Classic Movie Reviews Sorted Alphabetically by Title

This list contains of my classic movie reviews sorted alphabetically by the title of each film.

These listings also include a brief summary description of each film.

A handful of posts featuring multiple reviews are, unfortunately in this case, ordered by date of the earliest film.

The original date of when I published my review or article follows each article title.

• Paramount’s 24 Hours (1931) with Clive Brook, Kay Francis, Miriam Hopkins February 13, 2013
  24 Hours
  Paramount’s Marion Gering gives us Louis Bromfield’s 24 Hours (1931) in just 66 minutes. Featuring an alcoholic Clive Brook, fashionable Kay Francis and Miriam Hopkins belting out a pair of songs in a pre-Code drama ripe for rediscovery.
• Robert Donat stars in Alfred Hitchcock’s The 39 Steps (1935) July 28, 2009
  39 Steps, The
  Hitchcock brings action and adventure, mystery and romance to The 39 Steps (1935) starring Robert Donat and Madeleine Carroll.
• Abandon Ship (1957) aka Seven Waves Away – Tyrone Power Commands This Lifeboat November 15, 2011
  Abandon Ship
  Abandon Ship (1957) aka Seven Waves Away stars Tyrone Power in command of an overcrowded lifeboat forced to make decisions over who deserves to live or die.
• Adam Had Four Sons (1941) Starring Warner Baxter and Ingrid Bergman February 29, 2012
  Adam Had Four Sons
  A quiet little period piece until Susan Hayward arrives to fill it with sex, sin and hate, Adam Had Four Sons stars Warner Baxter with Ingrid Bergman in her second Hollywood role.
• The Adventures of Mark Twain (1944) Starring Fredric March March 31, 2012
  Adventures of Mark Twain, The
  A review of Warner Brothers 1944 biopic The Adventures of Mark Twain starring Fredric March whose performance rises above an uneven though interesting story.
• The Adventures of Robin Hood (1938) starring Errol Flynn April 23, 2009
  Adventures of Robin Hood, The
  Far from being simply the greatest swashbuckler since Douglas Fairbanks, Sr., and with all apologies to Tyrone Power fans, none to top him since, Flynn played in variety of roles, and played them well.
• Lightning Review: Advice to the Lovelorn (1933) Starring Lee Tracy, Sally Blane July 20, 2015
  Advice to the Lovelorn
  Brief look at 20th Century Pictures pre-Code production Advice to the Lovelorn. Lee Tracy stars as lonely hearts columnist in fast-paced comedy that turns tragic for a few awkward moments. With Sally Blane, Paul Harvey, Sterling Holloway, C. Henry Gordon. Directed by Alfred Werker.
• Eric Linden Comes of Age in MGM’s Ah, Wilderness! (1935) July 4, 2013
  Ah, Wilderness!
  Eric Linden loves Cecilia Parker in Ah, Wilderness! (1935), but his passion threatens to take him down the same road that has doomed Wallace Beery with Aline MacMahon. MGM adapts Eugene O’Neill’s “comedy of recollection.” Directed by Clarence Brown.
• MGM’s Hardy Family Series #7 – Andy Hardy Gets Spring Fever (1939) December 21, 2012
  Andy Hardy Gets Spring Fever
  Andy Hardy Gets Spring Fever (1939) presents a less carefree Andy when he falls in love with his dramatics teacher played by former cellist Helen Gilbert. Starring Mickey Rooney and directed by W.S. “Woody” Van Dyke rather than series regular George B. Seitz.
• First Impressions: Andy Hardy’s Private Secretary (1941) September 1, 2010
  Andy Hardy's Private Secretary
  Brief first impressions of Andy Hardy’s Private Secretary (1941) written shortly after first viewing. Starring Mickey Rooney with the Hardy clan and Kathryn Grayson.
• Are These Our Children? (1931) Starring Eric Linden and Arline Judge January 30, 2017
  Are These Our Children?
  Wild RKO pre-Code gem Are These Our Children? (1931) examines Prohibition-era youth gone wild. Includes brief biography of star Eric Linden. Also co-star Arline Judge.
• Lightning Review: The Arizonian (1935) Starring Richard Dix June 15, 2015
  Arizonian, The
  Lightning review takes brief look at RKO Western The Arizonian (1935) starring Richard Dix, Margot Grahame, and Preston Foster, directed by Charles Vidor.
• First Impressions: Arrowsmith (1931) with Ronald Colman and Helen Hayes September 1, 2010
  Arrowsmith
  Brief first impressions of Arrowsmith (1931) written shortly after a first viewing. Starring Ronald Colman and Helen Hayes with Myrna Loy.
• Arsene Lupin Returns (1938) starring Melvyn Douglas, Virginia Bruce, Warren William October 18, 2009
  Arsene Lupin Returns
  Brief notes are exactly that, just some stream of consciousness thoughts occurring during my most recent viewing of Arsene Lupin Returns.
• Babbitt (1934) Starring Guy Kibbee, Aline MacMahon March 3, 2016
  Babbitt
  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.
• Bad Company (1931) Starring Ricardo Cortez August 27, 2015
  Bad Company
  RKO-Pathe pre-Code gangster film Bad Company (1931) stars Ricardo Cortez with Helen Twelvetrees and John Garrick. Directed by Tay Garnett.
• The Beast of the City (1932) starring Walter Huston and Wallace Ford February 27, 2009
  Beast of the City, The
  A review of an under appreciated 1932 pre-Code classic, The Beast of the City, starring Walter Huston and with Jean Harlow.
• A Bedtime Story (1933) Starring Maurice Chevalier, Helen Twelvetrees September 3, 2015
  Bedtime Story, A
  Paramount pre-Code sex farce turned romantic-comedy A Bedtime Story (1933) stars Maurice Chevalier and Helen Twelvetrees, and introduces the world to Baby LeRoy.
• Louise Brooks stars in William Wellman’s Beggars of Life (1928) June 22, 2009
  Beggars of Life
  Louise Brooks and Richard Arlen star in William Wellman’s Beggars of Life (1928) based on the novel by Jim Tully. Also starring Wallace Beery, a pre-Depression tale of hobo life.
• Behind the Green Lights (1935), Cops Vs. Mouthpiece in Mascot Indie May 18, 2016
  Behind the Green Lights
  Based on a book by Captain Cornelius Willemse, the NYPD’s original “gang buster,” Behind the Green Lights pits the police vs. a crooked mouthpiece and features a romance between cop and lawyer. Easily found independent release is fast-paced and entertaining.
• Big City Blues (1932), Pre-Code Party in Depression-Era New York June 26, 2013
  Big City Blues
  Eric Linden finds fun, trouble and Joan Blondell in Depression-era New York in Warner Bros.’ Big City Blues (1932). Directed by Mervyn LeRoy with an unbilled supporting appearance by Humphrey Bogart along with several others.
• First Impressions: King Vidor’s The Big Parade (1925) July 10, 2013
  Big Parade, The
  Thoughts upon watching King Vidor’s 1925 epic of love and war, The Big Parade, for the first time. The MGM classic stars John Gilbert and Renee Adoree with Karl Dane and Tom O’Brien.
• Black Fury (1935) – Paul Muni Stars in Another Ripped from the Headlines Story August 6, 2014
  Black Fury
  Paul Muni stars as a mine worker who is duped into breaking the union in 1935’s Black Fury from Warner Bros. Post includes background about real-life John Barcoski murder from 1929 and other notes about the origins of the film.
• Blessed Event (1932) – Lee Tracy as Early Version of Winchell August 21, 2014
  Blessed Event
  A look at Lee Tracy as the Walter Winchell inspired star of pre-Code classic Blessed Event (1932). Includes back story about the stage adaptation, movie casting and speedy film production, plus a bit about Walter Winchell himself, circa 1932.
• Blonde Crazy (1931) Starring James Cagney and Joan Blondell February 19, 2015
  Blonde Crazy
  A wild pre-Code con man romp directed by Roy Del Ruth for Warner Bros. and featuring the great chemistry of James Cagney and Joan Blondell. Blonde Crazy released in November 1931. Supporting cast highlighted by Louis Calhern, Noel Francis, Guy Kibbee, Polly Walters, and a very young Ray Milland.
• Blondie Johnson (1933) Starring Joan Blondell and Chester Morris September 29, 2013
  Blondie Johnson
  Blondie Johnson (1933) stars Joan Blondell as Warner Brothers and First National’s “lady gangster” opposite Chester Morris. Directed by Ray Enright with a deep cast including Sterling Holloway, Allen Jenkins, Mae Busch, Toshia Mori, Arthur Vinton and Claire Dodd.
• Born to Be Bad (1934) Starring Loretta Young, Cary Grant November 28, 2014
  Born to Be Bad
  A pre-Code entry released so late into the period that it was boycotted and even banned. Loretta Young plays another customer’s girl in Born to Be Bad, co-starring Cary Grant and Jackie Kelk. One of fewer than two dozen 20th Century Pictures entries before they merged with Fox Films.
• First Impressions: Bright Leaf (1950) Starring Gary Cooper September 1, 2010
  Bright Leaf
  Brief first impressions of Bright Leaf (1950) written shortly after a first viewing. Starring Gary Cooper with Lauren Bacall and Patricia Neal.
• Bright Leaf (1950), Gary Cooper Takes Over Big Tobacco September 13, 2011
  Bright Leaf
  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.
• Frank Capra’s Broadway Bill (1934) Starring Warner Baxter and Myrna Loy June 17, 2014
  Broadway Bill
  A look at Frank Capra’s follow-up to It Happened One Night, the 1934 holiday release Broadway Bill starring Warner Baxter, Myrna Loy and a horse named Broadway Bill. With comparison to 1950 remake Riding High and explanation of why Bill wound up out of circulation until 1992.
• Call Her Savage (1932) Stars Clara Bow as Pre-Code Dynamite July 29, 2011
  Call Her Savage
  Celebrating my favorite movie starring the ‘It Girl’ Clara Bow, the talkie Call Her Savage, a 1932 pre-code release from Fox. With Gilbert Roland, Monroe Owsley, Thelma Todd, and Estelle Taylor among others.
• Captain Blood (1935) Action Energized by Errol Flynn and Korngold’s Score August 12, 2010
  Captain Blood
  A look at my own favorite action adventure movie of all time, Captain Blood starring Errol Flynn and Olivia de Havilland, both in breakout roles. A tale of piracy, slavery, patriotism and romance, Korngold’s score keeps you cheering for Blood throughout.
• Captains Courageous (1937) Starring Freddie Bartholomew and Spencer Tracy February 9, 2015
  Captains Courageous
  MGM Golden Age classic Captains Courageous is highlighted by a heavily modernized and modified adaptation of Kipling’s novel that provides opportunity for Spencer Tracy and Freddie Bartholomew to shine in the leading roles.
• Cheela the Ape stars in Captive Wild Woman with John Carradine October 28, 2009
  Captive Wild Woman
  John Carradine’s first horror lead, “Captive Wild Woman” (1943) from Universal has definite roots in one of that company’s staples, the classic “Frankenstein” …
• Cass Timberlane (1947) starring Spencer Tracy and Lana Turner May 9, 2010
  Cass Timberlane
  MGM’s Cass Timberlane (1947) stars Spencer Tracy in the title role, features an excellent performance by Lana Turner. After a promising first hour a couple of key plot points are rushed and the quality suffers in the second half of the film.
• The Cat and the Canary (1927) – Old Dark House Classic Starring Laura La Plante January 7, 2015
  Cat and the Canary, The
  Settling in for silent old dark house classic The Cat and the Canary (1927) starring Laura La Plante. Same story as the 1939 movie with Bob Hope, though the earlier movie is more thriller than comedy.
• The Cat Creeps (1930) – Universal’s (Mostly) Lost Dark House October 30, 2015
  Cat Creeps, The
  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.
