1932
The Sign of the Cross (1932) Review, with Fredric March and Claudette Colbert
One of the wildest orgies of all time hits the screen in Cecil B. DeMille’s The Sign of the Cross.
1932
Attorney for the Defense (1932) Review, with Edmund Lowe, Evelyn Brent, and Constance Cummings
Burton Edmund Lowe Val Lorraine Evelyn Brent Ruth Barry Constance Cummings Released by Columbia | Directed by Irving Cummings Run time: 72 minutes Proof That It’s a Pre-Code Film The woman Burton sleeps with is cheating on him. Frustrated, he tells the other man, “It may relieve you to know Read more
1933
Penthouse (1933) Review, with Warner Baxter and Myrna Loy
Jackson Durant Warner Baxter Gertie Waxted Myrna Loy Tony Gazotti Nat Pendleton Jim Crelliman C. Henry Gordon Sue Leonard Martha Sleeper Mimi Mae Clarke Released by MGM | Directed By W.S. Van Dyke Proof That It’s Pre-Code “Mouthpiece” Jackson Durant is more than happy to defend bootleggers and chorus girls– Read more
1931
Blonde Crazy (1931) Review, with James Cagney and Joan Blondell
Bert … James Cagney Ann … Joan Blondell Dan … Louis Calhern Rupert … Guy Kibbee Helen … Noel Francis Reynolds … Ray Milland Proof That It’s Pre-Code This may take a while to load, but I think you’ll understand: Also, more robbery, cheating, lying, ogling and eyebrow waggles Read more
1930
The Big Pond (1930) Review
The Particulars of the Picture Pierre … Maurice Chevalier Barbara Billings … Claudette Colbert Directed by Hobart Henley The Big Pond: You’re Soaking In It “Me? I’m like a good French cheese. Every day I get stronger and stronger!” It took me a while to nail it down, but I Read more
1933
Lady for a Day (1933) Review
Proof That It’s Pre-Code Our main character and eventual hero is a gangster, though he’s not much in the Jimmy Cagney way. There’s a makeover required, and a male hairdresser, Pierre, is requested. The gangster denies him entrance until he’s convinced that the guy is… well, okay to be around Read more