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You are here: Home / Archives for Movie Reviews

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.

The Vice Squad (1931) Starring Paul Lukas, Kay Francis, Judith Wood

March 14, 2016 By Cliff Aliperti 2 Comments

Judith Wood and Paul Lukas

Ripped from the headlines: New York’s Vice Squad scandal in Paramount pre-Code The Vice Squad (1931), starring Paul Lukas in a part inspired by Chile Acuna, with Kay Francis and Judith Wood. Directed by John Cromwell.

Filed Under: Movie Reviews Tagged With: 1931, Esther Howard, Helen Johnson, John Cromwell, Judith Wood, Juliette Compton, Kay Francis, oliver hp garrett, Paramount, Paul Lukas, pre-Code, ripped from the headlines, Rockcliffe Fellowes, William B. Davidson

Babbitt (1934) Starring Guy Kibbee, Aline MacMahon

March 3, 2016 By Cliff Aliperti Leave a Comment

Guy Kibbee in Babbitt 1934

The second film adaptation of Babbitt by Sinclair Lewis was released in late 1934. Guy Kibbee is well cast in the title role with Aline MacMahon as his wife Myra Babbitt. Directed by William Keighley for First National-Warner Bros.

Filed Under: Movie Reviews Tagged With: 1934, Addison Richards, Alan Hale, Aline MacMahon, Arthur Aylesworth, berton churchill, Claire Dodd, Comedies, First National, Glen Boles, Guy Kibbee, Harry Tyler, Hattie McDaniel, Mary Treen, Maxine Doyle, Minna Gombell, Minor Watson, Nan Grey, Russell Hicks, Sinclair Lewis, Walter Walker, Warner Bros., William Keighley

Ten Cents a Dance (1931) Starring Barbara Stanwyck

January 23, 2016 By Cliff Aliperti 1 Comment

Ten Cents a Dance 1931

A pre-Code set around a dance hall starring Barbara Stanwyck with Monroe Owsley and Ricardo Cortez, and I didn’t like it? Uh uh. Here’s what I didn’t like about Ten Cents a Dance (1931).

Filed Under: Movie Reviews Tagged With: 1931, Barbara Stanwyck, Blanche Friderici, Columbia, Lionel Barrymore, Monroe Owsley, pre-Code, Ricardo Cortez, Sally Blane

What Price Hollywood? (1932) Starring Constance Bennett, Lowell Sherman

January 18, 2016 By Cliff Aliperti 7 Comments

Constance Bennett Lowell Sherman Gregory Ratoff

What Price Hollywood? (1932), the best of the pre-Code era “inside-Hollywood” films, stars Constance Bennett and Lowell Sherman in director George Cukor’s first film for David O. Selznick.

Filed Under: Movie Reviews Tagged With: 1932, Constance Bennett, David O Selznick, Eddie "Rochester" Anderson, George Cukor, Gregory Ratoff, hollywood, Louise Beavers, Lowell Sherman, Neil Hamilton, pre-Code, RKO (Pathe), Warner Archive

Viña Delmar and Uptown New York (1932) – World Wide’s Bad Girl

January 4, 2016 By Cliff Aliperti 1 Comment

Shirley Grey and Jack Oakie

World Wide’s Uptown New York (1932) turns out to be more than a Bad Girl (1931) rip-off. With biography of Viña Delmar, who wrote both original stories.

Filed Under: Movie Reviews Tagged With: 1932, Frank Borzage, Independents, Jack Oakie, James Dunn, Leon Waycoff, Poverty Row, pre-Code, public domain, Sally Eilers, Shirley Grey, Victor Schertzinger, Vina Delmar, World Wide

The Widow from Chicago (1930) Starring Alice White

December 18, 2015 By Cliff Aliperti 3 Comments

Edward G Robinson and Alice White

Edward G. Robinson in an early gangster role that’s supposed to take a backseat to early talkie attraction Alice White. Film works for fans of both.

Filed Under: Movie Reviews Tagged With: 1930, Alice White, Brooks Benedict, Earl Baldwin, Edward F. Cline, Edward G. Robinson, First National, Flappers, Frank McHugh, Gangsters, Harold Goodwin, John Elliott, Lee Shumway, Neil Hamilton, pre-Code

Girl Missing (1933) Starring Glenda Farrell, Mary Brian

November 18, 2015 By Cliff Aliperti Leave a Comment

Glenda Farrell and Mary Brian

Murder-mystery GIRL MISSING (1933) ignores its murder and telegraphs its mystery, but Glenda Farrell manages to carry the day anyway. An excellent pre-Code showcase for the actress. Good support from Guy Kibbee, Helen Ware, and Ferdinand Gottschalk.

