Dan Louis Wolheim Larry Robert Armstrong Mary Jean Arthur Released by RKO | Directed by George B. Seitz Danger Lights: Training Day “Look here. This means sidetracking everything along the way. The Olympian, the Pioneer… the whole timetable! Why, this will cost a fortune. And all for one man.” “For Read more
Cheri-Bibi John Gilbert Cecile Leila Hyams Costaud Lewis Stone Released by MGM | Directed by John S. Robertson The Phantom of Paris: Now You See Him… “I saw Bibi fall into the abyss with my own eyes. No one could survive that fall.” The Phantom of Paris is one of Read more
Mendel Marantz George Sidney Bernard Schnaps Charles Dale Sam Shtrudel Joe Smith Released by Warner Brothers | Directed by Mervyn LeRoy Proof That It’s Pre-Code The family’s daughter walks around in her scanties in front of the family’s store window. She threatens to bathe there, too. Off screen: “Well, Betsy, Read more
Lou Clara Bow Chris Miller Richard Cromwell Nifty Miller Preston Foster Released by Fox Film | Directed By Frank Lloyd Proof That It’s Pre-Code Set in a carnival with a wide variety of freaks, crooks, and dancers. “Well, I’ll be–“ Clara Bow plays a belly dancer, with the outfits and Read more
Biff Gary Cooper Virginia Fay Wray Amy Frances Fuller Released by Paramount Pictures | Directed by Stephen Roberts One Sunday Afternoon: Regrets, I Have a Few “Ain’t no crime in this world like stealing another man’s woman.” One Sunday Afternoon is about two things that constantly interest me: class conflict Read more
Gunner John Gilbert Bucker Robert Armstrong Mary Mae Clarke Released by MGM | Directed By Todd Browning Proof That It’s Pre-Code Construction workers hanging out on the peaks of skyscrapers are really mostly concerned with peeping. Gunner (Gilbert) recognizes Mary (Clarke) by her rear end. Mary’s a conwoman who shakes Read more
Jimmy Kane James Cagney Joan Virginia Bruce Peggy Marian Nixon Released by Warner Brothers | Directed By Roy Del Ruth Proof That It’s Pre-Code Virginia Bruce gets to model a stunning array of lingerie. A trio of tailors fit Cagney for a suit and are very interesting in getting precise Read more
Angel Grant Withers Mrs. Delano Lucille La Verne Mitch Warren Hymer Jennie Evalyn Knapp Harry James Cagney Myrtle Joan Blondell Released by Warner Brothers | Directed By John G. Adolfi Proof That It’s Pre-Code The dancing ladies are happy to show their stuff. Mitch runs a speakeasy and gambling joint. Read more
Jim Towner Clive Brook Fanny Towner Kay Francis Rosie Duggan Miriam Hopkins Tony Bruzzi Regis Toomey Hector Champion George Barbier David Melbourne Minor Watson Released by Paramount Pictures | Directed By Marion Gering Proof That It’s Pre-Code Drugs. Sex. Murder. 24 Hours: Counting Down the Minutes “It’s like having a Read more
Released by RKO | Directed By George Archainbaud Murder on the Blackboard: One Note We’re going to do something a little differently this week. Instead of my usual review, instead, here’s the second full chapter from my new eBook, Murder on Celluloid: A Companion to the Hildegarde Withers Film Series. Read more