Happy April!

Pre-Code Films at TCM Classic Film Festival 2022

While I won’t be attending the annual Turner Classic Movies Film Festival in Hollywood this year, there are a number of great pre-Code showings I’m bummed to miss out on. Cari Beauchamp, Bruce Goldstein and Leonard Maltin always give great introductions, and the movies I’ve seen listed below would all be worth seeing on the big screen. If you go, try not to miss any of them!

• Jewel Robbery, introduced by Cari Beauchamp
• Dinner at Eight
• Cocktail Hour, introduced by Cari Beauchamp and Suzanne Lloyd
• The Gay Divorcee
• Too Busy to Work, introduced by Michael Schlesinger
• Three on a Match, introduced by Bernardo Rondeau
• Baby Face, introduced by Bruce Goldstein
• Counsellor at Law, introduced by Leonard Maltin
• Evenings for Sale, introduced by Leonard Maltin

Pre-Code Movies on TCM in April 2022

TCM’s pre-Code offerings are a little sparse for most of April. However, on the 21st you’ll run into a pair of pre-Code time travel tales and on the 28th a number of fun Lionel Barrymore features.

Times are Eastern. Click here for the full upcoming schedule.

4/5, 10:00 PM  – Imitation of Life (1934)

A widow and her housekeeper go into business together but almost lose their daughters.    
Dir: John M. Stahl Actors: Claudette Colbert, Warren William, Rochelle Hudson
Runtime: 106 mins .. Genre: Drama .. Rating: TV-G .. CC: N

4/7, 02:15 AM  – The Champ (1931)

A broken-down prizefighter battles to keep custody of his son.     
Dir: King Vidor Actors: Wallace Beery,Jackie Cooper,Irene Rich
Runtime: 86 mins .. Genre: Drama .. Rating: TV-G .. CC: Y

4/13, 05:15 AM –  The Lost Squadron (1932)

Veteran flyers from World War I find work as movie stuntmen.    
Dir: George Archainbaud Actors: Richard Dix,Mary Astor,Robert Armstrong
Runtime: 72 mins .. Genre: Drama .. Rating: TV-G .. CC: Y

4/18, 06:00 AM  –  Little Women (1933)

The four March sisters fight to keep their family together and find love while their father is off fighting the Civil War.    
Dir: George Cukor Actors: Katharine Hepburn,Joan Bennett,Paul Lukas
Runtime: 115 mins .. Genre: Drama .. Rating: TV-G .. CC: Y

4/21, 04:15 AM  –  Hollywood Party (1934)

A movie star’s gala celebration creates chaos.    
Dir: Allan Dwan Actors: Stan Laurel,Oliver Hardy,Jimmy Durante
Runtime: 63 mins .. Genre: Musical .. Rating: TV-G .. CC: Y

4/21, 10:00 PM  –  Berkeley Square (1933)

A young American man is transported back to London in the time of the American Revolution and meets his ancestors.     Dir: Frank Lloyd Actors: Leslie Howard,Heather Angel,Valerie Taylor
Runtime: 84 mins .. Genre: Romance .. Rating: TV-G .. CC: Y

4/22, 01:30 AM  –  Turn Back the Clock (1933)

A middle aged working man gets to relive his life and make himself wealthy.     
Dir: Edgar Selwyn Actors: Lee Tracy,Mae Clark,Otto Kruger
Runtime: 79 mins .. Genre: Drama .. Rating: TV-G .. CC: Y

4/23, 06:00 AM  –  Today We Live (1933)

An aristocratic English girl’s tangled love life creates havoc during World War I.     
Dir: Howard Hawks Actors: Joan Crawford,Gary Cooper,Robert Young
Runtime: 113 mins .. Genre: Romance .. Rating: TV-G .. CC: Y

4/24, 06:15 AM  –  Arsene Lupin (1932)

A gentleman thief risks his life in an attempt to steal the Mona Lisa.    
Dir: Jack Conway Actors: John Barrymore,Lionel Barrymore,Karen Morley
Runtime: 84 mins .. Genre: Comedy .. Rating: TV-G .. CC: Y

4/25, 09:00 AM  –  His Greatest Gamble (1934)

A convicted killer breaks out of jail to help his mother-dominated daughter.    
Dir: John Robertson Actors: Richard Dix,Dorothy Wilson,Bruce Cabot
Runtime: 72 mins .. Genre: Drama .. Rating: TV-G .. CC: Y

4/25, 05:00 PM  –  Man to Man (1931)

A young man attempts to overcome the memory of his father, who was sent to jail for committing a murder.    
Dir: Allan Dwan Actors: Phillips Holmes,Grant Mitchell,Lucille Powers
Runtime: 68 mins .. Genre: Crime .. Rating: TV-G .. CC: N

4/28, 12:45 PM  –  Rasputin and the Empress (1932)

True story of the mad monk who plotted to rule Russia.    
Dir: Richard Boleslavsky Actors: John Barrymore,Ethel Barrymore,Lionel Barrymore
Runtime: 133 mins .. Genre: Drama .. Rating: TV-PG .. CC: Y

4/28, 04:15 PM  –  A Free Soul (1931)

A hard-drinking lawyer’s daughter falls for one of his underworld clients.    
Dir: Clarence Brown Actors: Norma Shearer,Leslie Howard,Lionel Barrymore
Runtime: 91 mins .. Genre: Drama .. Rating: TV-G .. CC: Y

4/28, 06:00 PM – Dinner at Eight (1933)

A high-society dinner party masks a hotbed of scandal and intrigue.    
Dir: George Cukor Actors: Marie Dressler,John Barrymore,Wallace Beery
Runtime: 113 mins .. Genre: Comedy .. Rating: TV-PG .. CC: Y

Happy viewings!