Dick ‘Court’ Courtney Richard Barthelmess Douglas Scott Douglas Fairbanks, Jr. Major Brand Neil Hamilton Released by Warner Brothers | Directed By Howard Hawks The Dawn Patrol: The Circle of Death “Wouldn’t it be funny to be back there again? Imagine getting up in the morning and having nothing to do Read more…
Released by MGM | Directed By Ub Iwerks The Bully: The Ol’ One-Two Flip the Frog is a footnote in the cartoon industry. Like Bosko or Betty Boop’s many sidekicks, you probably have to have had a serious side education in early cartoons to know his name. MGM, looking to Read more…
Released by Paramount | Directed By Dave Fleischer I’ll Be Glad When You’re Dead: Et Al The Betty Boop cartoons that Dave Fleischer put out are kind of a weird rarity. Besides the occasional Jewish in-joke originating from its director, they often showcased African-American singers and acts who were rarely Read more…
Released by MGM | Directed By Hal Roach The Pajama Party: Or Less “And one to grow on!” Watch enough Todd and Pitts short films and a pattern emerges. At some point, Zasu Pitts will be forcibly addressed. Men will literally chase after Thelma Todd. Zasu’s romantic flirtations will never Read more…
Released by MGM | Directed By George Marshall The Soilers: Working Their Way Through “The Soilers” is a bit of a letdown. This one finds Zasu and Thelma out in the suburbs trying to sell magazine subscriptions to help themselves “work their way through college.” This is patently unsuccessful since Read more…
Roy Rutledge James Hall Monte Rutledge Ben Lyon Helen Jean Harlow Released by United Artists | Directed By Howard Hughes Proof That It’s Pre-Code There’s a few foul mouthed fliers here, who utter things like, “Don’t be an ass!” and “Son of a Bosch!” The first World War is drenched Read more…
Tony George O’Brien Jerry Sally Eilers Steve Humphrey Bogart Released by Fox Film | Directed By Irving Cummings Proof That It’s Pre-Code A man is killed and the only other person there says it was accidental suicide, so, hey, party! One other notable thing. And I’ll get to that in Read more…
Egbert Higginbothom Bob Woolsey Tommy Tunner Bert Wheeler Peggy Dorothy Lee Released by RKO | Directed By William A. Seiter Proof That It’s Pre-Code “While they’re up on their toes, we’re out flat on our–” “Tommy!” “– heels!” “The manager came backstage and said he didn’t allow profanity in his Read more…
Louanne Dorothy Mackaill Wally Dean Frank Fay Miguel Parada Noah Beery Released by Warner Brothers | Directed by Michael Curtiz Proof That It’s Pre-Code “Why don’t you marry that guy and forget him?” We meet Dorothy Mackaill in the movie lounging in a negligee cooing a parrot on her outstretched Read more…
Ruby Jean Harlow Eddie Clark Gable Gypsy Dorothy Burgess Lily Mae Theresa Harris Bertha Muriel Kirkland Al Stuart Erwin Released by MGM | Directed By Sam Wood Proof That It’s Pre-Code Our introduction to Ruby (Harlow) involves Eddie (Gable) running into her apartment and Read more…