May means warm weather, allergies, and, yes, once again, me shilling my upcoming Pre-Code Essentials book. We’ve finished up our final review of the manuscript, so now it is just waiting to get a copy into my hands. I think it turned out spectacularly, and I hope you check it out as well!
Mae West is TCM’s Star of the Month in May, and, frankly, it’s offensive she isn’t simply the star of the month every May. I’ve seen all of her films (yes, all 12, it was quite an investment), and her three true pre-Code entries are her best. If you aren’t familiar with her screen work, I’m No Angel is the most fun and modern of her movies and boasts a nice sexy supporting role for Cary Grant as well.
The rest of TCM’s pre-Code lineup in May is sparse, but there are some pretty excellent deep cuts sprinkled in. If you haven’t seen them, Ace of Aces, Double Harness, A Farewell to Arms, and When Ladies Meet are all worth tuning in for. Or, catching them later on streaming, if we are to go by the parlance of the times.
Pre-Code Films on TCM in May 2025
Full (printable!) schedule here. Times are in EST and subject to change. Links go to my reviews.
- May 4 @ 20:00 – Night After Night (1932)
- May 4 @ 21:30 – She Done Him Wrong (1933)
- May 4 @ 22:45 – I’m No Angel (1933)
- May 6 @ 20:00 – The Big Trail (1930)
- May 10 @ 00:15 – Duck Soup (1933)
- May 11 @ 20:00 – Belle of the Nineties (1934)
- May 12 @ 06:00 – Little Women (1933)
- May 17 @ 20:00 – Frankenstein (1932)
- May 19 @ 14:00 – Ace of Aces (1933)
- May 20 @ 11:15 – Double Harness (1933)
- May 21 @ 16:30 – When Ladies Meet (1933)
- May 24 @ 14:00 – Men Must Fight (1933)
- May 25 @ 12:00 – A Farewell to Arms (1932)
- May 30 @ 06:00 – Flight Commander (1930)
- May 30 @ 08:00 – Today We Live (1933)
- May 30 @ 16:30 – Tiger Shark (1932)
Get outside and enjoy the weather this month! Also watch movies. Movies are good.
