Thread by @cheshellen

So this month's themed film viewing will be American films from 1930 -1934 as part of @FilmFan1971's #PreCodeApril initiative. Expect lots of gangsters, sex and scandal!

Born Reckless (1930, John Ford)
Part-Gangster, part-WW1 movie + a few musical numbers thrown in & all in 76 mins! A judge gives gangster Louis (Edmund Lowe) the choice of prison or war, chooses war. On his return he opens a nightclub & gets caught up in crime again. #PreCodeApril

The Doorway to Hell (1930, Archie Mayo)
Louie (Lew Ayres) a ruthless gangster tries to go straight after getting married but gets sucked back in. His right-hand-man Mileaway (James Cagney) tries to help. Cagney's charisma is electric, this was his 2nd screen role. #PreCodeApril

Conspiracy (1930, Christy Cabanne)
A stenographer (#BessieLove) accidentally kills a gangster whilst trying to rescue her brother, on the run she ends up working for a mystery writer (#NedSparks) who's writing a novel based on the case. Many laughs via Sparks. #PreCodeApril

Show Girl in Hollywood (1930, #MervynLeRoy)
Delightful #filmsaboutfilm early musical about a Broadway understudy (Alice White) who falls for a shady producer's line about making her a star & heads to Hollywood. Luckily there are kind people to look out for her too. #PreCodeApril

A Lady to Love (1930, Victor Sjöström)
A waitress (#VilmaBanky) answers an ad to marry a wealthy "older" vineyard owner (#EdwardGRobinson), when she arrives she discovers the photo he sent was of his "younger" handsome hired hand (Robert Ames). Check cast's ages!!! #PreCodeApril

Ladies of Leisure (1930, Frank Capra)
Professional party girl (Barbara Stanwyck) is hired to pose for an artist (Ralph Graves) from a wealthy family. They fall in love & she soon regrets her wild past. His family have their reservations too. Well told/shot melodrama.#PreCodeApril

Madam Satan (1930, Cecil B. DeMille)
Angela (Kay Johnson) discovers her hubby (Reginald Denny) has been 'seeing' Trixie (Lillian Roth) so goes to alluring/amusing lengths to woo him back via song/dance/a new look. + Lavish set pieces & Roland Young providing laughs! #PreCodeApril

Getting in some #precode themed reading in for #PreCodeApril. A Pictorial History of Hollywood Nudity published in 1964 as the production code was waning. There are words as well a pictures! Spanning onscreen nudity from 1914 to then present day ie The Americanization of Emily.

Bad Sister (1931, Hobart Henley) Great cast vastly improve this! #HumphreyBogart stars as a con man who woos the 'bad sister'(#SidneyFox) who steals her father's money for him. Meanwhile the 'good sister' (#BetteDavis in her screen debut) pines for the young Doctor. #PreCodeApril

Blonde Crazy (1931, Roy Del Ruth)
Charming con man (#JamesCagney) falls for Anne (#JoanBlondell) who initially joins him on his scams before marrying a seemingly respectable banker (Ray Milland). Cagney & Blondell a delightful pair, their scenes sparkle. Rest, OK. #PreCodeApril

Inspiration (1931, Clarence Brown)
In this romance #GretaGarbo stars as an artist’s model/kept woman in love with an artist (Robert Montgomery). Plot/dialogue pedestrian, but Garbo dressed in exquisite costumes by Adrian, glimmering in Daniels' lighting is luminous. #PreCodeApril

Susan Lenox (Her Fall and Rise)(1931, Robert Z. Leonard)
Helga/Susan (#GretaGarbo) escapes the clutches of her abusive uncle (Hersholt) & falls briefly into the arms of the upright Rodney (#ClarkGable). There's plenty of "fall" but she does meet HIM again. Wow G&G!😍#PreCodeApril

The Smiling Lieutenant (1931, Ernst Lubitsch)
A Lt (Chevalier) enjoys a flirtation with a violinist (Colbert), but when a staid Princess (Hopkins) misreads his cheeky wink as aimed at her, she determines to marry him. Singing, complications, a make-over & naughtiness follow.