• Best Picture Cavalcade (1933) Sets Stage for Upstairs, Downstairs and Beyond July 16, 2013
  Cavalcade
  Looking at the 1934 Academy Award winning Best Picture, Hollywood-made Cavalcade (1933) based on Noel Coward’s hit London play. Fans of Upstairs, Downstairs and Downton Abbey will find themselves in a familiar place. Piece also includes brief biographies of Cavalcade stars Diana Wynyard, Herbert Mundin and Ursula Jeans.
• Change of Heart (1934) Janet Gaynor and Charles Farrell One Last Time September 21, 2016
  Change of Heart
  Change of Heart (1934) boasts the final pairing of Janet Gaynor and Charles Farrell. From director John G. Blystone for Fox Films with James Dunn and Ginger Rogers.
• Child of Manhattan (1933) Starring Nancy Carroll, John Boles March 8, 2015
  Child of Manhattan
  Adapted by Columbia from a critically savaged Broadway play by Preston Sturges. Child of Manhattan is saved on screen by its captivating star, Nancy Carroll, who plays taxi-dancer Madeleine McGonagle. With John Boles, Buck Jones, and Jessie Ralph. Directed by Edward Buzzell.
• China Seas (1935) starring Clark Gable and Jean Harlow March 3, 2010
  China Seas
  The Clark Gable and Jean Harlow teaming peaks in China Seas, the 4th of their 6 MGM pairings, a tale of love and piracy at sea also starring Wallace Beery and Rosalind Russell.
• Lightning Review: Chinatown Nights (1929) Starring Wallace Beery June 22, 2015
  Chinatown Nights
  Lightning review takes a brief look at transitional Paramount talkie Chinatown Nights (1929) starring Wallace Beery, Florence Vidor, and Warner Oland. Directed by William A. Wellman.
• City Streets (1931) Starring Gary Cooper and Sylvia Sidney February 8, 2014
  City Streets
  A look at the most stylized of the 1931 gangster movies, Rouben Mamoulian’s City Streets (1931) from Paramount, starring Gary Cooper and Sylvia Sidney.
• Clear All Wires! (1933) – Journalism in Classic Film Blogathon September 23, 2013
  Clear All Wires!
  MGM’s Clear All Wires! (1933) finds foreign correspondent Lee Tracy butting heads with the Soviet secret police in Russia, 1932. Una Merkel and Benita Hume co-star.
• Cecil B. DeMille’s Cleopatra (1934) Starring Claudette Colbert January 14, 2012
  Cleopatra
  A look at Cecil B. DeMille’s lavish 1934 production of Cleopatra starring Claudette Colbert as Cleopatra. With Warren William and Henry Wilcoxon.
• The Conquerors (1932) Starring Richard Dix and Ann Harding November 18, 2010
  Conquerors, The
  I watched a pair of Richard Dix films this week, the Oscar winning Cimarron from 1931 and The Conquerors released the following year. This review focuses on the film I liked better.
• The Constant Nymph (1943) Starring Joan Fontaine and Charles Boyer August 7, 2013
  Constant Nymph, The
  Concentrating on Joan Fontaine’s wonderful performance as teenage Tessa in The Constant Nymph (1943) with a look at the literary origins of the story and resulting complications in making the title available for public consumption.
• The Corpse Came C.O.D. (1947) and the Hollywood Gossip Columnists February 11, 2013
  Corpse Came C.O.D., The
  Columbia’s The Corpse Came C.O.D. (1947) was the most interesting of my blizzard viewing, though not because of stars George Brent and Joan Blondell but the quick flashes of Hollywood Gossip Columnists which helped put faces to a few more names.
• Crime Doctor (1943) Starring Warner Baxter with Dr. Ordway’s Origins May 16, 2012
  Crime Doctor
  The origins of the Crime Doctor are revealed in this first of ten movies starring Warner Baxter as Dr. Robert Ordway. Origins of the series from radio and possibly a previous Columbia release are also explained in this look at Columbia’s Crime Doctor (1943)
• Warner Baxter as The Crime Doctor: A Crime Doctor Episode Guide May 24, 2012
  Crime Doctor
  A guide to the individual entries to Columbia’s Crime Doctor mystery series of the 1940’s. Each of the ten films star Warner Baxter. Packed with details yet spoiler free.
• The Criminal Code (1931) Starring Walter Huston with Boris Karloff April 5, 2011
  Criminal Code, The
  A spoiler-free look at Howard Hawks’ The Criminal Code starring Walter Huston and providing Boris Karloff with his most important role to date. With a special focus on Phillips Holmes.
• Lightning Review: Curtain Call (1940) Starring Barbara Read, Alan Mowbray July 7, 2015
  Curtain Call
  Brief look at RKO “B” movie CURTAIN CALL. Naive playwright set loose in New York when producers use her terrible play with hopes of taming their only star. Stars Barbara Read, Alan Mowbray, Helen Vinson. Directed by Frank Woodruff.
• Dark Hazard (1934) Starring Edward G. Robinson and Genevieve Tobin December 10, 2014
  Dark Hazard
  Edward G. Robinson stars as a flawed yet likeable gambler who takes a shine to a champion greyhound in Dark Hazard, a 1934 pre-Code release from First National.
• The Personal History, Adventures, Experience, & Observation of David Copperfield the Younger (1935) June 12, 2011
  David Copperfield
  A look at MGM’s 1935 production of the Charles Dickens classic David Copperfield starring Freddie Bartholomew and WC Fields. Includes notes and quotes from David O. Selznick and George Cukor about production and casting, a brief outline of the film and its many characters, the latter highlighted by a biography of of the obscure Lennox ...
• Lon Chaney, Jr. in Dead Man’s Eyes (1944) – An Inner Sanctum Mystery November 18, 2013
  Dead Man's Eyes
  Lon Chaney, Jr. stars in Dead Man’s Eyes, an Inner Sanctum Mystery from Universal in 1944. Posted for the Chaney Blogathon. Article also includes a separate section about mysterious co-star Acquanetta.
• Death on the Diamond (1934) – Baseball, Murder and Robert Young July 7, 2013
  Death on the Diamond
  MGM’s baseball murder mystery Death on the Diamond (1934) stars Robert Young and Madge Evans. A decent mystery and a strong baseball movie at the same time. Directed by Edward Sedgwick and also featuring David Landau, Paul Kelly, Nat Pendleton and Ted Healy.
• Devil and the Deep (1932) Starring Charles Laughton and Tallulah Bankhead May 24, 2011
  Devil and the Deep
  A detailed look at Paramount’s Devil and the Deep (1932) starring Tallulah Bankhead and Gary Cooper, with Cary Grant and introducing Charles Laughton to American audiences as the paranoid submarine commander.
• The Devil Is a Sissy (1936) Starring Freddie Bartholomew, Jackie Cooper, Mickey Rooney February 9, 2012
  Devil Is a Sissy, The
  A somewhat bizarre gem released by MGM in 1936 The Devil Is a Sissy features Freddie Bartholomew, Jackie Cooper and Mickey Rooney hitting their teens and finding trouble on the East Side.
• The Devil’s Holiday (1930) Starring Nancy Carroll September 20, 2013
  Devil's Holiday, The
  A look at early Paramount talkie The Devil’s Holiday (1930). Written and directed by Edmund Goulding, but saved from being stale by Nancy Carroll’s Academy Award nominated performance.
• Diamond Jim (1935) starring Edward Arnold as Diamond Jim Brady June 30, 2009
  Diamond Jim
  Based on the biography “Diamond Jim, The Life and Times of James Buchanan Brady” published a year earlier by Parker Morell this uneven though still enjoyable comedy was brought to the screen by Universal through a Preston Sturges script under the direction of Eddie Sutherland. Starring Edward Arnold as Diamond Jim Brady.
• A Dispatch from Reuters (1940) – Plus the Real Reuter vs. Edward G. Robinson July 18, 2011
  Dispatch from Reuters, A
  Edward G. Robinson stars as the entrepreneur behind A Dispatch from Reuters (1940), a Warner Brothers’ biopic whose message is progress and knowledge through a smaller world. Plus a look at the real Reuter compared to the Edward G. Robinson character of the movie.
• Walter Huston is Dodsworth (1936) with Ruth Chatterton and Mary Astor April 14, 2010
  Dodsworth
  Water Huston plays perhaps his finest role when he brings his Sam Dodsworth from the stage to the screen for Sam Goldwyn under William Wyler’s direction. Winner of 1 Oscar, nominated for 6 more, Dodsworth gives us a peek at the complicated married life of a middle-aged couple.
• Don’t Bet on Blondes (1935) Starring Warren William and Claire Dodd November 23, 2013
  Don't Bet on Blondes
  Warner Brothers Don’t Bet on Blondes (1935) features solid work by Warren William as bookmaker turned freak insurance man, Claire Dodd cast against type as his love interest and Guy Kibbee giving the strongest performance of the bunch as Dodd’s father, who takes out a policy against his daughter’s marriage. It is also Errol Flynn’s ...
• The Doorway to Hell (1930) Starring Lew Ayres and James Cagney April 21, 2012
  Doorway to Hell, The
  A deep look at the early gangster movie The Doorway to Hell (1930) with focus on stars Lew Ayres, James Cagney and Dorothy Mathews. Warner Brothers precursor to Little Caesar and The Public Enemy.
• Double Wedding (1937) Starring William Powell and Myrna Loy May 26, 2010
  Double Wedding
  Double Wedding proves that not all William Powell and Myrna Loy pairings are created equally, mark this one off as better than average which sets the bar quite high.
• Down to the Sea in Ships (1922) – Whaling Action and Clara Bow July 4, 2012
  Down to the Sea in Ships
  I agree, Clara Bow steals Down to the Sea in Ships, though the whaling and action sequences at sea stand out more while watching. Raymond McKee is strong.
• Downstairs (1932) Starring John Gilbert, From a Story by John Gilbert September 26, 2014
  Downstairs
  Despite its poor reception in 1932, today Downstairs is often pointed to as John Gilbert’s best talkie and further evidence that his voice was not poor. A look at some key scenes with Virginia Bruce and Paul Lukas, plus just how bad of a guy was Gilbert’s Karl?
• Lightning Review: Dr. Cyclops (1940) Starring Albert Dekker July 30, 2015
  Dr. Cyclops
  Brief look at Dr. Cyclops (1940) a sci-fi/horror blend from Paramount. Plays like ’50s science fiction, but a little slow in doing so. Albert Dekker stars.
• Dr. Monica (1934) Starring Kay Francis, Warren William and Jean Muir August 20, 2012
  Dr. Monica
  A look at Dr. Monica (1934), a pre-code Kay Francis film featuring a strong performance by Jean Muir. Also starring Verree Teasdale and Warren William.
• Dracula (1931) – Bela Lugosi and the Dark, Still Chilling October 22, 2012
  Dracula
  Matching the Universal horror classic Dracula (1931) starring Bela Lugosi against non-genre films of 1931 and turning perceived weaknesses into strengths.
• Lightning Review: The Easiest Way (1931) Starring Constance Bennett August 3, 2015
  Easiest Way, The
  Brief look at MGM pre-Code The Easiest Way (1931) starring Constance Bennett, Adolphe Menjou, and Robert Montgomery. Directed by Jack Conway. With Clark Gable.
• Eleven Men and a Girl (1930) starring Joan Bennett and Joe E. Brown May 10, 2011
  Eleven Men and a Girl
  Joan Bennett’s early career with a focus on Eleven Men and a Girl aka Maybe It’s Love, a 1930 Warner Brothers football comedy directed by William Wellman and co-starring Joe E. Brown and the College Football All Americans.
• Employees’ Entrance (1933) starring Warren William and the Franklin-Monroe Department Store February 7, 2011
  Employees' Entrance
  A detailed look at First National’s Employees’ Entrance, an early 1933 pre-code release starring Warren William with Loretta Young and Wallace Ford. A look inside the Franklin-Monroe Department Store at a time when Hoover was a lame duck and the Great Depression was crushing the economy.
