Weissmuller Jane Maureen O’Sullivan Harry Neil Hamilton Released by MGM Directed by W.S. Van Dyke Run time: 108 minutes Proof That It’s a Pre-Code Film Jane razzes on her father (while she undresses in front of him): “Darling, don’t be silly and embarrassed by me! Why, you bathed Read more
Mary Martin Billie Dove Susie Helen Ware Dick Rollins Douglas Fairbanks, Jr. Released by Warner Bros./First National Directed by John Francis Dillon Run time: 62 minutes Proof That It’s a Pre-Code Film Susie takes care of down-on-their-luck gangsters. When they come to her, she always proffers them her butler’s clothing. Read more
Kitty Lorraine Alice Brady Shirley Lorraine Maureen O’Sullivan Warren Foster Franchot Tone Released by MGM | Directed by Charles Brabin Run time: 84 minutes Proof That It’s a Pre-Code Film In one of the most unique scenes of the entire pre-Code era, the titular ‘stage mother’ offers to hook her Read more
Mary Sidney Fox Gus Paul Lukas Lewis Stone Mr. Jones Released by Universal | Directed by John M. Stahl Run time: 90 minutes Proof That It’s a Pre-Code Film “How about you go to–“ The first act takes place in a speakeasy. A man and woman are living together before Read more
Florence Loretta Young Maizee Winnie Lightner Daniel Lyle Talbot Released by Warner Bros. | Directed by George Amy & Busby Berkeley Run time: 64 minutes Proof That It’s a Pre-Code Film It’s about forced prostitution, virginity, and petulant male power grabs. She Had to Say Yes: It’s an Awful, Awful Read more
Hans Harry Earles Frida Daisy Earles Cleopatra Olga Baclanova Phroso Wallace Ford Venus Leila Hyams Hercules Henry Victor Released by MGM | Directed by Tod Browning Run time: 64 minutes Proof That It’s a Pre-Code Film “They don’t realize I’m a man, with the same feelings they have!” Love comes Read more
John Allen Edward G. Robinson Shirley Day Vivienne Osborne Bud Clark Preston Foster Released by Warner Bros. | Directed by Mervyn LeRoy Run time: 68 minutes Proof That It’s a Pre-Code Film There’s a surprisingly detailed discussion of electrocution death. “I ain’t gonna live with no lily!” When Bud gets Read more
Wilber Bert Wheeler Tarzana Raquel Torres Alexander Robert Woolsey Released by Columbia | Directed by Edward F. Cline Run time: 61 minutes Proof That It’s a Pre-Code Film “Hey! Come back here, you jackass!” “Oh see those Afri-cans.” “Virgin trees? Huh! They look pretty wild to me.” A swarm of Read more