Marian Joan Crawford Mark Whitney Clark Gable Al Manning Wallace Ford Released by MGM Directed by Clarence Brown Run time: 76 minutes Proof That It’s a Pre-Code Film Joan Crawford plays a fallen, kept woman who loves her life no matter how many times she gets trampled on or slapped. 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
Ivy/Bunny Joan Crawford Howard Neil Hamilton Carl Clark Gable Fred Roscoe Karns Cass Guy Kibbee Mike Cliff Edwards Released by MGM | Directed by Harry Beaumont Run time: 72 minutes Proof That It’s a Pre-Code Film Drinking. Attempted suicide. That old joke about the traveling salesman over and over again. Read more
Valentine Joan Crawford Bob Neil Hamilton Tony Monroe Owsley Released by MGM | Directed by Nick Grinde Run time: 68 minutes Proof That It’s a Pre-Code Film An inter-generational tale where a girl is shielded from the fact that her long-estranged mother is in fact a ‘kept’ woman. “I’m going Read more
Jerry Young Fredric March Henry Crocker Cary Grant Mike Richards Jack Oakie Released by Paramount | Directed by Stuart Walker Run time: 72 minutes Proof That It’s a Pre-Code Film There are plenty of awful moments of combat, including a hand covered in blood and plenty of other bullet- riddled 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
Carl Denham Robert Armstrong Hilda Helen Mack Helstrom John Marston Released by RKO | Directed by Ernest B. Schoedsack Run time: 69 minutes Son of Kong: More is Less “Lady, you’ll never catch a monkey that way.” “Did you ever catch a monkey?” “Did I ever…? Lady, you’d be surprised.” 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