Pre-code
Waterloo Bridge (1931)
Movie archaeologists who might have believed the long suppressed 1931 version of Universal’s Waterloo Bridge was lost were delighted when it was unearthed in the 1970s; it is now, happily, available to the rest of us as part of TCM Archive’s Forbidden Hollywood releases of pre-code talkies (1929-July 1934). Without question, the film is a… »
Morning Glory (1933)
Morning Glory (1933) is a touching, well paced story of a young woman vying for success in the glamourous world of New York’s theatre. Premiered a year before the enforcement of the notorious production code, it was only Hepburn’s third film, but it won her her first of 12 Oscar nominations, and her first win…. »
The Old Dark House (1932)
If ever an early talkie deserved the opening line narration “It was a dark and stormy night …”, this is it. This rain-soaked early horror, freshly churned out by the director and studio which gave us Frankenstein, features five travellers who stumble upon the Femm estate in Wales during a horrendous rain storm. The residents,… »
Search for Beauty (1934)
In Search for Beauty (1934), a trio of scam artists decide that sex sells magazines better than anything else, and get the idea to populate a magazine and resort with ex-Olympic athletes from around the world to titilate, tantalize and beat into shape the readers and wealthy patrons… »
Murder at the Vanities (1934)
If nothing else, Murder at the Vanities (1934) offers some great musical numbers, including a fabulous star turn by Duke Ellington and his band. You’ll also be entertained and amused by “Cocktails for Two” and astonished by the full spectacle of “Marajuana”… »
Torch Singer (1933)
In Torch Singer (1933), pregant and alone in the world, Sally Trent (Claudette Colbert) spends a few months in a Catholic woman’s home having her baby. Later, she finds she has no choice but to give up her daughter for adoption. Heart-broken, Sally returns to her singing career and transforms herself into a very successful… »
Hot Saturday (1932)
On a Hot Saturday (1932), what’s a hard-working young girl at a local bank in a small town supposed to do for fun? For Ruth Brock (Nancy Carroll), it means gently dissuading over-sexed eager young coworkers like… »
Merrily We Go To Hell (1932)
In Merrily We Go To Hell (1932), innocence and loyalty work against Joan Prentice (Sylvia Sidney) who, despite, her upper crust upbringing, is no class snob. A teetotaler, she is charmed… »
The Cheat (1931)
The Cheat (1931) is a remake of a highly successful Cecil B DeMille 1915 silent of the same name. You’d never know the country was in the midst of a depression, except for the one bad stock tip. Bankhead is actually quite good — sincerely trapped in a web of her own making. The… »