Anyone else like Hollywood Precode movies?

Best war movie ever made, pre-code or otherwise, is "All Quiet On The Western Front," the best picture Universal ever made. Watch it once and it will haunt you for the rest of your life. And you'll never be able to watch those hoo-rah gung-ho war movies again.

LizzieMaine said:

Best war movie ever made, pre-code or otherwise, is "All Quiet On The Western Front," the best picture Universal ever made. Watch it once and it will haunt you for the rest of your life. And you'll never be able to watch those hoo-rah gung-ho war movies again.

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Agreed. This is one of the first movies my girlfriend (of 18 years now) and I watched at her recommendation (that was another sign she was special) and it is as disturbing as you said. Even before seeing it, I've never loved the rah-rah war movies because enough member of my family had experienced the hell of war to have colored my view; seeing it, only reinforced that view.

I do enjoy many of the precode movies, especially the silent. On the whole, the twenties and thirties were close to my favorite era for movies. On the other hand, I don't regret the Code either and in fact I think it forced film makers to become better. Film Noir would be nothing without the code, just sleazy, low brow and unimaginative like many pre code movies and most movies today.

Busby Berkeley especially, needed to be spanked by someone for all that mean spirited and creepy stuff he was putting out.

kronos77 said:

I do enjoy many of the precode movies, especially the silent. On the whole, the twenties and thirties were close to my favorite era for movies. On the other hand, I don't regret the Code either and in fact I think it forced film makers to become better. Film Noir would be nothing without the code, just sleazy, low brow and unimaginative like many pre code movies and most movies today.

Busby Berkeley especially, needed to be spanked by someone for all that mean spirited and creepy stuff he was putting out.

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One of the things I do professionally is write economic and financial market strategy and commentary. At one firm, my daily market summary, owing to the computer capability of the time was limited to 150 words (versus the 250 or so I had been writing daily). After initially grumbling, I found it forced me to both consolidate my thoughts better and, then, write more succinctly. I enjoyed the exercise and believe it made me a better writer.

To some extent, I agree that the code forced writers and directors to get creative with how they presented subjects and, sometime, the results were stunning. So much of what happens in "Casablanca" is intelligently implied which makes for a more elegant movie (how many really think it would have been better to see Rick and Ilsa in bed in Paris or when she comes for the letters of transit).

That said, many - not all - of the pre-codes practiced limitation on what they showed with most sex scenes implied not shown. And when I step away and think bigger picture - even though I am disgusted by much of the raunchiness and gratuitous sex and violence in movies and TV shows today - it is still a representation of freedom of expression that I believe is a core right of individuals in a free society.

Should there be warnings for viewers who don't want to see certain material - yes - that doesn't limit freedom but increases choices (choosing not to watch is still a personal choice), but despite the vulgarity of so much that is out there, it is just a price we pay for freedom.

So, yes the code did lead to some creative "work arounds" and some incredibly elegant and tasteful movies were made that intimated at many things not allowed by the code, but for me, freedom trumps these benefits. But I am sympathetic to the other side of the argument.

Cool thread.
I have seen a few of the movies listed on here, but there are several I have not, and will try to seek out.

I also have to agree about 'Island of Lost Souls' and to also state that Charles Laughton's turn at Dr. Moreau is not only hands down my favorite role of his, but possibly one of my favorite performances ever......by anyone. Even Brando's stellar example of over-the-topness (Col. Kurtz-ness?) in the part pales in comparison to Laughton's zeal.

Laughton was such a ham he should've spent his off hours hanging in a butcher's window. He never met scenery he couldn't chew.

LizzieMaine said:

Laughton was such a ham he should've spent his off hours hanging in a butcher's window. He never met scenery he couldn't chew.

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Ha! True.

dh66 said:

Ha! True.

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I would say that hamminess stole the show and single handedly made the movie Captain Kidd, an otherwise average adventure flick, into a classic.

Charles Laughton is at his best in a little known precode film called DEVIL AND THE DEEP from 1932. Co -starring with future legends Gary Cooper, Cary Grant and also stage star Tallulah Bankhead. Laughton plays a jealous crazed submarine commander who plots revenge against junior officers Grant and Cooper who have affairs with his bored wife. Laughton completely steals every scene with his insane and frightening antics. Grant and Cooper are like wood compared to him.

Anyone besides me going to Cinefest in Syracuse, NY March 19-21, 2015? It's the final one. Plenty of pre-code! I'm getting so excited!

BegintheBeguine said:

Anyone besides me going to Cinefest in Syracuse, NY March 19-21, 2015? It's the final one. Plenty of pre-code! I'm getting so excited!

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I would love to go there but it is on the other side of the world for me. A good forum to discuss Cinefest and old films in general is Nitrateville.
http://www.nitrateville.com/viewforum.php?f=2