1932
The Final Edition (1932) Review, with Mae Clarke and Pat O’Brien
An ace newspaper reporter hunts down a murderer in order to take down a crime syndicate– and she’s a woman?! Bless my stars and garters.
1932
The Impatient Maiden (1932) Review, with Lew Ayres and Mae Clarke
Myron Brown, M.D. Lew Ayres Ruth Robbins Mae Clarke Betty Merrick Una Merkel Released by Universal | Directed By James Whale Proof That It’s Pre-Code “No man can be expected to live his entire life with one woman!” Both Clarke and Merkel get undressed at different points. Attempted suicide. A Read more
1931
The Good Bad Girl (1931) Review, with Mae Clarke, James Hall, and Marie Prevost
Marcia Cameron Mae Clarke Bob Henderson James Hall Trixie Barnes Marie Prevost Released by Columbia | Directed By Roy William Neill Proof That It’s Pre-Code “You cheap, common…” Women living with criminals outside of wedlock. Rich people are assholes. The Good Bad Girl: And The Ugly “That’s what I was. Read more
1931
Frankenstein (1931) Review, with Boris Karloff, Colin Clive and Mae Clarke
Dr. Henry Frankenstein Colin Clive Elizabeth Mae Clarke The Monster Boris Karloff Released by Universal Pictures | Directed By James Whale Proof That It’s Pre-Code A man directly likens himself to God. (Accidental) cold-blooded child murder. Frankenstein: The Sins of the Father “Dangerous? Poor, old Waldman. Have you never wanted Read more
Book Reviews
Book Review – “Featured Player: An Oral Autobiography of Mae Clarke” with James Curtis
As I’ve been reading more biographies as I’ve gotten older, I’ve come to appreciate how not just the way that the writing style affects the portrayal of the subjects, but how the attitude that the author brings to the proceedings is paramount as well. For example, Christina Rice’s unbridled enthusiasm Read more
1930
The Fall Guy (1930) Review, with Jack Mulhall, Mae Clarke, and Ned Sparks
Johnny Quinlan Jack Mulhall Bertha Quinlan Mae Clarke Danny Walsh Ned Sparks Released by RKO | Directed By Leslie Pearce Proof That It’s Pre-Code Our louse in the lead, Johnny, is chasing around ladies other than his wife. The gangster boss Nifty has a network of men carrying high end Read more
1933
Turn Back the Clock (1933) Review, with Lee Tracy, Mae Clarke, and Otto Kruger
Joe Gimlet Lee Tracy Mary Gimlet / Mary Wright Mae Clarke Ted Wright Otto Kruger Released by MGM | Directed by Edgar Selwyn Proof That It’s Pre-Code “As the lady said to the sailor, nothing’s stopping you.” Drunk Tracy is clearly checking out Clarke’s rear when she insists that he Read more
1931
The Front Page (1931) Review, with Adolphe Menjou and Pat O’Brien
Hildy Johnson Pat O’Brien Walter Burns Adolphe Menjou Peggy Grant Mary Brian Bensinger Edward Everett Horton Earl Williams George E. Stone Molly Mae Clarke Released by United Artists | Directed By Lewis Milestone Proof That It’s Pre-Code Digging through his desk, Bensinger finds a discarded woman’s slip. Plenty of dark Read more
1933
Parole Girl (1933) Review, with Mae Clarke and Ralph Bellamy
Sylvia Day Mae Clarke Joseph B. Smith Ralph Bellamy Jeanie Vance Marie Prevost Released by Columbia Pictures | Directed By Edward F. Cline Proof That It’s Pre-Code Sylvia (Clarke) and Tony (Hale Hamilton) run a con that involves a fake pick pocketing and extortion from dopey department stores. Tony becomes Read more
1932
Fast Workers (1933) Review, with John Gilbert, Robert Armstrong, and Mae Clarke
Gunner John Gilbert Bucker Robert Armstrong Mary Mae Clarke Released by MGM | Directed By Todd Browning Proof That It’s Pre-Code Construction workers hanging out on the peaks of skyscrapers are really mostly concerned with peeping. Gunner (Gilbert) recognizes Mary (Clarke) by her rear end. Mary’s a conwoman who shakes Read more