#Pre-Code Film

[precodesoul]

Showgirls in costume for the film Roman Scandals (dir. Frank Tuttle, 1933)

[kathleenkatmary]

I just joined Blue Sky and I'm looking for people to follow, so I'm tagging a bunch of stuff I like. So if you see this and you feel like it, drop your blue sky link in the comments.

Here's mine! https://bsky.app/profile/kathleenkatmary.bsky.social

[cinenthusiast]

The Big House (1930, Hill)

[canadachronicles]

Each month, I try to watch at least one Pre-Code film; a very interesting experience as these films are often more adventurous, modern and sexy than others shot in the 1950s! I saw the fantastic Greta Garbo in Mata Hari this month, but I've already got my pick for March: Coquette, starring Silent Era legend and Hollywood icon, Torontonian Mary Pickford who won an Oscar for her performance!

[estrelademiel]

im really out of touch with what's going on in the community unfortunately

if you are a coquette with interests you rarely or never see posted about in the community, put a few of them in the tags or comments!!! maybe some of us have the same interests!!!

tagging @pink-evilette @hibiscusbabyboy @motelbabydoll @sairyfairygarden @saintfelina @baby-brunette @pinkpinkmermayyy @cinnamonspicevanilla @thedoll333 @dark-nymph3t (sorry if this is annoying i’m just curious)

[busterkeatonsociety]

This Day in Buster…April 14, 1924 “Sherlock Jr." has its U.S. opening in Boston ahead of the premiere in LA on the 26th.

[theglitterdome]

Clara Bow in the 1927 silent film Hula.

[anitapallenberg]

Jewel Robbery (1932) | Dir. William Dieterle

[friendlessghoul]

The Illusion in Sherlock Jr. explained in Movie Magic & Mysteries: The Making of Sherlock Jr.

[precodesoul]

Bette Davis in Parachute Jumper (dir. Alfred E. Green, 1933)

[kathleenkatmary]

Screwball September: By Candlelight (1933)

James Whale is really not remembered for comedy at all, but he actually made a few really great comedies in the 1930s, By Candlelight being one of them. It's an extremely light and frothy romantic screwball comedy starring Paul Lukas and Elissa Landi. Lukas himself isn't particularly remembered for comedy, either, and while I do think his dramatic performances are the ones from his filmography that really stand out, he's quite good here. He seemed to understand just how light and fun the material was and matched his performance to it. Landi is also a lot of fun. I think her performance probably ends up being the most comedic in the movie, and she was really willing to do things that were pretty unflattering, but very funny.

Nils Asther is, IMO, the real treat here. He'd been a pretty big leading man in the late 1920s and early 1930s, particularly in roles where the character was "exotic" or otherwise foreign, by the time the pre-code era was starting to wind down in 1933-1934 his star was already dimming. So he's in a supporting role here, but it's a great role. He's Lukas's boss, who is a prince and a womanizer, but probably also the most likeable character in the movie. There's a clear affection between Asther and Lukas's characters, and it's kind of sweet to see the lengths Asther's character will go to in order to help Lukas's out. The character is really charming, but there's obviously a big heart there, and Asther really captures that.

But what makes the movie really work so well is the chemistry between Lukas and Landi. Because of the premise, both characters could easily end up feeling unlikeable, and the relationship between them would then be a pretty hard sell. But thanks to their performances and how much chemistry there is between them, it just works. 

By Candlelight is a real treat of the late-pre code era, and one of the most underappreciated screwball comedies.

On letterboxd

[dailyworldcinema]

Marlene Dietrich in The Blue Angel (1930) Dir. Josef von Sternberg

[diana-andraste]

The Sisters G, Karla and Eleanor Gutöhrlein, King of Jazz publicity image, 1930

[hellostarrynightblr]

every 1930s movie watched (38 - ∞)

King Kong (1933) dir. Merian C. Cooper, Ernest B. Schoedsack

Oh, no, it wasn't the airplanes, it was Beauty killed the beast!

[busterkeatonsociety]

This Day in Buster…May 10, 1925 The Chicago Tribune reports that Buster Keaton has come up with a new invention for consuming pasta…