Sylvia Bruce Marion Davies Bill Williams Bing Crosby Lili Yvonne Fifi D’Orsay Conroy Ned Sparks Jill Patsy Kelly Ernest Baker Stuart Erwin Released by MGM | Directed By Raoul Walsh Proof That It’s Pre-Code “What’s the ‘P’ for?” “Pratt.” “I knew it.” Bing makes a joke about having drank absinthe. Read more
Ruby Jean Harlow Eddie Clark Gable Gypsy Dorothy Burgess Lily Mae Theresa Harris Bertha Muriel Kirkland Al Stuart Erwin Released by MGM | Directed By Sam Wood Proof That It’s Pre-Code Our introduction to Ruby (Harlow) involves Eddie (Gable) running into her apartment and Read more
Joe Miller Ben Lyon Julie Kirk Claudette Colbert Eli Kirk Ernest Torrence One Punch McCoy Hobart Cavanaugh Ortegus Maurice Black John Phelps Purnell Pratt Released by Reliance Pictures/Edward Small Productions | Directed By James Cruze Proof That It’s Pre-Code Seagulls keep ruining reporter Joe Miller’s Read more
Cleopatra Claudette Colbert Julius Caesar Warren William Marc Antony Henry Wilcoxon Released by Paramount Pictures | Directed By Cecil B. DeMille Proof That It’s Pre-Code-ish The film’s title card is placed on a strategically lit nude woman. Much of Claudette Colbert’s wardrobe is focused on showing as much of her Read more
Sweetheart Jack Oakie Pres W.C. Fields Angela Susan Fleming Secretary of the Treasury Hugh Herbert Mata Machree Lyda Roberti Mysterious Man Ben Turpin Released by Paramount Pictures | Directed By Edward F. Cline Proof That It’s Pre-Code The President: Hello sweetheart. Migg Tweeny: Listen, my name’s Tweeny. The President: You’ll Read more
Virginia Frances Dee Pony Ginger Rogers Mac Bruce Cabot Helen Billie Burke Ms. Van Alstyne Beulah Bondi Frank John Halliday Released by RKO | Directed By Wanda Tuchock and George Nichols Jr. Proof That It’s Pre-Code Schoolgirls in trouble! Drinking! Partying! Staying up late with boys in hotel rooms and Read more
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
Elmer … Buster Keaton McCracken … Jimmy Durante Patricia … Irene Purcell Tony … Gilbert Roland Nina … Mona Maris Albine … Polly Moran Proof That It’s Pre-Code Well, this happens: The villain describes his seduction methods: “The kind of woman one finds, fondles, and forgets.” In trying to save Read more
Proof That It’s Pre-Code So, uh, you ever seen a woman in prison movie? Catfights and other assorted nastiness, though nothing as extreme and as crazy sexist as you’d get about thirty years later. There’s a nice long scene where our protagonist is introduced to her fellow inmates who have Read more
Pre-Code Follies: Look, don’t make counterfeit toothpaste. JUST DON’T. From Danny.