Lola Lola Marlene Dietrich Professor Rath Emil Jannings The Magician Kurt Gerron Released by Paramount Pictures | Directed by Josef Von Sternberg Proof That It’s a Pre-Code Film Our lead singer, Lola Lola, has what men want, and is more than willing to pass it along. The Blue Angel: Destroyed Read more
Released by Paramount Pictures | Directed by Norman Z. McLeod Alice in Wonderland: The Exquisite Tragedy of a World Gone Mad “If everybody minded their own business, the world would go around much faster than it does.” There are things I miss about the studio system. Imagine you’re Cary Grant. You Read more
Zara / Maria Greta Garbo Bruno Melvyn Douglas Salter Erich von Stroheim Released by Metro Goldwyn Mayer | Directed by George Fitzmaurice Proof That It’s Pre-Code Zara lives out of wedlock with a man, despite the fact that she may be married to another. (Though, to be fair, she has… Read more
Helga/Susan Lenox Greta Garbo Rodney Clark Gable Ohlin Jean Hersholt Released by MGM | Directed by Robert Z. Leonard Proof That It’s Pre-Code Our female lead is threatened with rape and abuse constantly before turning to prostitution and gold digging. Susan Lenox: It’s A Man’s World “I think the most Read more
Yvonne Greta Garbo Andre Robert Montgomery Delval Lewis Stone Released by Metro Goldwyn Mayer | Directed by Clarence Brown Proof That It’s Pre-Code “There are tricks in every trade.” “You ought to know, dearie. Your trade is the oldest.” “I was just going to ask if you came with a Read more
Celia Dorothy Mackaill John Smith Basil Rathbone Evelyn Leila Hyams Released by First National/Warner Brothers | Directed by William Seiter Proof That It’s Pre-Code Celia accidentally drops a watch down her dress and has to fish around for it. John enjoys the view. “We’ll have to go without any clothes!” Read more
Professor Topaze John Barrymore Coco Myrna Loy Philippe de La Tour-La Tour Reginald Mason Released by RKO | Directed by Harry d’Abbadie d’Arrast Proof That It’s Pre-Code Honesty, integrity, truth… it’s all bunk. Coco is the kept woman of a rich man. There’s no bones made about her role as Read more
Frankie Helen Twelvetrees Johnnie Ricardo Cortez Dan Phillips Holmes Annie Marjorie Rambeau Sport Frank Pangborn Nelly Thelma Todd Released by Pathe (RKO) | Directed by Tay Garnett Proof That It’s Pre-Code Look, you can’t say it, but this movie is filled to the brim with prostitutes. Oh, and murder. And Read more
Rene Maurice Chevalier Victor Edward Everett Horton Sally Helen Twelvetrees Released by Paramount Pictures | Directed by Norman Taurog Proof That It’s Pre-Code Get this– a Maurice Chevalier character chases after multiple women, ignoring (or just ignorant of) their marital status. There is a very real worry at first that Read more
Joan AKA Mary Smith Blanche Mehaffey Buddy John Darrow Scoop Raymond Hatton Released by Mayfair Pictures Corporation | Directed by E. Mason Hopper Proof That It’s Pre-Code The A.D.A. is visited by a woman named Mary Smith. His butler was absent because he was, “playing ping pong with the maid next Read more