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
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
Bugs Alhern Edward G. Robinson Al Daniels Russell Hopton Polly Cass Helen Vinson Ruth Wayburn Mary Astor Donald Cass Berton Churchill Edith Merriam Shirley Grey Released by Warner Brothers | Directed by Roy Del Ruth Proof That It’s Pre-Code Robinson’s Bugs Ahern is known as a mad gangster who murders 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
Paul Frank Morgan Maria Nancy Carroll Walter Paul Lukas Hilda Jean Dixon Schultz Charlie Grapewin Lucy Gloria Stuart Released by Paramount | Directed By James Whale Proof That It’s Pre-Code A premeditated murder is committed, and surely it’s okay to do that sometimes, right? One of the reporters seems a Read more
Eddie / Oedipus Eddie Cantor Josephus David Manners Princess Sylvia Gloria Stewart Emperor Valerius Edward Arnold Olga Ruth Etting Empress Agrippa Verree Teasdale Released by United Artists | Directed By Frank Tuttle Proof That It’s Pre-Code “The empress Agrippa, the one I was sleeping with, was his wife.” The chief Read more
Carol Joan Blondell Lawrence Warren William Trixie Aline MacMahon Polly Ruby Keeler Brad Dick Powell Peabody Guy Kibbee Barney Ned Sparks Fay Ginger Rogers Singer Etta Moten Released by Warner Brothers | Directed by Mervyn LeRoy Proof That It’s Pre-Code One of the musical numbers is called “Pettin’ in the Read more
Irene Gloria Stuart Robert Lionel Atwill Walter Paul Lukas Released by Universal | Directed By Kurt Neumann The Secret of the Blue Room: Am I Blue “I warned them. But they laughed at me. But I tell you that anybody who sleeps in the blue room is never heard of Read more
Coach Gore Pat O’Brien Claire Ann Dvorak Buck Weaver Lyle Talbot Phil Sargeant Dick Powell Barnett Hugh Herbert Dr. Sargeant Arthur Byron Released by Warner Brothers | Directed By William A. Wellman Proof That It’s Pre-Code Buck Weaver keeps a picture of a scantily clad woman in his dorm room. Read more
Elizabeth Rimplegar Claudette Colbert Dr. Alan Stevens Richard Arlen Mrs. Nellie Rimplegar Mary Boland Kenneth Rimplegar Wallace Ford Eddie Rimplegar Tom Brown Douglas Rimplegar William Bakewell Jenny Lyda Roberti Kitty Joan Marsh Ronald Hardie Albright Released by Paramount Pictures | Directed By Elliot Nugent Proof That It’s Pre-Code The rise Read more