• Evergreen (1934) – Gaumont British Musical Starring Jessie Matthews March 22, 2013
  Evergreen
  My first experience with Jessie Matthews. This American discovers EVERGREEN (1934) for the first time and finds a new favorite. 2,000 words, with images.
• Edward Arnold as Blind Detective Duncan Maclain in Eyes in the Night (1942) May 15, 2009
  Eyes in the Night
  Edward Arnold stars in the first of two Duncan Maclain films, Eyes in the Night (1942), as the blind detective who claims darkness as his kingdom. With Ann Harding, Donna Reed, Reginald Denny, Allen Jenkins, and Mantan Moreland.
• A Family Affair (1937) Introduces Judge Hardy’s Family September 10, 2010
  Family Affair, A
  A look at A Family Affair, the first installment of the Hardy Family series of movies released in 1937. While Mickey Rooney is on the scene as Andy Hardy, we have Lionel Barrymore playing Judge Hardy as well as some other casting we’re not used too.
• The Farmer’s Daughter (1947) Starring Loretta Young and Joseph Cotten January 31, 2013
  Farmer's Daughter, The
  A look at romance set in the world of politics in RKO’s The Farmer’s Daughter (1947) featuring Loretta Young in her Oscar winning performance. Also starring Joseph Cotten, Ethel Barrymore and Charles Bickford, directed by H.C. Potter.
• Five and Ten (1931) Starring Marion Davies and Leslie Howard October 6, 2014
  Five and Ten
  From a novel by Fannie Hurst, MGM’s Five and Ten stars Marion Davies and Leslie Howard, but this tale of the nouveau riche is at its weakest during their scenes. Strong support from Richard Bennett, Irene Rich, and Kent Douglass should have been even stronger. A recent MOD DVD-R release from Warner Archive.
• Five Star Final (1931) Starring Edward G. Robinson December 14, 2013
  Five Star Final
  Mervyn LeRoy’s Five Star Final (1931) stars Edward G. Robinson as the managing editor of a trashy New York newspaper that resurrects a 20-year-old murder case for circulation. A Warner Bros.-First National production adapted from the play by Louis Weitzenkorn. Also starring Marian Marsh, H.B. Warner, Frances Starr, Boris Karloff and Aline MacMahon.
• Flesh (1932) Starring Wallace Beery and Karen Morley May 8, 2012
  Flesh
  John Ford directed Flesh (1932) for MGM with Wallace Beery starring as a German wrestler and Karen Morley giving an outstanding performance as the shady girl he loves. With Ricardo Cortez.
• More on That Forsyte Woman (1949), Especially an Altogether Different Errol Flynn September 30, 2010
  Forsyte Woman, That
  A quick look at That Forsyte Woman (1949), a Greer Garson MGM feature where Errol Flynn steals the show playing against type with more skill than I would have expected.
• A Free Soul (1931) starring Norma Shearer and Lionel Barrymore January 30, 2009
  Free Soul, A
  Norma Shearer stars in A Free Soul with Lionel Barrymore and Clark Gable. A brief review of the film accompanied by some glimpses of movie collectibles.
• Lightning Review: Full Confession (1939) Starring Victor McLaglen June 4, 2015
  Full Confession
  Brief look at RKO “B” movie Full Confession (1939) starring Victor McLaglen, Joseph Calleia, Sally Eilers, and Barry Fitzgerald, directed by John Farrow.
• Fritz Lang’s Fury (1936) Starring Spencer Tracy and Sylvia Sidney May 20, 2009
  Fury
  Spencer Tracy breaks out in Fritz Lang’s Fury from MGM in 1936. MGM gives Tracy his most important role to date in Fury, co-starring Sylvia Sidney.
• G Men (1935) Starring James Cagney, Margaret Lindsay, and Ann Dvorak April 10, 2013
  G Men
  A look at Warner Brothers’ G MEN (1935) starring James Cagney, this time as the good guy. Based on several real incidents and infamous names, it’s the movie that began the G-Men cycle of films.
• Gallant Sons (1940) Starring Jackie Cooper, Bonita Granville and Gene Reynolds December 29, 2012
  Gallant Sons
  MGM gives Hardy director George B. Seitz a different group of kids for GALLANT SONS, a 1940 murder mystery starring Jackie Cooper, Bonita Granville and Gene Reynolds.
• Gambling Lady (1934) for the Barbara Stanwyck Blogathon July 19, 2013
  Gambling Lady
  Barbara Stanwyck plays honestly in Gambling Lady (1934), even when she has to overcome her husband’s former flame, Claire Dodd. With Joel McCrea and Pat O’Brien. Directed by Archie Mayo for Warner Brothers, 1934.
• Gentleman’s Fate (1931) Starring John Gilbert and Louis Wolheim as Unlikely Brothers March 28, 2014
  Gentleman's Fate
  Gentleman’s Fate (1931) is an MGM gangster effort overshadowed by the relationship between the John Gilbert and Louis Wolheim characters. Directed by Mervyn LeRoy with good work from Anita Page as well.
• Lightning Review: The Girl in 419 (1933) Starring James Dunn August 6, 2015
  Girl in 419, The
  Brief look at Paramount pre-Code THE GIRL IN 419 (1933), gangster movie and hospital drama starring James Dunn with Gloria Stuart, David Manners, and William Harrigan. Directed by Alexander Hall and George Somnes.
• Girl Missing (1933) Starring Glenda Farrell, Mary Brian November 18, 2015
  Girl Missing
  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.
• Going Highbrow (1935) With Guy Kibbee, ZaSu Pitts, Edward Everett Horton February 16, 2012
  Going Highbrow
  A look at the 1935 Warner Brothers comedy Going Highbrow includes a June Martel biographical aside. Plus how Guy Kibbee was discovered and Gordon Westcott’s untimely death later that same year.
• Good Dame (1934) Starring Sylvia Sidney and Fredric March March 14, 2015
  Good Dame
  Lots of Depression-era slang tossed about in Paramount’s Good Dame (1934). Carny hustler Fredric March falls for chorine nice girl Sylvia Sidney in this rarely seen pre-Code.
• The Good Fairy (1935) Starring Margaret Sullavan and Herbert Marshall July 13, 2015
  Good Fairy, The
  Margaret Sullavan stars as innocent orphan who plays good fairy. Frank Morgan pursues, Reginald Owen protects, and Herbert Marshall falls in love in The Good Fairy (1935), a Universal film directed by William Wyler from a screenplay by Preston Sturges.
• Government Girl (1943) Starring Olivia de Havilland and Sonny Tufts May 11, 2012
  Government Girl
  Olivia de Havilland is Smokey Allard in RKO’s Government Girl (1943). Far from perfect and suffering greatly in comparison to other home front titles such as The More the Merrier, Government Girl is still an interesting slice of history.
• H.M. Pulham, Esq. (1941) – King Vidor Brings John P. Marquand Bestseller to Life November 14, 2014
  H.M. Pulham, Esq.
  Comparing King Vidor’s adaptation of H.M. Pulham, Esq. (1941) to the novel by John P. Marquand, and why both tellings are wonderful. Excellent performances from Robert Young and Hedy Lamarr trickle down throughout the entire cast, most of who are perfect representations of the characters Marquand created on the page. It’s a quiet story that ...
• The Half Naked Truth (1932) Starring Lee Tracy and Lupe Velez September 17, 2012
  Half-Naked Truth, The
  Lee Tracy takes Lupe Velez from carny hooch dancer to Broadway star in Gregory La Cava’s The Half Naked Truth (1932) for RKO. Also starring Frank Morgan and Eugene Pallette
• MGM’s Hardy Family Series #6 – The Hardys Ride High (1939) December 18, 2012
  Hardys Ride High, The
  In The Hardys Ride High (1939), the sixth movie of MGM’s Hardy Family series, Judge Hardy and family fly to Detroit to claim a two million dollar inheritance. Andy Hardy sets his sights on a showgirl and Aunt Milly may have found love at last.
• RKO’s Hell’s Highway (1932) Beats Other Chain Gang Movie to Theaters January 23, 2013
  Hell's Highway
  It’s tempting to call RKO’s Hell’s Highway (1932) a knockoff on I Am a Fugitive from a Chain Gang. However the Richard Dix movie came first. A long essay looking at Hell’s Highway, Dix, the Etude Ethiopian Chorus and that other Chain Gang movie.
• Her Man (1930) Starring Helen Twelvetrees and Phillips Holmes May 21, 2013
  Her Man
  Tay Garnett’s Her Man from Pathe is an overlooked pre-Code classic starring Helen Twelvetrees in the first screen adaptation of the Frankie and Johnny ballad. With Phillips Holmes, Ricardo Cortez and Marjorie Rambeau.
• His Greatest Gamble (1934) Starring Richard Dix April 21, 2014
  His Greatest Gamble
  RKO’s His Greatest Gamble (1934) successfully offers Richard Dix one of his most dramatic roles as the carefree father of a girl whose mother keeps her under the strictest control. Also starring Dorothy Wilson, Erin O’Brien-Moore, Bruce Cabot and Edith Fellows.
• Hot Saturday (1932) with Cary Grant and Nancy Carroll August 13, 2014
  Hot Saturday
  Paramount pre-Code Hot Saturday (1932) stars Nancy Carroll with noted young leading men Cary Grant and Randolph Scott. Grant is especially good, but Scott not so hot. Includes history of original casting plans, which included Carole Lombard, and comparison to the later Columbia film Party Wire (1935).
• A House Divided (1931) – Walter Huston Stars in Early Talkie from William Wyler July 23, 2014
  House Divided, A
  This early talkie from legendary director William Wyler stars Walter Huston as the father of meek Kent Douglass, who falls in love with Dad’s mail-order bride, Helen Chandler. Excellent work from Huston as always with surprising heat and chemistry from the two young co-stars.
• How Green Was My Valley (1941) and the Black Slag of Time April 8, 2013
  How Green Was My Valley
  Like Roddy McDowall I find myself focused on Donald Crisp throughout the Academy Award winning How Green Was My Valley (1941). Labor unrest invades the valley and Crisp’s once stable world changes.
• The Human Comedy (1943) Starring Mickey Rooney August 13, 2013
  Human Comedy, The
  An old movie I found a bit too old-fashioned, though Mickey Rooney does give one of his best performances in MGM’s The Human Comedy (1943). Story by William Saroyan. Produced and directed by Clarence Brown. Also includes strong acting from Frank Morgan and James Cra
• Kay Francis and Ian Hunter in I Found Stella Parish (1935) March 31, 2010
  I Found Stella Parish
  Kay Francis and Ian Hunter both do good work in Warner Brothers’ I Found Stella Parish (1935). I’m just wondering if I’m supposed to walk away liking either of their characters?
• I Married a Doctor (1936) Attempts to Update Main Street March 14, 2014
  I Married a Doctor
  Main Street by Sinclair Lewis was published in 1920. In 1936 Warner Bros. attempted to update the Lewis story with I Married a Doctor, starring Josephine Hutchinson and Pat O’Brien. The movie is entertaining but it is no Main Street choosing to focus more on the love angle than it does Carol’s battle against the ...
• I Married a Witch (1942) Starring Fredric March and Veronica Lake September 4, 2011
  I Married a Witch
  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.
• In Old Chicago (1937) starring Power, Ameche, Faye, with a Biographical Aside about Oscar Winner Alice Brady August 18, 2010
  In Old Chicago
  In Old Chicago (1937) shows off young 20th Century-Fox players Tyrone Power, Don Ameche and Alice Faye to great advantage, but it was Alice Brady who won the Academy Award for Best Supporting Actress. After an introduction to the film this post includes a brief biography of Brady who portrayed Molly O’Leary.
• Tyrone Power and Alice Faye – In Old Chicago (1937), Alexander’s Ragtime Band (1938) and Rose of Washington Square (1939) May 5, 2014
  In Old Chicago
  Tyrone Power and Alice Faye shared a May 5 birthday and shared early fame in hit movies In Old Chicago (1937), Alexander’s Ragtime Band (1938) and Rose of Washington Square (1939). This post looks at the hit Twentieth Century-Fox team and each of their three movies together.
