#precodeapril — Public Fediverse posts

The music for “The Cocoanuts” stage show and film was composed by none other than Irving Berlin
#SatMat #TheCocoanuts #TheMarxBrothers #IrvingBerlin #PreCodeApril #PreCode

“The Cocoanuts” (1929) was Kay Francis’s second feature film and it was The Marx Brothers first “official” feature film.
#SatMat #TheCocoanuts #KayFrancis #TheMarxBrothers #PreCodeApril #PreCode #comedy

I was embarrassingly old before I realized that Groucho’s trademark eyebrows and mustache were grease paint 😶 BUT he did grow a real mustache later in life
#SatMat #PreCodeApril #TheCocoanuts #GrouchoMarx #TheMarxBrothers #comedy #PreCode

“The Cocoanuts” began life as one of The Marx Brothers’ stage shows which also starred their frequent collaborator Margaret Dumont. She went on to be in 6 more of their films!
#SatMat #PreCodeApril #TheCocoanuts #MargaretDumont #TheMarxBrothers #comedy #PreCode

And now our feature presentation: “The Cocoanuts” (1929) staring Harpo, Chico, Groucho AND Zeppo Marx (https://youtu.be/9FxpREDf_l0?si=4GvI__dJtRR4hvS9)
#SatMat #PreCodeApril #TheCocoanuts #TheMarxBrothers #PreCode

For the record, I pulled “Extra! Extra!” (1931), another RKO Frank McHugh comedy short, b/c the sound was noticeably more wonky than the other films on the playlist. You can check it out for free here (https://youtu.be/fol8Tu3EE30?si=Br4VrboynDaElZA5)
#RetroView #PreCodeApril #ExtraExtra #FrankMcHugh

For the record, I pulled “Extra! Extra!” (1931), another RKO Frank McHugh comedy short, b/c the sound was noticeably more wonky than the other films on the playlist. You can check it out for free here (https://youtu.be/fol8Tu3EE30?si=Br4VrboynDaElZA5)
#RetroView #PreCodeApril #ExtraExtra #FrankMcHugh

For the record, I pulled “Extra! Extra!” (1931), another RKO Frank McHugh comedy short, b/c the sound was noticeably more wonky than the other films on the playlist. You can check it out for free here (https://youtu.be/fol8Tu3EE30?si=Br4VrboynDaElZA5)
#RetroView #PreCodeApril #ExtraExtra #FrankMcHugh

Next up is “The Stolen Jools” (1931) (https://youtu.be/Y0GSQpZu7AQ?si=IZS5wvGAuq9ea9u-) which is stuffed with some of the biggest stars of the stage & screen of the 1920s and early 1930s to raise funds for the National Vaudeville Artists Tuberculosis Sanitarium
#RetroView #PreCodeApril #TheStolenJools #PreCode

This print of “The Hot Spot” (1931) was restored from the only known 16mm copy
#RetroView #TheHotSpot #PreCodeApril #PreCode #FrankMcHugh

<5mins in and we’ve hit most of the Frank McHugh comedy tropes:

Playing a reporter or clergy or general degenerate ✅
The patented Frank McHugh Laugh™️✅
Kind of a dope ✅
#RetroView #PreCodeApril #TheHotSpot #FrankMcHugh #PreCode

First up is “The Hot Spot” (1931) (https://youtu.be/TJerjayJnJ0?si=p5W48ZomKRY41dCx) which was one of a series of comedy shorts Frank McHugh made for RKO in the early 1930s
#RetroView #PreCodeApril #TheHotSpot #FrankMcHugh #PreCode

“Havana Widows” (1933) in summation:
#MusComEnt #HavanaWidows #PreCodeApril #PreCode

And the man of the hour: Frank McHugh (May 23, 1898 – Sept. 11, 1981), who was from a theatrical family. He struck out on his own in 1930 and quickly made his way into film & later TV, where he easily cornered the market on being the (often tipsy) comic relief
#MusComEnt #PreCodeApril #FrankMcHugh #PreCode

“Havana Widows” (1933) is the first of 5 films centered around the “Blonde Bombshell” comedy duo of Joan Blondell and Glenda Farrell, who were WB’s answer to Hal Roach’s female comedy pair Zasu Pitts & Thelma Todd
#MusComEnt #PreCodeApril #JoanBlondell #GlendaFarrell #PreCode

Tune in Thursday @ 6:30pm EST/5:30pm CST when #RetroView continues our #PreCodeApril Frank McHugh salute with some #PreCode Comedy Shorts! Playlist available here (https://youtube.com/playlist?list=PL2Zslnc5XTfsT1JWpxwBvHsXQRV2LZomr&si=TwWqx1_IkNU-l9nX) I’ll see y’all then💕
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Due to the time and budgetary concerns, set pieces and props from various other Universal horror films were used to make “White Zombie” (1932) including the castle interiors from “Frankenstein” (1931)
#SatMat #PreCodeApril #WhiteZombie #Frankenstein #horror

According to Béla Lugosi’s son, “White Zombie” (1934) was one of Lugosi’s favorite films to work on, even despite his $800 payday for the 11 day shoot where he even directed a few shots!
#SatMat #PreCodeApril #WhiteZombie #horror #BelaLugosi