#PreCodeApril fans. Enjoy this fabulously naughty song/montage 'Jazz Up Your Lingerie' from the #precode musical The Smiling Lieutenant (1931, Ernst Lubitsch)

When #PreCodeApril film fans can get out and about again, do add a visit to the gorgeous @BABYLON_Berlin cinema in Berlin to your 'To Do' list. You can sit next to #ErnstLubitsch on the front row!

Jewel Robbery (1932, William Dieterle)
Whilst in a jewel store the rich/unhappily married Baroness (Kay Francis) enjoys a flirtation with a charming jewel thief (William Powell) who takes her diamond ring only to return it later as a TY for misleading the cops.Saucy.#PreCodeApril

Grand Hotel (1932, Edmund Goulding) Lots of #precode shenanigans going on at this Berlin grand hotel. With a mega-starry cast inc #GretaGarbo who 'wants to be alone', #JoanCrawford who wants luxury, #JohnBarrymore who wants money & Lionel B who wants the best room. #PreCodeApril

The Death Kiss (1932, Edwin L. Marin)
An actor is killed whilst filming his on-screen death. Plenty of supects (inc Bela Lugosi, Adrienne Ames, Edward Van Sloan) whilst screenwriter (David Manners) does his own sleuthing. Great little meta movie-set murder mystery.#PreCodeApril

Three on a Match (1932, Mervyn LeRoy)
3 friends reunite: Vivian (Ann Dvorak) married to rich lawyer with son but leaves them & her life descends into one of drugs/debauchery, whilst showgirl (Joan Blondell) marries her ex. Ruth's (Bette Davis) plotline weakest. Grim!#PreCodeApril

No Man of Her Own (1932, Wesley Ruggles)
7 years before they were married #CaroleLomabrd & #ClarkGable star in this romantic crime comedy which sees NY gambler Jerry marry small town librarian Connie on the flip of a coin. Will he change his ways? Delightful stuff. #PreCodeApril

Won't have time to finish today's film for #PreCodeApril as giving a talk on #AliceInWonderland for @LewesDepot. But will be talking about a film from this period...

Red Dust (1932, Victor Fleming)
In the sweltering heat of SE Asia things get cheeky & a tad heated between rubber plantation foreman (Clark Gable) & good-time-girl (Jean Harlow); but very hot&steamy when he sets his eye on the wife (Mary Astor) of a new colleague.
#PreCodeApril

Red-Headed Woman (1932, Jack Conway)
Anita Loos' screenplay is sexy, saucy & sassy. Lil (Jean Harlow) does all she can to get a man & move into the swankier social circles. She breaks up her boss's marriage & pursues other men both for their money & sexual delights. #PreCodeApril

The Last Mile (1932, Samuel Bischoff) Prison melodrama based on John Wexley's play highlighting prison life for a group of men (well defined characters/well acted), inc. Richard (Howard Phillips) who claims to be innocent, & gets caught up in a violent prison riot. #PreCodeApril

The Beast of the City (1932, Charles Brabin)
The poster pushing Harlow's supporting role of a gangster's moll who's also involved with a cop is a tad misleading as it's essentially a postcode 'in praise of police' with the violence inc sexual violence of a precode. #PreCodeApril

The Most Dangerous Game (1932, Irving Pichel/Ernest B. Schoedsack)
Cracking horror adventure. Completely OTT in direction, music, performance & plot with sees shipwreck survivors (Joel McCrea & Fay Wray) being hunted by the island's eccentric owner (Leslie Banks). #PreCodeApril

Trouble in Paradise (1932, Ernst Lubitsch)
A sophisticated thief (Herbert Marshall) & a charming (Miriam Hopkins) meet>fall in love>work together. When they come across a wealthy widow (Kay Francis) they think they've hit the jackpot. Delicious romantic comedy. #PreCodeApril

Design for Living (1933, Ernst Lubitsch)
A year after #NoelCoward's risqué ménage-à-trois romantic comedy caused controversy in Theatre-circles it was given the BenHecht makeover with Miriam Hopkins as the woman unable to choose between two friends (Frederic March & Gary Cooper).

