1930
Children of Pleasure (1930) Review, with Lawrence Gray and Wynne Gibson
A proto-Footlight Parade involves a little dance and nothing too impressive.
1930
The Vagabond King (1930) Review, with Dennis King and Jeanette MacDonald
Dennis King sings the day as the pseudo King of France.
1934
She Learned About Sailors (1934) Review, with Lew Ayres and Alice Faye
Lew Ayres tests the limits of his charm alongside Alice Faye.
1933
Sailor’s Luck (1933) Review, with Sally Eilers and James Dunn
Sailors on shore leave run amok in this lousy comedy.
1930
The Matrimonial Bed (1930) Review, with Frank Fay and Lilyan Tashman
Leopold TrebelFrank Fay Gustave CortonJames Gleason SylvaineLilyan Tashman Released by Warner Bros. Directed by Michael Curtiz Run time: 67 minutes Proof That It’s a Pre-Code Film That old cliche about promiscuous hairdressers that are handsome sex machines… I guess it had to start somewhere. Plenty of gay panic jokes, with Read more
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
Devil and the Deep (1932) Review, with Tallulah Bankhead and Gary Cooper
Diana Sturm Tallulah Bankhead Lt. Sempter Gary Cooper Cmdr. Charles Sturm Charles Laughton Released by Paramount Directed by Marion Gering Run time: 75 minutes Proof That It’s a Pre-Code Film A woman hisses at Diana, “You probably heard me say that I’d very much like to spank you!” Diana raises Read more
1933
Peg o’ My Heart (1933) Review, with Marion Davies
Peg Marion Davies Jerry Onslow Stevens Alaric Tyrell Davis Released by MGM Directed by Robert Z. Leonard Run time: 86 minutes Proof That It’s a Pre-Code Film “You little Irish–!!” Our hero, Peg (Davies), pretends to have an illicit extramarital affair in order to help another woman out. Peg O’ Read more
1933
The Silver Cord (1933) Review, with Irene Dunne, Joel McCrea and Frances Dee
Christina Irene Dunne David Joel McCrea Mother Laura Hope Crews Robert Eric Linden Hester Frances Dee The Doctor Gustav von Seyffertitz Released by RKO Directed by John Cromwell Run time: 74 minutes Proof That It’s a Pre-Code Film Irene Dunne plays a lady scientist. Her mentor praises her, saying, “You Read more
1933
Stage Mother (1933) Review, with Alice Brady and Maureen O’Sullivan
Kitty Lorraine Alice Brady Shirley Lorraine Maureen O’Sullivan Warren Foster Franchot Tone Released by MGM | Directed by Charles Brabin Run time: 84 minutes Proof That It’s a Pre-Code Film In one of the most unique scenes of the entire pre-Code era, the titular ‘stage mother’ offers to hook her Read more