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
Devil and the Deep (1932) Review, with Tallulah Bankhead and Gary Cooper
Diana Sturm Tallulah Bankhead Lt. Sempter Gary Cooper Cmdr. Charles Sturm Charles Laughton Released by Paramount Directed by Marion Gering Run time: 75 minutes Proof That It’s a Pre-Code Film A woman hisses at Diana, “You probably heard me say that I’d very much like to spank you!” Diana raises Read more
1933
King Kong (1933) Review, with Fay Wray and Robert Armstrong
Ann Darrow Fay Wray Carl Denham Robert Armstrong John Driscoll Bruce Cabot Released by RKO Directed by Merian C. Cooper, Ernest B. Schoedsack Run time: 104 minutes Proof That It’s a Pre-Code Film This film touches lightly on a ton of material from white slavery to bestiality, that would be Read more
1932
The Lost Squadron (1932) Review, with Richard Dix, Mary Astor, and Erich Von Stroheim
Gibson Richard Dix Follette Mary Astor Von Furst Erich von Stroheim Red Joel McCrea Woody Robert Armstrong Fritz Hugh Herbert Released by RKO Directed by George Archainbaud Run time: 79 minutes Proof That It’s a Pre-Code Film Our leads not only enjoy each other’s company, but they enjoy fighting in Read more
1931
The Great Meadow (1930) Review, with John Mack Brown and Eleanor Boardman
Berk Jarvis John Mack Brown Diony Hall Eleanor Boardman Evan Muir Gavin Gordon Released by MGM Directed by Charles Brabin Run time: 78 minutes Proof That It’s a Pre-Code Film Berk Jarvis’ mother gets killed and scalped by a Shawnee. The villain then spends the movie rubbing it in Jarvis’ Read more
1933
Hell Below (1933) Review, with Robert Montgomery, Walter Huston and Madge Evans
Thomas Knowlton Robert Montgomery T.J. Toler Walter Huston Joan Madge Evans Ship’s Cook Jimmy Durante Mac Dougal Eugene Pallette Brick Walters Robert Young Released by MGM | Directed by Jack Conway Run time: 101 minutes Proof That It’s a Pre-Code Film “Your first duty is to establish a base of Read more
1934
Viva Villa! (1934) Review, with Wallace Beery, Leo Carrillo and Fay Wray
Pancho Villa Wallace Beery Rodolfo Leo Carrillo Teresa Fay Wray Jonny Sykes Stuart Erwin General Pascal Joseph Schildkraut Francisco Madero Henry B. Walthall Released by MGM | Directed by Jack Conway Run time: 115 minutes Proof That It’s a Pre-Code Film People are murdered pretty indiscriminately– this is a revolution, Read more
1933
Ace of Aces (1933) Review, with Richard Dix, Elizabeth Allan and Ralph Bellamy
Rocky Richard Dix Nancy Elizabeth Allan Blake Ralph Bellamy Released by RKO | Directed by J. Walter Rubin Run time: 76 minutes Proof That It’s a Pre-Code Film One impressive moment has a pilot give another the middle finger while also pointing it at the drawing of a pig’s asshole. Read more
1932
The Last Mile (1932) Review, with Howard Phillips and Preston Foster
Dick Walters Howard Phillip John ‘ Killer’ Mears Preston Foster Joe Berg George E. Stone Released by Astor Pictures | Directed by Sam Bischoff Run time: 69 minutes Proof That It’s a Pre-Code Film Several people are killed in cold blood. The hero’s final action could be interpreted as immoral, Read more
1932
The Most Dangerous Game (1932) Review, with Joel McCrea and Fay Wray
Bob Joel McCrea Eve Fay Wray Zaroff Leslie Banks Released by RKO | Directed by Irving Pichel & Ernest B. Schoedsack Run time: 62 minutes Proof That It’s a Pre-Code Film Shrunken heads, taxidermied bodies, and death galore. Clearly a movie about a guy who gets his jollies from murder. Read more