Morning Glory (1933, Lowell Sherman)
Zoe Akins’ play provides marvellous central character of a naive & ambitious stage actress who will do ALL she can to make it on Broadway. A star-making role for #KatharineHepburn + #AdolpheMenjou as producer she will do all for! #PreCodeApril

The Secret of the Blue Room (1933, Kurt Neumann)
A mansion's Blue Room has a dreadful reputation as 3 people have died there under suspicious conditions. To impress Irene (Gloria Stuart) 3 chaps (Lukas/Stevens/Janney) pledge to sleep there, til the 1st goes missing!
#PreCodeApril

The Story of Temple Drake (1933, Stephen Roberts)
Following a car accident with that evening's beau, the vivacious Temple Drake (Miriam Hopkins) is kidnapped by a gangster (Jack La Rue) & held prisoner as his lover. Beautifully shot. Hopkins astonishing. Shocking! #PreCodeApril

First 3 weeks of #PreCodeApril has been fabulous. Thank you @FilmFan1971. Just logged on @letterboxd my 28th movie, and #NowWatching the 29th!

Torch Singer (1933, Alexander Hall/George Somnes)
Well that was a weepie and a half! Complete showcase for #ClaudetteColbert goes from chorus dancer, to single mum, to boozy torch singer, to homely radio 'Aunt Jenny', to ... don't want to spoil it. & all in 70 mins. #PreCodeApril

Bombshell (1933, Victor Fleming)
Lola (Jean Harlow) is Hollywood's hottest bombshell but she's at odds with her studio's publicity chief (Lee Tracy) & victim to her staff/dad/brother's sponging. #FranchotTone fab as OTT love interest. Hollywood poking fun at itself. #PreCodeApril

Here's some of my #precode themed memorabilia. A #JeanHarlow 3d metal photographic picture. #PreCodeApril

Ex-Lady (1933, Robert Florey)
Pre-marital sex, a married couple in a double bed, an open marriage, an allusion to sex in a public place + #BetteDavis as a sexy very successful illustrator whose reluctance to marry her beau (#GeneRaymond) is well-placed. Fantastic #PreCodeApril.

The Gold Diggers of 1933 (1933, Mervyn LeRoy)
A film which explicitly references the Depression & links back to the WWI. Opens/closes with impressive musical numbers choregraphed by #BusbyBerkeley, in between a farcical mistaken identity flirtathon with ace cast. #PreCodeApril🪙

Hold Your Man (1933, Sam Wood)
#AnitaLoos' story/s'play co-written with Howard Emmett Rogers starts flirtingly as scam artist (#ClarkGable) falls for the multi-boyfriended Ruby (#JeanHarlow) but it then takes a darker turn than I anticipated, but all OK in the end. #PreCodeApril

Christopher Strong (1933,#DorothyArzner)
Happily married MP Strong (Colin Clive) & feisty aviatrix with a penchant for striking outfits Lady Cynthia (Katharine Hepburn) fall into an unfortunate romance, after which she & the plot become less interesting/quite soapy. #PreCodeApril

There have been few opportunities to watch films #directedbywomen for #PreCodeApril. Many sites claim that #DorothyArzner was the only women directing in Hollywood at this time, but there was another Dorothy... Dorothy Davenport who directed/produced/wrote/acted in 20s/30s films.

#DorothyDavenport aka Mrs Wallace Reid is one of four names this actor, producer, director, writer was credited as throughout her film career. The others are Dorothy Davenport, Dorothy Davenport Reid and Dorothy Reid. It is, perhaps, this inconsistency of name at a time...

... when production roles and credits were also in flux which has meant Davenport Reid’s contribution to early filmmaking has become diluted, particularly as she was working independently with some of the smaller studios in Hollywood. #PreCodeApril

Here's links to some of #DorothyDavenport's #precode films on YouTube.
Sucker Money (1933)
The Road to Ruin (1934)
The Woman Condemned (1934)
#PreCodeApril

Sucker Money (1933, #DorothyDavenport/Melville Shyer) S/p. Willis Kent. Although an interesting set up of an undercover journalist exposing a fake medium, its execution is poor, betraying its low-budget poerty row studio origins. Love #MischaAuer. Great poster... #PreCodeApril🔮