• Peggy Hopkins Joyce, W.C. Fields, et al., in Paramount’s International House (1933) February 2, 2010
  International House
  International House, billed in its day as The Grand Hotel of comedy, found Eddie Sutherland directing a cast headed by W.C. Fields, Burns and Allen, and Bela Lugosi, with top bill actually going to socialite Peggy Hopkins Joyce in what was the final film of her sporadic movie career.  The films’ everyman is played by ...
• The Invisible Ray (1936) starring Boris Karloff and Bela Lugosi October 22, 2009
  Invisible Ray, The
  Brief notes are exactly that, just some stream of consciousness thoughts occurring during my most recent viewing of The Invisible Ray with Bela Lugosi and Boris Karloff.
• It Happened in Hollywood (1937) Starring Richard Dix and Fay Wray April 25, 2012
  It Happened in Hollywood
  Richard Dix plays cowboy star Tim Bart of the silent screen in It Happened in Hollywood (1937). The problem for Dix and his leading lady, played by Fay Wray, is that talkies have arrived to disrupt their lives.
• Big Cast in MGM’s 1951 anthology It’s a Big Country May 15, 2010
  It's a Big Country
  8 uneven vignettes makes up the disappointing 1951 American Anthology, It’s a Big Country. Big stars-Gary Cooper, Fredric March, William Powell-little ideas.
• RKO’s Jalna (1935) Inspires Craving for More Mazo de la Roche January 15, 2013
  Jalna
  Jessie Ralph plays 99 year old Gran in RKO’s 1935 movie adaptation of Jalna, the first of the Mazo de la Roche Whiteoaks novels. Also starring Kay Johnson, Ian Hunter and David Manners. Directed by John Cromwell.
• Jewel Robbery (1932) – Kay Francis and William Powell for a Sixth Time November 28, 2011
  Jewel Robbery
  A look at Jewel Robbery (1932), a unique heist-romance from Warner Brothers starring William Powell and Kay Francis. It’s a sophisticated yet often silly and almost always sinful pre-code classic.
• James Cagney is Jimmy the Gent (1934) July 16, 2014
  Jimmy the Gent
  James Cagney stars in Warner Bros. fast-paced Jimmy the Gent (1934), made all the faster by Cagney’s own frenzied performance. Bette Davis co-stars in an underwhelming role while Alan Dinehart excels in his part as rival “Heir Chaser.” Directed by Michael Curtiz and also featuring Allen Jenkins and Alice White.
• Johnny Apollo (1940) starring Tyrone Power and Dorothy Lamour August 25, 2012
  Johnny Apollo
  Tyrone Power stars as Johnny Apollo (1940) for Henry Hathaway at 20th Century Fox. The film fits nicely between the 1930’s gangster cycle and later film noir. With Dorothy Lamour and Lloyd Nolan.
• MGM’s Hardy Family Series #8 – Judge Hardy and Son (1939) July 27, 2013
  Judge Hardy and Son
  The eighth entry in the Hardy family series, Judge Hardy and Son, sees one family member struck down with illness, three Universal horror actors in supporting roles and Andy’s hunt for a girl whose middle name begins with the letter “V.”
• MGM’s Hardy Family Series #3 – Judge Hardy’s Children (1938) December 1, 2012
  Judge Hardy's Children
  The third entry of the Hardy Family series, Judge Hardy’s Children (1938), finds Judge Hardy called to Washington DC. Andy is interested in a French diplomat’s daughter, while Marian falls in with the wrong crowd.
• Kind Lady (1935) Starring Aline MacMahon and Basil Rathbone June 12, 2012
  Kind Lady
  A look at Kind Lady from origins as Hugh Walpole story The Silver Mask, through Edward Chodorov’s stage adaptation and both film versions, especially the earlier 1935 film starring Aline MacMahon and Basil Rathbone.
• Brief Impressions: King for a Night (1933) – Big Hearted Herbert (1934) and Father Is a Prince (1941) – Confessions of Boston Blackie (1941) January 17, 2014
  King for a Night
  Enjoying a key scene between Chester Morris and Grant Mitchell in King for a Night (1933) leads to more Morris in a Boston Blackie entry plus Mitchell’s own starring vehicle, Father Is a Prince (1941), itself a remake of Big Hearted Herbert (1934), which is also discussed.
• Kings Row (1942) with Robert Cummings, Ronald Reagan and Ann Sheridan August 5, 2012
  Kings Row
  A look at the darker side of Kings Row (1942) starring Robert Cummings, Ronald Reagan and Ann Sheridan. Some think it’s not dark enough
• Lady and Gent (1932) Starring George Bancroft and Wynne Gibson February 13, 2015
  Lady and Gent
  A washed-up fighter and a Prohibition-era nightclub hostess form an unlikely foster family for a 12-year-old orphan. Strong performances by George Bancroft and Wynne Gibson in Lady and Gent. Directed by Stephen Roberts. Academy Award nominated screenplay.
• Lady by Choice (1934) Starring Carole Lombard and May Robson August 11, 2014
  Lady by ChoiceLady by Choice
  Columbia attempts to repeat May Robson’s success in Lady for a Day the following year in Lady by Choice with Carole Lombard. Without Frank Capra or Damon Runyon it’s not as colorful. Production Code enforcement pales it a bit more. Well acted and worth catching despite its flaws.
• Larceny, Inc. (1942) starring Edward G. Robinson and Jane Wyman March 19, 2009
  Larceny, Inc.
  Previewing Larceny, Inc. (1942) which airs on TCM tonight at 6:15 EST. Star-studded gangster comedy stars Edward G. Robinson and Broderick Crawford with Jane Wyman.
• The Last Flight (1931) – John Monk Saunders Hijacks Hemingway’s Lost Generation September 7, 2014
  Last Flight, The
  Upon publication reviews called John Monk Saunders anything from a hack to a plagiarist when his Single Lady cashed in as an inferior version of Hemingway’s The Sun Also Rises. Adapted as The Last Flight, Saunders’s story emerges as perhaps the best of any film about The Lost Generation. Directed by William Dieterle, with excellent ...
• Ronald Colman is The Late George Apley (1947) May 4, 2009
  Late George Apley, The
  In “The Late George Apley” we join the title character, played by Ronald Colman, in the Boston of 1912 … Apley, member of a Bostonian family dating back …
• Laughing Sinners (1931) With Joan Crawford, Neil Hamilton, Clark Gable March 17, 2012
  Laughing Sinners
  Laughing Sinners (1931) allows Joan Crawford to dance twice, stars her with Neil Hamilton, tries to give Clark Gable a break,and sees Guy Kibbee reprise his breakthrough Broadway role on screen.
• Lawyer Man (1932) Starring William Powell and Joan Blondell August 23, 2011
  Lawyer Man
  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.
• Lightning Review: The Life of Vergie Winters (1934) Starring Ann Harding June 2, 2015
  Life of Vergie Winters, The
  Brief look at RKO’s The Life of Vergie Winters (1934) starring Ann Harding, John Boles, and Helen Vinson, directed by Alfred Santell.
• Freddie Bartholomew is Little Lord Fauntleroy (1936) March 28, 2012
  Little Lord Fauntleroy
  A look at Selznick International’s faithful 1936 screen adaptation of Little Lord Fauntleroy starring Freddie Bartholomew and C. Aubrey Smith.
• First Impressions: Little Men (1940) Starring Kay Francis January 19, 2013
  Little Men
  The RKO released Little Men (1940) starring Kay Francis as Jo is inferior sequel to Little Women (1933) but enjoyable tale of swindlers George Bancroft and Jack Oakie.
• First Impressions: Little Women (1933) Starring Katharine Hepburn January 19, 2013
  Little Women
  RKO’s classic Little Women (1933) starring Katharine Hepburn as Jo Marsh with Joan Bennett, Frances Dee and Jean Parker as her sisters. Some notes based on the first time I watched the movie.
• Tyrone Power breaking out in Lloyd’s of London (1936) January 17, 2010
  Lloyd's of London
  Tyrone Power has his breakout role in Twentieth Century-Fox’s Lloyd’s of London (1936), directed by Henry King and starring Madeleine Carroll and Sir Guy Standing.
• Lightning Review: A Lost Lady (1934) Starring Barbara Stanwyck June 8, 2015
  Lost Lady, A
  Lightning review takes brief look at Warner Bros. A Lost Lady (1934) starring Barbara Stanwyck and Frank Morgan, directed by Alfred E. Green.
• The Lost Squadron (1932) Starring Richard Dix, With Erich von Stroheim June 17, 2013
  Lost Squadron, The
  RKO’s The Lost Squadron (1932) is a war movie that isn’t a war movie. Veterans return home to find work as Hollywood stunt fliers under Erich von Stoheim’s command. Starring Richard Dix, Robert Armstrong, Joel McCrea, Hugh Herbert, Mary Astor and Dorothy Jordan. Directed by George Archainbaud.
• MGM’s Hardy Family Series #4 – Love Finds Andy Hardy (1938) December 8, 2012
  Love Finds Andy Hardy
  The fourth entry of the Hardy Family series, Love Finds Andy Hardy (1938), introduces Judy Garland as Betsy Booth. Andy dates Lana Turner as a favor to friend Beezy in this Christmastime set entry in series.
• Lust for Gold (1949) Starring Ida Lupino and Glenn Ford August 2, 2011
  Lust for Gold
  Glenn Ford and Ida Lupino star in Columbia’s answer to The Treasure of the Sierra Madre, 1949’s Lust for Gold. Also featuring Gig Young and a host of character actors.
• Lust for Life (1956) – Van Gogh from Irving Stone to Kirk Douglas May 25, 2014
  Lust for Life
  Irving Stone’s novel Lust for Life from rejections through 1934 publication and compared to Kirk Douglas’ eventual portrayal of Vincent Van Gogh in the 1956 film directed by Vincente Minnelli.
• The Mad Doctor of Market Street (1942), Universal Horror With Lionel Atwill October 20, 2014
  Mad Doctor of Market Street, The
  An early B movie from director Joseph H. Lewis, The Mad Doctor of Market Street (1942) is a minor Universal horror entry highlighted by horror icon Lionel Atwill’s performance.
• Peter Lorre stars in MGM’s Mad Love (1935) October 6, 2009
  Mad Love
  The madness of Peter Lorre’s Doctor Gogol in MGM’s Mad Love places him more within the realm of Doestoevsky’s Raskalnikov than it does with traditional monsters of the flesh
• Gladys George Is Madame X (1937), Plus Brief Biography August 25, 2014
  Madame X
  A history of Madame X concentrates on the 1937 film version starring Gladys George. Includes a biography of Gladys George with comparison to Ruth Chatterton’s 1929 performance.
• Reflections after The Magic Box – What classic movies inspire you? September 7, 2009
  Magic Box, The
  The Magic Box is time well spent throughout … In this biopic Robert Donat plays William Friese-Greene, professional photographer turned inventor, who …
• Man Made Monster (1941) Introduces Lon Chaney Jr to Universal Horror October 5, 2016
  Man Made Monster
  Universal casts Lon Chaney Jr in his first horror role, the exciting 59-minute thriller Man Made Monster starring Lionel Atwill as the man, and Chaney Jr as the monster. Includes a look at Chaney Jr’s career to date, and Atwill’s career thereafter.
• Man Wanted (1932) – Charles Kenyon Updates The Office Wife (1930) June 20, 2013
  Man Wanted
  A look at the similarities between Man Wanted (1932) and The Office Wife (1930) with a brief focus on Charles Kenyon who wrote each screenplay. Man Wanted stars Kay Francis and David Manners.
• The Man Who Played God (1932) Starring Mr. George Arliss February 5, 2015
  Man Who Played God, The
  George Arliss is a concert pianist who loses his hearing in an explosion. After learning to read lips he overcomes depression and despair by using his new talent to eavesdrop and help strangers overcome their own misfortune. With Bette Davis in an early supporting role.
