Marie / X-27 Marlene Dietrich Colonel Kranau Victor McLaglen Chief Gustav von Seyffertitz Released by Paramount Directed by Josef von Sternberg Run time: 91 minutes Proof That It’s a Pre-Code Film The opening shot is of Marlene Dietrich adjusting her stockings. It’s called an attention-getter. The opening also involves a Read more
Captain Ahab John Barrymore Faith Joan Bennett Queequeeg Noble Johnson Released by Warner Bros. Directed by Lloyd Bacon Run time: 77 minutes Proof That It’s a Pre-Code Film “I’ll be 18 next Tuesday!” “Then I’ll see you Wednesday!” [checking out Ahab’s tattoos] “Where’s my name, dearie?” “On the seat of Read more
Carol Owen Dorothy Mackaill Jim Leonard Humphrey Bogart Bruce Hardy Hale Hamilton Released by Columbia Directed by Thornton Freeland Run time: 67 minutes Proof That It’s a Pre-Code Film The film opens with Mackaill in a negligee. Late in the film, Bogart and Mackaill clearly spend the night together, with Read more
Laura Diana Wynyard Edward Seward Lewis Stone Bob Seward Phillips Holmes Released by MGM Directed by Edgar Selwyn Run time: 61 minutes Proof That It’s a Pre-Code Film The film opens with a nurse and flyer getting dressed in a secluded room. As a result, an unmarried woman gets pregnant. Read more
Anne Murdock Dorothy Mackaill Lawrence Fellowes Lewis Stone Katherine Joan Blondell Released by Warner Bros. Directed by Lloyd Bacon & Michael Curtiz Run time: 59 minutes Proof That It’s a Pre-Code Film Katherine is an author who dresses in suits and chomps on strong cigars. She’s clearly coded as a Read more
John Day Richard Dix Dorothy Day Madge Evans Mamie Una Merkel Released by MGM Directed by Charles Brabin Run time: 68 minutes Proof That It’s a Pre-Code Film Adultery. One man asks the prison librarian, “Do you have a book on sex?” There are a couple of murders here, and Read more
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
Ms. Dory Macy Bebe Daniels John Thorley Lewis Stone Bob Ben Lyon Released by Warner Bros. Directed by Roy Del Ruth Run time: 72 minutes Proof That It’s a Pre-Code Film “I can’t swim with a suit on!” “What would your wife say if she knew I was here?” “But Read more
Connie Mary Nolan Cobra Edward G. Robinson Fingers O’Dell Owen Moore Released by Universal Directed by Tod Browning Run time: 76 minutes Proof That It’s a Pre-Code Film One gag makes you think Nolan is having a conversation from the bathtub, though she’s really washing a dog. “Don’t let that Read more
Hilda Irene Dunne Stingaree Richard Dix Mrs. Clarkson Mary Boland Sir Julian Conway Tearle Howie Andy Devine Mr. Clarkson Henry Stephenson Released by RKO Directed by William Wellman Run time: 77 minutes Proof That It’s a Pre-Code Film Hilda is kidnapped into the bush by dashing bandit Stingaree, and she Read more