Christopher Strong (1933) Review

The Particulars of the Picture Cynthia Darrington … Katharine Hepburn Christopher Strong … Colin Clive Elaine Strong … Billie Burke Monica Strong … Helen Chandler Henry Rawlinson … Ralph Forbes Directed by Dorothy Arzner Christopher Strong: Making You Weak in the Knees The very first time the viewer sees the Read more…

Five Star Final (1931) Review

The Particulars of the Picture Randall … Edward G. Robinson Frances Starr … Nancy Townsend Michael Townsend … H.B. Warner Miss Taylor … Aline MacMahon T. Vernon Isopod … Boris Karloff Jenny Townsend … Marian Marsh Five Star Final: Read All About It “There’s some guys that furnish the manure, Read more…

Grand Hotel (1932) Review

Proof That It’s Pre-Code All the usual hotel nighttime activities. There’s an extended subplot about an industrialist negotiating with a stenographer about what she will give him in exchange for an all-expense paid trip through Europe. It includes this wonderful line: “I don’t suppose you’d take some… dictation from me Read more…

Waterloo Bridge (1931) Review

The Particulars of the Picture Myra Mae Clarke Roy Douglass Montgomery Directed by James Whale Proof That It’s Pre-Code Prostitutes! Plenty of them, all morally conflicted about their place in the world. Oh, and some scantily clad backstage antics for good measure. As per the ever perceptive IMDB keywords, “Nipples Read more…

Baby Face (1933)

Baby Face (1933) Review

Lily Barbara Stanwyck Courtland Trenholm George Brent Mr. Stevens Donald Cook Chico Theresa Harris Mr. Carter Henry Kolker Mr. Sipple Arthur Hohl Proof That It’s Pre-Code The film’s main conceit is that all life is exploitation, and you must simply be the one doing the exploiting. One book thumping scholar Read more…