• Mary Burns, Fugitive (1935) Starring Sylvia Sidney with Melvyn Douglas October 26, 2012
  Mary Burns, Fugitive
  Sylvia Sidney stars in Mary Burns, Fugitive (1935) her first film under contract to Walter Wanger for Paramount. Introduces Alan Baxter as gangster Babe Wilson. Also featuring Melvyn Douglas, Wallace Ford, Brian Donlevy and Pert Kelton.
• Early Frank Capra on TCM today, we go earlier with The Matinee Idol (1928) May 18, 2009
  Matinee Idol, The
  Frank Capra silent feature The Matinee Idol is a great way to introduce yourself to Bessie Love who gives a fantastic performance as a local hick actor brought to Broadway for laughs … and tears.
• Men Against the Sky (1940) – Richard Dix’s Ace of Aces Goes Modern October 15, 2014
  Men Against the Sky
  The public was air-minded when RKO released Men Against the Sky (1940), an exciting “B” film starring former “Ace of Aces” Richard Dix, with Kent Taylor, Wendy Barrie, and Edmund Lowe. A look at why the public was so fascinated by flying at that time, and how the four stars and other elements of the ...
• Merrily We Go to Hell starring Fredric March and Sylvia Sidney April 22, 2009
  Merrily We Go to Hell
  “Merrily We Go to Hell,” a 1932 Paramount production starring Fredric March and Sylvia Sidney, is one of 6 movies featured in the Pre-Code Hollywood Collection released earlier this month by Universal. Nothing I love more than a good pre-code movie, except a whole box set of them, and bonus for me, I’d never seen any ...
• Midnight Mary (1933) Starring Loretta Young, Ricardo Cortez, Franchot Tone January 9, 2013
  Midnight Mary
  William Wellman directs and Loretta Young stars in MIDNIGHT MARY (1933) a fast-paced MGM pre-code movie that inherits a Warner Brothers feel from director, cinematographer and star.
• Helen Twelvetrees is Millie (1931) – With Joan Blondell and Lilyan Tashman January 9, 2014
  Millie
  Helen Twelvetrees stars in pre-Code sizzler Millie (1931). Millie leaves her husband after she catches him cheating and she puts monogamy behind her once her boyfriend is caught with another woman too. Can Millie be an independent woman in 1931 and protect her daughter from an even more perilous relationship?
• The Mind Reader (1933) Starring Warren William March 18, 2015
  Mind Reader, The
  Warren William stars as a Depression-era hustler who turns carnival psychic until the love of a good woman tames him. He can’t pay the bills selling brushes though so his old partner lures him back into the mind reading racket. Warren William stars in The Mind Reader (1933) with Constance Cummings, Allen Jenkins, and Clarence ...
• The Mole People (1956) starring John Agar and Hugh Beaumont July 28, 2011
  Mole People, The
  Sci-fi stalwart John Agar stars in Universal-International’s The Mole People (1956). An underrated fifites science fiction movie with some good, and bad, visuals.
• The Mouthpiece (1932) – Warren William Becomes a Star; 1932 William J. Fallon Cycle Begins September 9, 2014
  Mouthpiece, The
  Warren William has his breakthrough role in The Mouthpiece, first and best of the 1932 cycle of William J. Fallon inspired lawyer films. Background on Fallon and his legacy included.
• First Impressions: Mrs. Parkington (1944) with Greer Garson and Walter Pidgeon September 1, 2010
  Mrs. Parkington
  Brief first impressions of Mrs. Parkington (1944) written soon after my first viewing. Starring Greer Garson and Walter Pidgeon.
• Moments of Horror as Boris Karloff Stars as The Mummy (1932) October 29, 2010
  Mummy, The
  An reappraisal of Universal horror classic The Mummy (1932) confirms original suspicions. A look at a horror masterpiece from both a personal and historical perspective.
• Murder by the Clock (1931) Starring William “Stage” Boyd and Lilyan Tashman October 22, 2013
  Murder by the Clock
  Tough to find and thus underappreciated, Murder by the Clock (1931) is an early mystery thriller highlighted by Lilyan Tashman, a creepy tomb alarm and a few surprising twists.
• The Murder Man (1935) Starring Spencer Tracy March 28, 2015
  Murder Man, The
  Reviewing Spencer Tracy’s first film on his MGM contract, The Murder Man, underrated by virtue of Tracy’s starring performance. Also starring Virginia Bruce, with Lionel Atwill and James Stewart in his feature film debut.
• Murders in the Rue Morgue (1932), Universal Horror With Bela Lugosi October 25, 2014
  Murders in the Rue Morgue
  Universal’s 1932 horror adaptation of Edgar Allan Poe’s Murders in the Rue Morgue made quite a few changes, the best of which was inclusion of Dr. Mirakle, the villain played by Bela Lugosi. Lugosi covered extensively, plus comparisons of the story to the film, and an overall positive appraisal of the movie as it was ...
• Flash Review: Music Is Magic (1935) Starring Alice Faye, Bebe Daniels May 19, 2015
  Music Is Magic
  A brief review of 1935 Fox Films musical-comedy Music Is Magic starring Alice Faye. Bebe Daniels, billed in a supporting role, steals this one. Also features Mitchell and Durant.
• My Name Is Julia Ross (1945) starring Nina Foch and George Macready July 25, 2010
  My Name Is Julia Ross
  My Name Is Julia Ross is an incredible find for the first time viewer. This review walks through my first viewing with special notice given to George Macready’s frightening portrayal of Ralph.
• My Woman (1933) Starring Helen Twelvetrees, Wallace Ford October 19, 2016
  My Woman
  Wallace Ford’s head swells after wife Helen Twelvetrees helps make him a radio sensation in Columbia pre-Code My Woman (1933) Also starring Victor Jory, Claire Dodd. Directed by Victor Schertzinger. Article excerpted from Helen Twelvetrees, Perfect Ingenue.
• Somerset Maugham’s The Narrow Corner (1933) Starring Douglas Fairbanks, Jr. August 19, 2011
  Narrow Corner, The
  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.
• Cary Grant in Night and Day (1946) April 30, 2009
  Night and Day
  Cary Grant plays Cole Porter in Warner Brothers’ Night and Day (1946), a heavily fictionalized and still somewhat unrewarding tale filled with Porter standards.
• Night Court (1932) Starring Phillips Holmes and Walter Huston March 24, 2013
  Night Court
  Phillips Holmes takes on Walter Huston’s corrupt judge in MGM’s Night Court (1932), a pre-code drama directed by W.S. Van Dyke and also featuring Anita Page, Lewis Stone and Noel Francis.
• Night Flight (1933) with John and Lionel Barrymore, Gable and More August 10, 2012
  Night Flight
  An all-star cast may be advertised but Night Flight (1933) is mostly Barrymore, John with a dash of Lionel. Not much for Clark Gable and the rest with the exception of Robert Montgomery.
• Paramount’s The Night of June 13th (1932), Street Scene of the Suburbs October 7, 2012
  Night of June 13th, The
  The Night of June 13th (1932) was Paramount’s answer to Street Scene in which they set an ensemble cast loose on each other in the suburbs. With Clive Brook, the first pairing of Charles Ruggles and Mary Boland, plus Lila Lee, Gene Raymond, Frances Dee, Charley Grapewin and many others.
• Night World (1932) Starring Mae Clarke, Lew Ayres and Boris Karloff April 14, 2012
  Night World
  A look at Universal’s rollicking 58-minute movie set inside a speakeasy run by Boris Karloff with a Busby Berkeley choreographed dance to boot. Mae Clarke and Lew Ayres star as the love interests while Clarence Muse and general ambiance steal the show.
• No Man of Her Own (1932) Starring Clark Gable and Carole Lombard November 21, 2016
  No Man of Her Own
  Noted for pairing Clark Gable and Carole Lombard a few years before they began their romance, Paramount’s No Man of Her Own (1932) is entertaining beyond their unsurprising screen chemistry. Post features several background notes about film’s complicated pre-production.
• Brief Impressions: No Other Woman – Side Streets – Evelyn Prentice – Millionaires in Prison March 27, 2013
  No Other Woman
  A quick peek at four movies I’ve watched recently: No Other Woman (1933); Side Streets and Evelyn Prentice (both 1934); and Millionaires in Prison (1940).
• Now I’ll Tell (1934) Starring Spencer Tracy and Helen Twelvetrees August 13, 2015
  Now I'll Tell
  Brief look at Fox Film’s Now I’ll Tell (1934), an adaptation of Mrs. Arnold Rothstein’s book about her husband with Spencer Tracy starring. Helen Twelvetrees and Alice Faye are the women in his life. Directed by Edwin J. Burke.
• The Office Wife (1930) Starring Dorothy Mackaill and Lewis Stone May 23, 2013
  Office Wife, The
  Publisher Lewis Stone needs a new secretary and Dorothy Mackaill gets the job in The Office Wife (1930). Great dialogue in this pre-Code hit, with many of the best lines coming from Joan Blondell.
• Clive Brook adapts, directs, and stars in On Approval (1944) May 29, 2009
  On Approval
  Clive Brook does it all in 1944’s On Approval, where Googie Withers and Brook himself tag along when Beatrice Lillie attempts a trial marriage with Roland Culver.
• Lightning Review: One Hour Late (1934) Starring Helen Twelvetrees August 12, 2015
  One Hour Late
  Brief look at Paramount’s One Hour Late, a late 1934 release starring Joe Morrison and Helen Twelvetrees. Action takes place over single day at an office. Directed by Ralph Murphy.
• One Night at Susie’s (1930) – Movie Compared to Short Story, Plus Helen Ware Biography October 9, 2014
  One Night at Susie's
  A look at First National’s One Night at Susie’s, a 1930 crime film starring Billie Dove and Douglas Fairbanks Jr., but really showing off Helen Ware to advantage. Frederick Hazlitt Brennan’s 1929 short story from Liberty magazine is discussed and a biography of Miss Ware is also included. Plus, just exactly how long is this ...
• One Way Passage (1932) Starring William Powell and Kay Francis November 8, 2011
  One Way Passage
  One Way Passage (1932) focuses on a shipboard romance between the equally doomed William Powell and Kay Francis characters. Frank McHugh is also on the scene and never allows the movie to get too sentimental. Aline MacMahon shines as well.
• One Way Passage (1932) – Glass Stems & Spoilers: The Final Minute November 12, 2011
  One Way Passage
  A look at the final scene of One Way Passage (1932) starring William Powell and Kay Francis. How did those crossed glass stems get there anyway?
• Our Blushing Brides (1930) Caps Joan Crawford Trilogy April 7, 2014
  Our Blushing Brides
  No longer the wild Jazz Baby, Joan Crawford is cautious to the point of being a drag in Our Blushing Brides (1930), third movie of a loose MGM trilogy starring Crawford. Also starring Robert Montgomery, Anita Page and Dorothy Sebastian.
• King Vidor’s Our Daily Bread (1934) more than just a big finish June 3, 2009
  Our Daily Bread
  King Vidor’s self-produced “Our Daily Bread” (1934) is a Depression-era tale of collectivism starring Tom Keene and Karen Morley. We follow the city-dwelling couple …
• In Brief: Douglas Fairbanks, Jr. Does Impressions in Our Modern Maidens (1929) February 28, 2013
  Our Modern Maidens
  Douglas Fairbanks, Jr. makes Our Modern Maidens (1929) more memorable than it would have been otherwise through a series of impersonations of John Barrymore, John Gilbert and his own father, Douglas Fairbanks, Sr.
• MGM’s Hardy Family Series #5 – Out West with the Hardys (1938) December 13, 2012
  Out West with the Hardys
  The fifth entry of the Hardy Family series, Out West with the Hardys (1938), puts focus on each of the core family members in a Western setting. Virginia Weidler is Mickey Rooney’s sidekick in this one. Sara Haden returns as Aunt Milly.
