1933
Sailor’s Luck (1933) Review, with Sally Eilers and James Dunn
Sailors on shore leave run amok in this lousy comedy.
1932
Okay America! (1932) Review, with Lew Ayres
Lew Ayres is a tough-talking gossip columnist out to save the nation in Okay America! (32).
1934
Madame Du Barry (1934) Review, with Dolores Del Rio
Madame Du BarryDolores del Rio King Louis XVReginald Owen Armand d’AiguillonVictor Jory Directed by: William DieterleReleased by: Warner Bros.Run time: 79 minutes Proof That It’s (Almost) Pre-Code “Madam, what are you trying to do to France?”“Oh, just what it’s doing to me.” We’re introduced to Du Barry (del Rio) in Read more
1933
Gambling Ship (1933) Review, with Cary Grant
Ace Corbin Cary Grant Eleanor Benita Hume Manning Jack La Rue Released by Paramount Directed by Louis J. Gasnier and Max Marcin Run time: 72 minutes Proof That It’s a Pre-Code Film Benita Hume pops out of the shower at one point and (it’s difficult to capture in a screenshot) Read more
1932
Madame Butterfly (1932) Review, with Sylvia Sidney and Cary Grant
Cho-Cho-san Sylvia Sidney Lt. Pinkerton Cary Grant Lt. Barton Charlie Ruggles Released by Paramount Directed by Marion Gering Run time: 86 minutes Proof That It’s a Pre-Code Film A man marries two different women. Sure, it’s bigamy. It’s big of them too! (ugh) Madame Butterfly: Yuck Yuck Yuck “Before kiss, Read more
1933
King Kong (1933) Review, with Fay Wray and Robert Armstrong
Ann Darrow Fay Wray Carl Denham Robert Armstrong John Driscoll Bruce Cabot Released by RKO Directed by Merian C. Cooper, Ernest B. Schoedsack Run time: 104 minutes Proof That It’s a Pre-Code Film This film touches lightly on a ton of material from white slavery to bestiality, that would be Read more
1932
Hell’s House (1932) Review, with Bette Davis and Pat O’Brien
Jimmy Mason Junior Durkin Matt Kelly Pat O’Brien Peggy Gardner Bette Davis Released by Allied Artists (?) Directed by Howard Higgin Run time: 72 minutes Proof That It’s a Pre-Code Film One early scene has Jimmy Mason (Durkin) trying to pick the right door to knock on, and he plays Read more
1934
George White’s Scandals (1934) Review, with Rudy Vallee, Jimmy Durante, and Alice Faye
Kitty Alice Faye Happy Jimmy Durante Jimmy Rudy Vallee Released by Fox Film Directed by George White Run time: 79 minutes Proof That It’s a Pre-Code Film “You Nasty Man!” features gams galore and oodles of men focusing in on various lady appendages with delight. Jimmy Durante has lost his Read more
1931
The Great Meadow (1930) Review, with John Mack Brown and Eleanor Boardman
Berk Jarvis John Mack Brown Diony Hall Eleanor Boardman Evan Muir Gavin Gordon Released by MGM Directed by Charles Brabin Run time: 78 minutes Proof That It’s a Pre-Code Film Berk Jarvis’ mother gets killed and scalped by a Shawnee. The villain then spends the movie rubbing it in Jarvis’ Read more
1931
Never the Twain Shall Meet (1931) Review, with Leslie Howard and Karen Morley
Dan Pritchard Leslie Howard Tamea Conchita Montenegro Maisie Karen Morley Released by MGM Directed by W.S. Van Dyke Run time: 79 minutes Proof That It’s a Pre-Code Film “You make one big mistake in not watching me dress!” “She’s a very delightful little savage.” “You like wine?” “Oh yes. It Read more