Classic Movie Reviews by Cliff Aliperti

Spoiler-free reviews of movies from Hollywood's Golden Age, especially the 1930s. Most reviews also include research into background of the film and, when relevant, the history surrounding the subject of the movie.

Henry Hull is the Werewolf of London (1935)

October 13, 2011 By Cliff Aliperti 3 Comments

The first werewolf movie in Universal’s horror cycle Werewolf of London (1935) takes a back seat to The Wolf Man (1941) today, but Henry Hull’s monster is underrated. Also starring Warner Oland, Valerie Hobson and Lester Matthews, a brief look at 1935s Werewolf of London.

The World Changes (1933) Starring the Many Faces of Paul Muni

September 23, 2011 By Cliff Aliperti 4 Comments

Paul Muni stars in First National’s 1933 multigenerational film The World Changes. Also starring Mary Astor. Muni earns a fortune in the meat-packing industry but is led too far from his roots and watches his children stray even further from what he considers a good life.

The Dragon Murder Case (1934) Article Posted at Warren-William.com

September 15, 2011 By Cliff Aliperti Leave a Comment

TCM Warren William Alert: Employees’ Entrance and The Dragon Murder Case both air Saturday morning, September 17. This article also links over to my detailed look at The Dragon Murder Case (1934) on Warren-William.com. Starring William as Philo Vance, the article also compares him to William Powell’s previous portrayals of Vance. Plus an auction alert.

Bright Leaf (1950), Gary Cooper Takes Over Big Tobacco

September 13, 2011 By Cliff Aliperti 2 Comments

Gary Cooper shines in “Bright Leaf” a story of tobacco in the late 19th century. Not so brilliant is Cooper’s love triangle with Lauren Bacall and Patricia Neal.

I Married a Witch (1942) Starring Fredric March and Veronica Lake

September 4, 2011 By Cliff Aliperti 5 Comments

Rene Clair’s I Married a Witch (1942), starring Fredric March and Veronica Lake, brings equal parts comedy, romance and fantasy to a story that later influenced the television series Bewitched. Fans will note a definite similarity.

Lawyer Man (1932) Starring William Powell and Joan Blondell

August 23, 2011 By Cliff Aliperti 6 Comments

Warner Brothers’ Lawyer Man (1932) starring William Powell and Joan Blondell is one of a series of pre-code era lawyer films. Loosely based on the life and style of real-life mouthpiece William J. Fallon.

Somerset Maugham’s The Narrow Corner (1933) Starring Douglas Fairbanks, Jr.

August 19, 2011 By Cliff Aliperti 2 Comments

A personal look at this Somerset Maugham fan’s discovery of The Narrow Corner (1933) from Warner Brothers starring Douglas Fairbanks, Jr., Patricia Ellis, and Ralph Bellamy. A Maugham tale of the South Seas on film with all the sex and sin of the pre-code era.