• Panama Flo (1932) With Brief Biography of Star Helen Twelvetrees March 16, 2013
  Panama Flo
  RKO Pathe’s 1932 Helen Twelvetrees vehicle Panama Flo with Charles Bickford. A Helen Twelvetrees biography tucked in the middle of this lengthy post.
• The Patent Leather Kid (1927) Starring Richard Barthelmess and Molly O’Day May 13, 2015
  Patent Leather Kid, The
  Silent film from First National Pictures, directed by Alfred Santell. The Patent Leather Kid is a boxing-war-romance that earned Richard Barthelmess and Academy Award nomination and features a breakout performance by Molly O’Day.
• James Dunn and Claire Dodd star in The Payoff (1935) July 15, 2010
  Payoff, The
  A fast paced tale of a sportswriter taking on a gambler with his wife coming in between his ethics and his loyalties. The Payoff (1935) stars James Dunn, Claire Dodd, Alan Dinehart, Patricia Ellis and Frankie Darro.
• Remembering Jackie Cooper, 1922-2011, with Peck’s Bad Boy (1934) May 5, 2011
  Peck's Bad Boy
  Remembering Jackie Cooper, who died today at age 88. His career and legacy, plus a look at 1934’s Peck’s Bad Boy starring Cooper with Thomas Meighan.
• The Penalty (1941) Starring Gene Reynolds and Edward Arnold April 24, 2013
  Penalty, The
  Roosty worships gangster dad “Stuff” Nelson in MGM’s The Penalty (1941). When the G-men send Roosty to the farm he has to adjust to life amongst the hicks. Starring Edward Arnold as Stuff, Lionel Barrymore and Gene Reynolds as Roosty.
• Penthouse (1933) Starring Warner Baxter and Myrna Loy August 2, 2012
  Penthouse
  Warner Baxter stars as a mobster’s mouthpiece in Penthouse (1933) also featuring Myrna Loy. And, in one of his best, Nat Pendleton plays the mobster.
• Personal Property (1937) Starring Jean Harlow and Robert Taylor March 16, 2011
  Personal Property
  A look at Jean Harlow’s penultimate film appearance, opposite Robert Taylor in MGM’s Personal Property (1937), a remake of 1931’s The Man in Possession also starring Reginald Owen, E.E. Clive, Henrietta Crosman, Una O’Connor, and Forrester Harvey.
• J. Edgar Hoover’s Persons in Hiding (1939) With Patricia Morison January 19, 2015
  Persons in Hiding
  A Bonnie and Clyde tale predating Gun Crazy (1950) by eleven years. Persons in Hiding is the first of four movies adapted from J. Edgar Hoover’s book of the same name. Electrifying debut by Patricia Morison with J. Carrol Naish strong opposite her.
• The Phantom of Crestwood (1932) with Ricardo Cortez and Karen Morley January 24, 2013
  Phantom of Crestwood, The
  America wondered “Who Killed Jenny Wren?” and RKO’s The Phantom of Crestwood revealed the answer in the first movie-radio tie-in. Starring Ricardo Cortez and Karen Morley with a large cast of familiar character actors and former silent stars in support.
• Piccadilly Jim (1936) Starring Robert Montgomery and Madge Evans January 25, 2012
  Piccadilly Jim
  Looking at MGM’s 1936 adaptation of P.G. Wodehouse’s Piccadilly Jim starring Robert Montgomery and directed by Robert Z. Leonard. With Madge Evans, Frank Morgan and Eric Blore.
• Pick-Up (1933) Starring Sylvia Sidney and George Raft February 15, 2017
  Pick-Up
  Paramount pre-Code Pick-Up (1933) is the first of three movies co-starring Sylvia Sidney and George Raft. Also features William Harrigan and Lilian Bond. Based on a story by Viña Delmar and directed by Sidney-regular Marion Gering.
• Lana Turner and John Garfield in The Postman Always Rings Twice (1946) May 25, 2009
  Postman Always Rings Twice, The
  Lana Turner and John Garfield in The Postman Always Rings Twice (1946) I have to admit, I was really stunned by Lana Turner’s performance in “The Postman Always Rings Twice.” Her Cora Smith came across to me as the most natural character in the cast, which says quite a bit when she’s sharing most of ...
• First Impressions: Princess O’Rourke (1943) with Olivia De Havilland September 1, 2010
  Princess O'Rourke
  My brief first impressions of Princess O’Rourke (1943) written soon after first viewing. Romantic comedy starring Olivia De Havilland with Robert Cummings.
• Charles Laughton stars in The Private Life of Henry VIII (1933) March 9, 2010
  Private Life of Henry VIII, The
  Charles Laughton earns his Oscar for Best Actor in Alexander Korda’s The Private Life of Henry VIII, a comedic costume piece focusing on Henry’s relationships with his various wives.
• Richard Dix Reckons Himself The Public Defender (RKO, 1931) May 13, 2014
  Public Defender, The
  Richard Dix is a harmless playboy until trouble calls and with the assistance of Boris Karloff and Paul Hurst he becomes The Reckoner in RKO’s The Public Defender (1931).
• Public Enemy’s Wife (1936) and Bullets for O’Hara (1941) April 21, 2013
  Public Enemy's Wife
  Continuing the G-man cycle with Warner Brother’s Public Enemy’s Wife (1936) and its 1941 remake, Bullets for O’Hara. Reuniting Robert Armstrong and Margaret Lindsay from G Men with Pat O’Brien, Public Enemy’s Wife is a worthwhile Warner’s crime film, while the low budget O’Hara is worth a try for fans of the original.
• Lewis Milestone’s The Purple Heart (1944) Starring Dana Andrews July 27, 2012
  Purple Heart, The
  The Purple Heart (1944), directed by Lewis Milestone and starring Dana Andrews, is a World War II courtroom drama imagining the trial and fate of captured Doolittle Raid fliers before the world knew exactly what had happened to them. Part of the Dana Andrews blogathon.
• The Racket (1928) Starring Thomas Meighan, Louis Wolheim and Marie Prevost February 19, 2013
  Racket, The
  Howard Hughes bought Bartlett Cormack’s play The Racket, which had made Edward G. Robinson a star on Broadway. Hughes made it into a film twice. This article focuses on the first film version, a 1928 silent movie, starring Thomas Meighan with Louis Wolheim as the gangster.
• The Razor’s Edge (1946) Starring Tyrone Power, A Success Story October 24, 2011
  Razor's Edge, The
  A long article about a personal favorite attempts to tell the story of The Razor’s Edge from Somerset Maugham’s novel to Darryl F. Zanuck’s on-screen vision with a focus on both the adaptation and Tyrone Power as Larry Darrell.
• Rebecca (1940) and My Du Maurier Kick May 13, 2020
  Rebecca
  Returning to Academy Award winning Best Picture Rebecca (1940) about ten years after I first watched it and immediately after reading the novel by Daphne Du Maurier.
• Red Light (1949) Starring George Raft and Virginia Mayo May 25, 2011
  Red Light
  A brief look at Red Light (1949), a Roy Del Ruth Production starring George Raft, Virginia Mayo, and a very nasty Raymond Burr.
• Red-Headed Woman (1932) Reveals New Jean Harlow August 6, 2016
  Red-Headed Woman
  Jean Harlow lobbies for Red-Headed Woman and emerges as one of MGM’s top stars. Background notes on the film accompany a look at this pre-Code classic adapted from a Katharine Brush novel. The movie also stars Chester Morris, Una Merkel, and Leila Hyams. Directed by Jack Conway.
• Lightning Review: Registered Nurse (1934) Starring Bebe Daniels, Lyle Talbot July 23, 2015
  Registered Nurse
  Brief look at Registered Nurse (1934) a pre-Code hospital drama from Warner Bros.-First National. Directed by Robert Florey. Starring Bebe Daniels, Lyle Talbot, and a host of familiar supporting players.
• Remember the Night (1940) Starring Barbara Stanwyck and Fred MacMurray December 21, 2017
  Remember the Night
  Background and action in Paramount’s Remember the Night (1940), directed by Michell Leisen from a screenplay by Preston Sturges, featuring a budding romance between Barbara Stanwyck and Fred MacMurray during the Christmas season. With special attention given to character actor Willard Robertson, whose loquacious lawyer steals the show out of the gates. Lengthy article, over ...
• The Richest Girl in the World (1934) Starring Miriam Hopkins and Joel McCrea April 30, 2012
  Richest Girl in the World, The
  Miriam Hopkins plays “The Richest Girl in the World” (1934) with hopes of landing a husband on her own merits and despite her money. Joel McCrea is her prospect. With a look at then currently celebrated heiresses Barbara Hutton and Doris Duke.
• The Roaring Twenties (1939) Starring James Cagney, Humphrey Bogart June 22, 2016
  Roaring Twenties, The
  One of James Cagney’s classic gangster movies, The Roaring Twenties (1939) also boasts an especially nasty Humphrey Bogart in its cast, plus strong work from Gladys George. Post includes background about writer Mark Hellinger, real-life roaring twenties personalities Larry Fay and Texas Guinan, plus a look at a pre-Code predecessor Broadway Thru a Keyhole (1933). ...
• Charles Laughton as Ruggles of Red Gap (1935) April 24, 2009
  Ruggles of Red Gap
  Charles Laughton is a gentleman’s gentleman in Ruggles of Red Gap who’s transferred through a card game from his British master to the backwards Flouds in the USA
• Lightning Review: Sadie McKee (1934) Starring Joan Crawford August 10, 2015
  Sadie McKee
  Brief look at MGM pre-Code Sadie McKee (1934) starring Joan Crawford and the three men in her life, played by Gene Raymond, Franchot Tone, and Edward Arnold. Strong Crawford pre-Code with good work from Arnold as alcoholic millionaire. Directed by Clarence Brown.
• Safe in Hell (1931), Talkie Triumph for Tough Dorothy Mackaill November 16, 2012
  Safe in Hell
  Safe in Hell (1931) nearly starred Barbara Stanwyck, but no matter as Dorothy Mackaill makes the part her own. A bit about the film and what happened to this otherwise forgotten star.
• Elsie Ferguson’s Only Talkie, Scarlet Pages (1930) May 20, 2014
  Scarlet Pages
  Stage legend Elsie Ferguson plays in her final film and only talkie, Scarlet Pages (1930), a courtroom drama offering a view of feminism at that time. Due to its mature content Scarlet Pages was successfully marketed as what was considered a “dirty picture” by 1930 standards.
• Viewing The Scarlet Pimpernel (1934) for Leslie Howard’s Birthday April 3, 2009
  Scarlet Pimpernel, The
  Happy birthday to Leslie Howard (1893-1943) today. I celebrate with a viewing The Scarlet Pimpernel and sharing my thoughts on both the film and Howard in this space today, all illustrated by movie cards and collectibles.
• Edward G. Robinson in The Sea Wolf (1941) with Alexander Knox February 13, 2010
  Sea Wolf, The
  Is there a more brutal film from this period than Warner Brothers’ The Sea Wolf? Adapted by Robert Rossen from Jack London’s original story, directed by Michael Curtiz and starring Edward G. Robinson, John Garfield, Ida Lupino and Alexander Knox.
• Search for Beauty (1934) starring Ida Lupino and Buster Crabbe April 13, 2009
  Search for Beauty
  A review of Paramount’s Search for Beauty (1934) starring Buster Crabbe and Ida Lupino. One of six films featured in the Pre-Code Hollywood Collection, and the first one I chose to watch … a mistake.
• Secret of the Blue Room (1933) With Lionel Atwill and Gloria Stuart October 11, 2013
  Secret of the Blue Room
  Secret of the Blue Room (1933) may not be Universal horror, but it’s a strong murder mystery that acquired the tinge as part of the late ’50s Shock Theater package on television. Here’s a bit about what it was and what it wasn’t.
• Secret of the Chateau (1934) Universal Murder Mystery Starring Claire Dodd February 25, 2015
  Secret of the Chateau
  Universal murder mystery with an excellent ensemble cast revolves around a Gutenberg Bible. Bonus material about the U.S. Library of Congress 1930 purchase of a Gutenberg Bible with funds that ultimately filled the coffers of a Nazi propagandist.