Night of Terror (1933, Benjamin Stoloff)
An incredibly creaky 'then there were no plot' as the heirs to an inheritance are bumped off 1by1. The last few minutes when the "mystic" butler (Bela Lugosi) reveals how it was done fab, as is the direct-to- audience p.s. #PreCodeApril🔮

The Mind Reader (1933, Roy Del Ruth)
3 scam artists led by Chandler/Chandra (William Wellman) set up in the fake fortune-telling biz, but there are darker consequences to his deceptions, inc trying to hide his truth from the woman (Constance Cummings) he loves. #PreCodeApril 🔮

Warren William not William Wellman stars as the fake mystic in The Mind Reader...
#PreCodeApril

Don't Bet on Love (1933, Murray Roth)
Bill (Lew Ayres), a plumber, wins big at the racetrack & his first thought it to spoil his girlfriend (Ginger Rogers) but she'd prefer he bank it. But the gambling bug has bit & soon his gambling takes a toll. A cautionary tale. #PreCodeApril

Clearly I was ahead of the curve, 4 years ago today I was watching #precode movies. Just Imagine (1930)...
Best line: 'I'm the census taker'
'I'm sorry but we are out of our senses today.'
Love It!
#PreCodeApril

Dinner at Eight (1933, #GeorgeCukor) NY society Dame (Billie Burke) wants to impress some visiting Brit Aristos so plans a lavish dinner. The guest list inc her hubby (#LionelBarrymore #BOTD), an aging film star (#JohnBarrymore) & what she considers an uncouth couple... 1/2

(#WallaceBeery & #JeanHarlow) & stage legend (#MarieDressler) but it doesn't go quite as planned & all have secrets. Walks fine line between comedy/pathos. And for @pb14 great #PreCodeDoors. #PreCodeApril

Themed reading for #PreCodeApril, this week whilst watching Hollywood films from 1933, I read Romanian novelist Milhail Sebastian's Women (1933) which recounts (chronologically) four love affairs Stefan Valeriu has. Translated by @gabi1981. A real window into prewar Europe.

Flirtation (1934, Leo Birinsky)
A burlesque dancer (Jeanette Loff) has told her ma that's she a respectable wife/mum. When her ma suddenly visits, Nancy needs an instant family, luckily she's just met a nice farmer (Ben Alexander). Endearing + Best dog acting evs. #PreCodeApril

Hadn't come across Jeanette Loff before. A delightful screen presence. This ⬆️appears to be her penultimate film & sadly she died under mysterious circumstances 8 yrs later. + don't you think she looks so modern in this 1929 photo (left) & so much like Laura Dern. #PreCodeApril

The Road to Ruin (1934, Dorothy Davenport/Melville Shyer)
A remake of a 1928 silent film which had been a scandalous hit for producer Willis Kent. An innocent young girl's (Helen Foster) life is ruined by sex, drugs, & alcohol! The poster far racier than the film. #PreCodeApril

The Woman Condemned (1934, Dorothy Davenport)
The synopsis in most places says "A woman (Claudia Dell) is accused of murder of a radio singer" & yes that happens, but there's all sorts of odd goings on. Part screwball comedy part crime drama + loads of red herrings. #PreCodeApril

The Gay Bride (1934, Jack Conway)
Showgirl (Carole Lombard) is determined to marry money & decides that a gangster (Nat Pendleton) is the perfect mark: lots of money/potential short life-span! But then there's her love/hate relationship with Jimmy (Chester Morris). #PreCodeApril

The Richest Girl in the World (1934, William A. Seiter)
The v. wealthy Dorothy (Miriam Hopkins) is suspicious of young men's interest in her: love or money? So when she's attracted to Tony (Joel McCrea) she swaps places with her secretary (Fay Wray) to test him. #PreCodeApril

Death Takes a Holiday (1934, Mitchell Leisen) Death (Fredric March) is confused why people are reluctant to go with him, so takes human form to find out, on his 'holiday' he is drawn to Grazia (Evelyn Venable). Good looking eccentric fantasy melodrama. A curiosity. #PreCodeApril

And with that most peculiar philosophical end, I say a sad goodbye to #PreCodeApril. Thank you @FilmFan1971 for dreaming this themed viewing month up. So many more #precode recommendations to track down & watch. Tomorrow I'll work out my best ofs, and final musings.