Filed Under: Movie Reviews Tagged With: 1933, Ben Lyon, Edward Ellis, Ferdinand Gottschalk, Glenda Farrell, Guy Kibbee, Harold Huber, Helen Ware, Louise Beavers, Lyle Talbot, Mary Brian, Mysteries, pat collins, Peggy Shannon, pre-Code, Robert Florey, Walter Brennan, Warner Archive, Warner Bros.

The Cat Creeps (1930) – Universal’s (Mostly) Lost Dark House

October 30, 2015 By Cliff Aliperti 4 Comments

The Cat Creeps Film Daily Cover

A look at lost Universal horror film The Cat Creeps (1930) starring Helen Twelvetrees. Contemporary reaction. Piecing the lost film together from Boo! and various versions of The Cat and the Canary.

Filed Under: Movie Reviews Tagged With: 1930, Blanche Friderici, Elizabeth Patterson, Helen Twelvetrees, Horror, Jean Hersholt, John Willard, lawrence grant, Lilyan Tashman, lost films, Montagu Love, Neil Hamilton, pre-Code, Raymond Hackett, Rupert Julian, Theodore von Eltz, Universal, Universal Horror

Josef von Sternberg’s Underworld (1927) Starring George Bancroft

October 28, 2015 By Cliff Aliperti 5 Comments

Underworld 1927

Josef von Sternberg’s Underworld (1927) inspires a cycle of gangster films that stretches beyond the late silent era. A look at the performances of George Bancroft, Evelyn Brent, and Clive Brook, and the relationship between their characters.

Filed Under: Movie Reviews Tagged With: 1927, Ben Hecht, Clive Brook, Evelyn Brent, Fred Kohler, Gangsters, George Bancroft, Helen Lynch, Jerry Mandy, Josef von Sternberg, Larry Semon, Paramount

Young Bride (1932) Starring Helen Twelvetrees and Eric Linden

September 19, 2015 By Cliff Aliperti 7 Comments

Eric Linden and Helen Twelvetrees

RKO-Pathe pre-Code Young Bride (1932), aka Love Starved, features great period slang throughout a lower middle-class slice of life in the city. Stars Helen Twelvetrees with excellent work from leading man Eric Linden, and Arline Judge in support.

Filed Under: Movie Reviews Tagged With: 1932, Arline Judge, Blanche Friderici, Cliff Edwards, Eric Linden, Helen Twelvetrees, Hugh Stanislaus Stange, Polly Walters, pre-Code, RKO (Pathe), Roscoe Ates, William A. Seiter

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About Cliff

I write about old movies and movie stars from the 1920s to the 1950s. I also sell movie cards, still photos and other ephemera. Immortal Ephemera connects the stories with the collectibles. Read More…

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I’m creating mini-biographies on hundreds of Immortal Ephemera Store pages at the moment, typically one or two per day. Alerts to the new pages are posted to my Facebook page (see latest just below).

Cliff’s Books & eBooks:

Click any image to browse or buy at Amazon.com. Previews available for all titles.

Helen Twelvetrees Perfect Ingenue by Cliff Aliperti

Helen Twelvetrees, Perfect Ingenue

Kindle $5.99

Paperback $21.95

11 Pre Code Hollywood Movie Histories book

11 Pre Code Hollywood Movie Histories

Still Just $2.99

Freddie Bartholomew An Informal Biography by Cliff Aliperti

The first Freddie Bartholomew biography in over 75 years!

Still just 99c

Praise for Helen Twelvetrees, Perfect Ingenue

Recommended BooksJames L. Neibaur of Examiner.com calls it: "One of the most interesting and important film books of the young year," adding, "the documentation is original and significant." Full review.

Recommended BooksJacqueline T. Lynch, author of Ann Blyth: Actress. Singer.Star., says: "A prime example of a classic film fan taking the reins to produce a scholarly study of a neglected figure from the Golden Age of classic films in a way that I feel is refreshing, infinitely helpful to fans and students of old movies." Full review.

Recommended BooksSilver Screenings says: "A fascinating account of an ambitious and hard-working woman ... Aliperti’s book is well written and incredibly well researched." Full review.

Recommended BooksSpeakeasy says: "Despite her decline, this is not a sad or bleak book but an enjoyable history ... Any fan of the collectible Citadel “Films of” book series will appreciate the modern twist on that format, a full biography followed by an expanded filmography." Full review.

Recommended BooksA Classic Movie Blog says: "I think this is a good format for performers with short lives and brief careers ... I went into it with only mild curiosity about Twelvetrees and now I find my self pining for copies of unavailable, but intriguing films." Full review.

Helen Twelvetrees, Perfect Ingenue is available in paperback or Kindle edition at Amazon.com.


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