Released by MGM | Directed By Hal Roach On the Loose: Loosely Done “And those two Cornell freshman. Were they fresh!” “On the Loose” probably isn’t going to convert many people who haven’t seen any of the other Todd & Pitts shorts that I’ve been working through this week. Besides Read more…
Released by MGM | Directed By George Marshall Alum and Eve: Tripping the Light Fantastic “And I suppose when the doctor comes in he’ll take out my other appendix!” “Alum and Eve” is one of the most surreal of the non-Betty Boop shorts I’ve sat through, a short where a Read more…
Released by MGM | Directed By Charley Chase Bargain of the Century: Hell. Yes. “Say, is that palooka is trying to flirt with me?” There are a lot of reasons I wish time travel was possible. I’m sure this doesn’t surprise you (I run a damn classic movie blog, after Read more…
Released by Paramount Pictures A Bundle of Blues: A Walk in the Sun “I’m weary all the time.” Why are there no great black stars of the pre-Code era? While I’ve doted upon Clarence Muse a few times (and by god it’s great to see him when he shows up) Read more…
Directed By Jay Leyda A Bronx Morning: A City’s Symphony We’re going to take a hop, skip and a jump out of the site’s usual fair today for “A Bronx Morning”, an avant garde short film that starts on an elevated train and winds its way into one of New Read more…
Katrin Greta Garbo Walter Herbert Marshall Jack George Brent Released by Metro Goldwyn Mayer | Directed By Richard Boleslawski Proof That It’s Pre-Code-ish The film opens with Katrin’s sister’s wedding, and she gives her sister a neglige for a wedding present. “But don’t tell mother, she’ll think it’s wicked.” “But Read more…
Captain Ivan Orloff Ivan Lebedeff Countess Diana Dorchy Genevieve Tobin Baroness Alma Corri Betty Compson Released by RKO | Directed By Richard Boleslawski Proof That It’s Pre-Code Plenty of suggestive hints to the effectiveness of Captain Orloff’s campaign with the ladies. “He made me tell him things I wouldn’t tell Read more…
Bradshaw Paul Muni Gerry Glenda Farrell Shammy Ned Sparks Released by Warner Brothers | Directed By Mervyn LeRoy Proof That It’s Pre-Code “You can take that contract AND–“ Uh, there are gangsters? Hi, Nellie!: Heartache at the Fourth Estate “You’re the editor.” “You’re telling me?” I love Paul Muni. When Read more…
June Betty Compson Russell Courtney John Darrow Sir Gerald Courtney Gilbert Emery Released by RKO | Directed By George Archainbaud Proof That It’s Pre-Code Our heroine is a poor street walker. “Don’t be so Victorian, Dobbs. Cocktails, Dobbs. We must have cocktails!” A bartender from Chicago is called, “one of Read more…
Jim Turner Edward G. Robinson Marge Mayhew Genevieve Tobin Val Wilson Glenda Farrell Released by Warner Brothers/First National | Directed By Alfred E. Green Proof That It’s Pre-Code Marge protests after her husband starts kissing her on the front lawn. “Jim, stop that! The neighbors will think we’re not married!” Read more…