• Secret Service (1931) – William Gillette’s Civil War Melodrama Comes to RKO June 8, 2014
  Secret Service
  Digging deep into RKO’s 1931 adaptation of William Gillette’s Secret Service starring Richard Dix and Shirley Grey. Comparing the movie to the 1896 play. What was added and what was kept and how classic scenes were interpreted on film.
• She Had to Say Yes (1933) Starring Loretta Young September 23, 2014
  She Had to Say Yes
  She Had to Say Yes is a pre-Code film so outrageous that it’s bound to bother men and women alike. An expose on the life of the “customer’s girl,” the Depression era’s version of a high class call girl in business circles. Starring Loretta Young, who manages to be pawed by Regis Toomey, Lyle Talbot, ...
• Lightning Review: The Shining Hour (1938) Starring Joan Crawford August 10, 2015
  Shining Hour, The
  Brief look at MGM’s The Shining Hour (1938) starring Joan Crawford. Melvyn Douglas marries her; brother Robert Young loves her, but is married to Margaret Sullavan. Fay Bainter as Douglas and Young’s suspicious sister. Directed by Frank Borzage.
• Show Girl in Hollywood (1930) Starring Alice White as Dixie Dugan November 25, 2012
  Show Girl in Hollywood
  Alice White stars as Dixie Dugan in First National’s SHOW GIRL IN HOLLYWOOD (1930), a behind the scenes movie musical depicting the Vitaphone process and including a stand out performance by former silent screen star Blanche Sweet.
• Show Them No Mercy (1935) Starring Rochelle Hudson and Cesar Romero April 26, 2015
  Show Them No Mercy
  A band of kidnappers return to their hideout with $200,000 in ransom money in Show Them No Mercy. They find a stranded family at the house and have no choice but to hold them captive until they make sure the ransom money is good.
• Silver Dollar (1932) Starring Edward G. Robinson, Aline MacMahon and Bebe Daniels January 11, 2012
  Silver Dollar
  Silver Dollar (1932) stars Edward G. Robinson in a part based on the life of silver king Haw Tabor. American history, economics, and pop culture are touched upon in this look at a largely forgotten film. Also starring Aline MacMahon and Bebe Daniels.
• Majestic’s The Sin of Nora Moran (1933) Starring Zita Johann July 9, 2014
  Sin of Nora Moran, The
  The Sin of Nora Moran may have come from Poverty Row but it is years ahead of its time. The 1933 film makes heavy use of flashback to enhance several twists in this life and death story of a female prisoner on Death Row. Starring Zita Johann of The Mummy and directed by Phil Goldstone. ...
• The Sin Ship (1931) – Astor’s Frisco Kitty Makes for Holy Wolheim May 8, 2013
  Sin Ship, The
  Written for The Mary Astor Blogathon, The Sin Ship (1931) stars Astor with Louis Wolheim, who also directed what would be his final film prior to his tragic death in 1931. Also starring Ian Keith and Hugh Herbert.
• 6 Hours to Live (1932) for Warner Baxter in Rare Fox Film April 22, 2016
  Six Hours to Live
  Warner Baxter stars as a love-struck politician who is assassinated just before a key international vote. Science gives him another 6 Hours to Live after a powerful ray brings him back to life. Also starring Miriam Jordan and John Boles. Directed by William Dieterle. A 1932 Fox Films release.
• Robert Taylor and Janet Gaynor star in Small Town Girl (1936) April 19, 2010
  Small Town Girl
  Robert Taylor and Janet Gaynor star in MGM’s Small Town Girl (1936) directed by William Wellman and nothing special for any of the main participants.
• Smart Money (1931) Starring Edward G. Robinson and James Cagney August 14, 2012
  Smart Money
  A deep look at Smart Money (1931) starring Edward G. Robinson with James Cagney. Includes detailed original biographical sections about co-stars Noel Francis and Evalyn Knapp.
• Mary Astor Stars in Smart Woman (1931); Screen Husband Robert Ames Dies Soon After Release May 4, 2010
  Smart Woman
  RKO’s 1931 Smart Woman starring Mary Astor. A look at the film as well as leading man Robert Ames who died within two months of Smart Woman’s release.
• Snowed Under (1936) Chemistry Highlights Hilarious Warner Farce January 25, 2014
  Snowed Under
  Looking at Snowed Under, a 1936 Warner Bros. farce directed by Ray Enright and starring George Brent, Genevieve Tobin, Glenda Farrell, Frank McHugh, Patricia Ellis and John Eldredge. With a focus on “Lawrence Saunders,” who wrote the original story that was serialized in Liberty magazine.
• The Solitaire Man (1933) Starring Herbert Marshall and Lionel Atwill July 25, 2012
  Solitaire Man, The
  MGM tries to capitalize upon Herbert Marshall’s success in Trouble in Paradise with The Solitaire Main (1933). With Lionel Atwill, Elizabeth Allan, May Robson and Mary Boland.
• Tyrone Power in Son of Fury: The Story of Benjamin Blake (1942) July 16, 2009
  Son of Fury
  Twentieth Century-Fox’s “Son of Fury” plays as a 98 minute epic tale of redemption which opens with a fight, leads to an escape, turns into a brief tale at sea, then an island romance and adventure, a return for vengeance, even a spectacle of a courtroom trial, before, of course, culminating in yet another big ...
• The Southerner (1945) starring Zachary Scott and Betty Field February 23, 2010
  Southerner, The
  A look at Jean Renoir’s The Southerner (1945) starring Zachary Scott as head of a dirt-poor family fighting to have their own farm. Also starring Betty Field.
• Special Investigator (1936) – Richard Dix Stars in Erle Stanley Gardner Story September 13, 2016
  Special Investigator
  Big-city mouthpiece Richard Dix seeks to bring his brother’s killers to justice in a Nevada mining town in Special Investigator, a 1936 RKO “B” entry based on an Erle Stanley Gardner story.
• Stablemates (1938) – MGM Rides Seabiscuit to Hit with Beery and Rooney May 28, 2012
  Stablemates
  MGM’s horse racing weepie Stablemates starring Wallace Beery and Mickey Rooney released just three weeks before Seabiscuit’s match race vs. War Admiral. A look at time, circumstances and film.
• Stage Struck (1936) Starring Dick Powell and Joan Blondell November 5, 2011
  Stage Struck
  Busby Berkeley’s Stage Struck (1936) is a Warner Brothers musical missing the typical Berkeley flare. Starring Dick Powell and Joan Blondell with Warren William it’s an at times bizarre movie that doesn’t measure up to earlier classics Berkeley worked on, but still entertaining at times providing a few laughs.
• John Ford’s Stagecoach (1939) Starring John Wayne and Claire Trevor July 31, 2012
  Stagecoach
  The classic John Ford western Stagecoach (1939) is a movie for everybody. Forget genre prejudices and thrill to John Wayne, Claire Trevor and all of the rest of one of the richest supporting casts you’ll ever encounter.
• Shirley Temple in 1934, Part 2: The Movies February 24, 2014
  Stand Up and Cheer!
  A brief look at each of Shirley Temple’s five major feature film appearances during her breakthrough year of 1934: Stand Up and Cheer!, Little Miss Marker, Baby Take a Bow, Now and Forever and Bright Eyes.
• The Story of Louis Pasteur (1935) starring Paul Muni with Josephine Hutchinson November 2, 2009
  Story of Louis Pasteur, The
  No, it’s not about Pasteurization! Paul Muni turns in another grand performance as Louis Pasteur in the 1935 Warner Bros biopic. William Dieterle directs.
• The Story of Temple Drake (1933) – Paramount Adapts Faulkner’s Sanctuary May 30, 2018
  Story of Temple Drake, The
  A review plus background information about Paramount pre-Code The Story of Temple Drake (1933), adapted from Sanctuary by William Faulkner. Book and adaptation are compared and contrasted. Casting and path to screen are covered, including George Raft’s refusal to appear in the film. Biographical information about stars Miriam Hopkins and Jack La Rue. Lengthy article, ...
• Stranger in Town (1932) – Chic Sale Takes on a Big Grocery Chain August 10, 2011
  Stranger in Town
  The small grocery Chic Sale runs in Boilsville is threatened in Warner Brothers’ Stranger in Town (1932) when a big competitor comes to town. Also starring Ann Dvorak, David Manners, and Noah Beery.
• Baseball Movie The Stratton Story (1949) Starring James Stewart August 12, 2011
  Stratton Story, The
  Jimmy Stewart stars in The Stratton Story about tragic baseball pitcher Monty Stratton. Starring James Stewart, June Allyson, Frank Morgan and Agnes Moorehead.
• ‘One Sunday Afternoon’ With Cagney & Co. in ‘The Strawberry Blonde’ July 30, 2016
  Strawberry Blonde, The
  One Sunday Afternoon made over in Old New York for The Strawberry Blonde. From director Raoul Walsh for Warner Bros. from a script by the Epstein brothers. Starring James Cagney, Olivia de Havilland, Rita Hayworth, and Jack Carson.
• Success at Any Price (1934) Starring Douglas Fairbanks Jr. August 17, 2015
  Success at Any Price
  Brief look at RKO pre-Code Success at Any Price (1934) starring Douglas Fairbanks Jr. as an angry young man looking to make good in the business world. With Genevieve Tobin, Frank Morgan, and Colleen Moore. Directed by J. Walter Ruben.
• Preston Sturges’ Sullivan’s Travels starring Joel McCrea and Veronica Lake June 10, 2009
  Sullivan's Travels
  I love “Sullivan’s Travels,” I really do. The 1941 Paramount release from Preston Sturges starring Joel McCrea and Veronica Lake certainly has held up well over the years, growing in legend as each new generation discovers it..
• Sweepings (1933) and Mamie’s Christmas Counter Freak-Out December 24, 2013
  Sweepings
  Lester Cohen adapted his own novel Sweepings for RKO in 1933. It was remade as Three Sons in 1939. The story is about a retail king and his family, but the focus of this article turns to Helen Mack’s explosive Christmas Eve scene with additional details about her character filled in from Cohen’s novel.
• Symphony of Six Million (1932) starring Ricardo Cortez July 22, 2011
  Symphony of Six Million
  RKO’s Symphony of Six Million (1932) is an interesting David O. Selznick produced film with a then unusual focus on a Jewish family. Ricardo Cortez stars as a young doctor with Anna Appel and Gregory Ratoff as his parents and Irene Dunne as the handicapped girl who’s loved him since childhood.
• Ronald Colman stars in A Tale of Two Cities (1935) March 26, 2010
  Tale of Two Cities, A
  Ronald Colman’s magnificent performance as Sydney Carton highlights MGM’s 1935 production of A Tale of Two Cities.
• Ten Cents a Dance (1931) Starring Barbara Stanwyck January 23, 2016
  Ten Cents a Dance
  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).
• Terror Aboard (1933) – Grand Hotel of Murder on the High Seas November 5, 2016
  Terror Aboard
  One passenger drops after another in Terror Aboard (1933), Paramount’s pre-Code preview of the far-off slasher genre. An all-star cast of B-players is led by John Halliday in this tale of multiple murders at sea.
• Test Pilot (1938) Starring Clark Gable, Myrna Loy and Spencer Tracy May 30, 2014
  Test Pilot
  Clark Gable, Myrna Loy and Spencer Tracy live up to expectations in MGM’s Test Pilot (1938). One of the most popular films of 1938, the Academy Award-nominated Best Picture directed by Victor Fleming allows all three stars to shine in strong parts that they enliven with strong performances. Time well spent, no matter the length.
• Them! (1954) featuring Edmund Gwenn vs. Giant Ants June 3, 2011
  Them!
  A look at the 1954 science fiction classic Them! starring James Whitmore, James Arness and especially Edmund Gwenn and the giant ants. 1950’s sci-fi big bug classic. This article concentrates on the logic typically voiced throughout by Gwenn’s scientist.
• There Goes My Heart (1938) Starring Fredric March, Virginia Bruce August 25, 2015
  There Goes My Heart
  Romantic comedy There Goes My Heart (1938) from Hal Roach Studios stars Fredric March and Virginia Bruce. Patsy Kelly in support with Alan Mowbray, Eugene Pallette, Claude Gillingwater. Directed by Norman Z. McLeod.
• More Jessie Matthews – There Goes the Bride (1932), The Good Companions (1933), First A Girl (1935) and Gangway (1937) April 27, 2014
  There Goes the Bride
  After covering Evergreen (1934) last year I craved more Jessie Matthews. VCI Entertainment has complied with several DVD releases. This post takes a look at four of them: There Goes the Bride (1932), The Good Companions (1933), First a Girl (1935) and Gangway (1937).
• They Gave Him a Gun (1937) Starring Spencer Tracy, Gladys George, Franchot Tone March 3, 2015
  They Gave Him a Gun
  Story of romance and brotherhood spread across a movie neatly divided between the war and gangster genres. They Gave Him a Gun stars Spencer Tracy, Gladys George, and Franchot Tone. Released as MOD DVD-R by Warner Archive.
• William Powell and Myrna Loy star in The Thin Man (1934) March 13, 2010
  Thin Man, The
  A look at MGM’s The Thin Man (1934), the first of a 6 series film and second of 14 pairings for William Powell and Myrna Loy. Directed by Woody Van Dyke …
• Three on a Match (1932) starring Warren William and Ann Dvorak February 11, 2009
  Three on a Match
  A review of the Depression era pre-code classic Three on a Match starring Ann Dvorak and a host of familiar faces including young Bette Davis and Humphrey Bogart. Illustrated with movie collectibles.
• Three on a Match (1932), A Second Look: Bogart, Action, Warren William April 13, 2017
  Three on a Match
  A second look at pre-Code classic Three on a Match (1932) includes an appraisal of early Humphrey Bogart movies, contemporary reaction, and a checklist of stars. Plus Warren William.
• The Tip-Off (1931) with Eddie Quillan, Ginger Rogers and Turkey Mike Donlin March 22, 2010
  Tip-Off, The
  A pre-Code release from RKO Pathe, The Tip-Off (1931) features Ginger Rogers in an early role but most of the fun comes from its fresh-faced star Eddie Quillan.
• Turn Back the Clock (1933) Starring Lee Tracy, Mae Clarke August 20, 2015
  Turn Back the Clock
  MGM pre-Code Turn Back the Clock (1933) stars Lee Tracy, who goes back in time, hoping to get rich this time. With Mae Clarke. Directed by Edgar Selwyn.
• Twentieth Century (1934) starring John Barrymore and Carole Lombard February 18, 2009
  Twentieth Century
  A review of the 1934 Howard Hawks screwball classic Twentieth Century starring John Barrymore and Carole Lombard. Illustrated with movie cards and collectibles.
• Edward G. Robinson’s Incredible Performance in Two Seconds (1932) January 22, 2010
  Two Seconds
  Two Seconds didn’t seem like anything special for about a half an hour, then Edward G. Robinson kicked into full gear and delivered so much more than I ever expected.
• Josef von Sternberg’s Underworld (1927) Starring George Bancroft October 28, 2015
  Underworld
  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.
• Union Depot (1932) starring Douglas Fairbanks Jr and Joan Blondell February 28, 2010
  Union Depot
  Douglas Fairbanks Jr is a hobo playing Gentleman for a Day in 1932’s Union Depot co-starring Joan Blondell and Guy Kibbee. A sweeping view of all classes during the Great Depression.
• Viña Delmar and Uptown New York (1932) – World Wide’s Bad Girl January 4, 2016
  Uptown New York
  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.
• The Valley of Decision (1945) starring Greer Garson and Gregory Peck July 8, 2011
  Valley of Decision, The
  A look at MGM’s The Valley of Decision (1945) a look at love and steel in Pittsburgh of the 1870’s starring Greer Garson and Gregory Peck with Donald Crisp.
• The Vice Squad (1931) Starring Paul Lukas, Kay Francis, Judith Wood March 14, 2016
  Vice Squad, The
  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.
• Vivacious Lady (1938) Starring Ginger Rogers and James Stewart April 14, 2014
  Vivacious Lady
  RKO’s Vivacious Lady doesn’t have much of a story, but Ginger Rogers and James Stewart are in love, so who cares? A look at the comedy classic directed by George Stevens for the James Stewart Blogathon.
• The Voice of Bugle Ann (1936) Starring Lionel Barrymore with Maureen O’Sullivan February 22, 2012
  Voice of Bugle Ann, The
  MGM’s The Voice of Bugle Ann (1936) with Lionel Barrymore provides a look at Missouri foxhunting. Post includes some background on American foxhunting and a bit about the quote Barrymore’s Spring Davis attributes to Senator Vest during his murder trial.
• The Walking Dead (1936) – Lindbergh Heart Resurrects Boris Karloff October 29, 2013
  Walking Dead, The
  Warner Brothers mixes crime and horror in THE WALKING DEAD where mobsters put down Boris Karloff but Edmund Gwenn brings him back to life with a Lindbergh Heart. Karloff’s fine performance highlighted along with some background information about Lindbergh’s “robot heart.”
• Washington Merry-Go-Round (1932) with Lee Tracy and Constance Cummings November 6, 2012
  Washington Merry-Go-Round
  Lee Tracy stars in Washington Merry-Go-Round (1932), Columbia’s pre-Code precursor to Mr. Smith Goes to Washington (1939) with Constance Cummings, Alan Dinehart and Walter Connolly.
• Henry Hull is the Werewolf of London (1935) October 13, 2011
  Werewolf of London
  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 Women star in Westward the Women (1951) with Robert Taylor April 24, 2010
  Westward the Women
  Based on a story by Frank Capra sold to MGM for William Wellman, Robert Taylor may be top-billed in Westward the Women, but the end credits get it right, The Women are the true stars here.
• The Wet Parade (1932) Dramatizes the Evils of Liquor … and Prohibition December 14, 2011
  Wet Parade, The
  The Wet Parade (1932) from MGM takes a stand against the evils of both liquor and Prohibition towards the tail end of the Prohibition era. Starring Walter Huston, Lewis Stone, Robert Young, Dorothy Jordan, Neil Hamilton, Jimmy Durante and Myrna Loy.
• What Price Hollywood? (1932) Starring Constance Bennett, Lowell Sherman January 18, 2016
  What Price Hollywood
  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.
• White Woman (1933) Starring Charles Laughton and Carole Lombard January 4, 2015
  White Woman
  The boys play rough in White Woman (1933) with Charles Laughton and Charles Bickford upstaging Carole Lombard at every turn. Poor Kent Taylor seems to be more in peril than Lombard. Jungle terror from a Malaysian rubber plantation run by Laughton’s “King of the River.”
• The Whole Town’s Talking (1935) starring Edward G. Robinson and Jean Arthur February 7, 2010
  Whole Town's Talking, The
  There’s a lot to like here for Edward G. Robinson fans who get to see their hero play both the milquetoast “Jonesy” and gangster “Killer” Mannion—sometimes in the same scene!
• Brief Impressions, 1934 Edition: A Wicked Woman – Housewife – Success at Any Price March 20, 2013
  Wicked Woman, A
  Brief impressions of A WICKED WOMAN starring Mady Christians, George Brent, Ann Dvorak and Bette Davis in HOUSEWIFE, Brent and Davis again in FRONT PAGE WOMAN, and Douglas Fairbanks, Jr. and Genevieve Tobin in SUCCESS AT ANY PRICE.
• The Widow from Chicago (1930) Starring Alice White December 18, 2015
  Widow from Chicago, The
  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.
• Wild Boys of the Road (1933) Meets “Boy And Girl Tramps of America” September 14, 2015
  Wild Boys of the Road
  Contemporary reaction to William A. Wellman’s Wild Boys of the Road (1933), plus writer Danny Ahearn, and a peek at Thomas Minehan’s study “Boy and Girl Tramps of America.”
• Watching Wings (1927) for the First Time February 27, 2011
  Wings
  A look at William Wellman’s Wings (1927) after watching it for the first time. Air battles and It Girl Clara Bow highlight this first Best Picture Oscar winner.
• Winner Take All (1932) from Warner Archive’s Latest Wave of James Cagney March 19, 2014
  Winner Take All
  James Cagney stars as boxer Jimmy Kane in Winner Take All, a 1932 Warner Bros. release. This post takes a look at the Rocky II-like double knockdown from the film in order to revisit its inspiration, a real-life 1912 lightweight title fight. Also starring Marian Nixon and Virginia Bruce.
• Ronald Reagan as Baseball Hall of Famer Grover Cleveland Alexander August 16, 2011
  Winning Team, The
  A look at Baseball Hall of Famer Grover Cleveland Alexander and how Ol Pete was portrayed by Ronald Reagan in The Winning Team (1952) with focus on the 1926 World Series.
• The Witching Hour (1934), Hypnotized by John Halliday October 9, 2013
  Witching Hour, The
  Paramount’s 1934 version of The Witching Hour is light on stars and, despite the title, isn’t even a horror movie. An early Henry Hathaway film based on the 1907 hit play by Augustus Thomas and featuring strong performances from John Halliday and Sir Guy Standing. It’s all covered here.
• Tyrone Power, Marlene Dietrich and Charles Laughton in Witness for the Prosecution (1957) May 5, 2009
  Witness for the Prosecution
  Tyrone Power’s masterful final performance as Leonard Vole in Witness for the Prosecution (1957) with Marlene Dietrich and Charles Laughton, directed by Billy Wilder.
• The Wolf Man (1941), Lon Chaney Jr., and the Universal Horror Legacy October 31, 2017
  Wolf Man, The
  Coverage of the Universal horror classic The Wolf Man (1941) including the emergence of its star Lon Chaney Jr. This article also covers the second wave of Universal horror releases and the timing of this particular release, five days after the attack upon Pearl Harbor. Previously published in Classic Movie Monthly #2.
• The Woman Accused (1933) Starring Nancy Carroll and Cary Grant December 30, 2016
  Woman Accused, The
  Ten authors spoil the broth in Paramount pre-Code The Woman Accused (1933) starring Nancy Carroll and Cary Grant. Featuring one shocking scene with Grant, Jack La Rue, and a rawhide whip.
• Woman Wanted (1935) Starring Maureen O’Sullivan and Joel McCrea May 21, 2011
  Woman Wanted
  MGM’s Woman Wanted (1935) stars Maureen O’Sullivan as a wrongly convicted murderer on the run and into Joel McCrea’s arms. With Louis Calhern, Adrienne Ames, Lewis Stone, and Edgar Kennedy.
• The World Changes (1933) Starring the Many Faces of Paul Muni September 23, 2011
  World Changes, The
  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.
• A Yank at Eton (1942) Starring Mickey Rooney with Freddie Bartholomew January 26, 2015
  Yank at Eton, A
  All-American boy Mickey Rooney is plucked from his native shores and set loose at Eton where he quickly runs afoul of his British classmates. A Yank at Eton (1942) pairs Rooney with Freddie Bartholomew for the final time.
• MGM’s Hardy Family Series #2 – You’re Only Young Once (1937) November 30, 2012
  You're Only Young Once
  The second entry of the Hardy Family series, You’re Only Young Once (1937), sees the family vacation at Santa Catalina Island and features the first appearances of Lewis Stone, Fay Holden and Ann Rutherford in the parts they will reprise throughout the lifetime of the series.
• Young Bride (1932) Starring Helen Twelvetrees and Eric Linden September 19, 2015
  Young Bride
  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.
• The Young in Heart (1938) starring Janet Gaynor and Douglas Fairbanks, Jr. February 5, 2009
  Young in Heart, The
  A brief review after I sat down and watched The Young in Heart starring Janet Gaynor and Douglas Fairbanks, Jr. A charming look at a potentially ghoulish family of con artists.