According to Béla Lugosi’s son, “White Zombie” (1934) was one of Lugosi’s favorite films to work on, even despite his $800 payday for the 11 day shoot where he even directed a few shots!
#SatMat #PreCodeApril #WhiteZombie #horror #BelaLugosi

According to Béla Lugosi’s son, “White Zombie” (1934) was one of Lugosi’s favorite films to work on, even despite his $800 payday for the 11 day shoot where he even directed a few shots!
#SatMat #PreCodeApril #WhiteZombie #horror #BelaLugosi

According to Béla Lugosi’s son, “White Zombie” (1934) was one of Lugosi’s favorite films to work on, even despite his $800 payday for the 11 day shoot where he even directed a few shots!
#SatMat #PreCodeApril #WhiteZombie #horror #BelaLugosi

According to Béla Lugosi’s son, “White Zombie” (1934) was one of Lugosi’s favorite films to work on, even despite his $800 payday for the 11 day shoot where he even directed a few shots!
#SatMat #PreCodeApril #WhiteZombie #horror #BelaLugosi

Despite “White Zombie” (1934) being well received upon release it was actually believed to be lost until it was rediscovered in the 1960s. It’s considered to be the first full length zombie film, especially one that acknowledges the Zombie mythos’s Haitian roots
#SatMat #PreCodeApril #WhiteZombie #horror

And now our second/final film of the day: “White Zombie” (1932) (https://youtu.be/NV3B2z0HkKA?si=X_E-QfcvwtpV2T1Y) starring #horror icon Béla Lugosi
#SatMat #PreCodeApril #WhiteZombie

So yeah, the cat in this film was already missing an eye when it was production. They simply placed a glass eye in the usual area and then did The Thing™️
#SatMat #Maniac #PreCodeAPril #horror #scifi #PreCode

“Maniac” (1934) was made for a mere $7.5K in 1934 money (about $185K today) and is considered to be one of the worst films ever maid. It was featured on #RiffTrax in 2009
#SatMat #PreCodeApril #Maniac #scifi #horror

Our first film today is the #PreCode psychological sexploitation #horror film “Maniac” AKA “Dwain Esper’s Maniac” AKA “Sex Maniac” (1934) (https://youtu.be/yfDZH0Vr5p8?si=6isMaFOILou6nZ3P)
#SatMat #PreCodeApril #Maniac #scifi

Mae West’s iconic wiggle was the product of her being inspired by vaudeville drag performers and b/c underneath her dresses she would wear these weird double decker shoes to make herself taller than her natural 5ft height
#RetroView #PreCodeApril #ImNoAngel #MaeWest #PreCode

“I’m No Angel” (1933) was written by and stars Mae West. While it was her 3rd film appearance, West was a major broadway and night club star.
#RetroView #PreCodeApril #ImNoAngel #MaeWest #PreCode

Need something to do Saturday afternoon? Drop by for #SatMat @ 4pm EST/3pm CST when we honor #PreCodeApril with a #PreCode #horror double feature of “Maniac” (1934) AND “White Zombie” (1932). Playlist available here (https://youtube.com/playlist?list=PL2Zslnc5XTfsrnThIE1-O2K2g42pz5Nce&si=om3ezP-C_fVQBsnc) Hope y’all can make it💕
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Thanks for tuning in/I’m sorry.. Join me next week when #SatMat properly kicks off #PreCodeApril with a #PreCode #horror double feature with “Maniac” (1934) and “The White Zombie” (1932) Enjoy the rest of your Easter weekend whether you celebrate it or not, y’all 💕

PS- here’s all of the Pre-Code films I’ll be showing on various Watch Parties in honor of Pre-Code April
#Comedon #PreCodeApril #PreCode

Buster Keaton and Anita Page in “Free and Easy” (1930)
#Comedon #FreeAndEasy #PreCodeApril #PreCode #BusterKeaton #AnitaPage

Posters for “Free and Easy” AKA “Easy Go” AKA “On The Set” AKA “Buster in Filmland” (1930) from The USA, Sweden and France
#Comedon #FreeAndEasy #PreCodeApril #PreCode #BusterKeaton

Claudette Colbert and Clark Gable on the set of “It Happened One Night” (with a little help from director Frank Capra) #MusComEnt #PreCodeApril #ItHappenedOneNight #ClaudetteColbert #ClarkGable

Our leading lady is Carol Lombard who is known for her work in screwball comedies. “Twentieth Century” is considered to be her breakout film. She passed away at age 33 in a plane crash following a 1942 War Bond fundraiser
#MusComEnt #PreCodeApril #TwentiethCentury #CarolLombard

“One Way Passage” is the 5th of the 6 films Kay Francis made with William Powell from 1930 to 1932, the first being “Behind the Make-Up” (1930) and the final was “Jewelry Robbery” (1932)
#MusComEnt #KayFrancis #WilliamPowell #PreCodeApril

“One Way Passage” is the 5th of the 6 films Kay Francis made with William Powell from 1930 to 1932, the first being “Behind the Make-Up” (1930) and the final was “Jewelry Robbery” (1932)
#MusComEnt #KayFrancis #WilliamPowell #PreCodeApril

“One Way Passage” is the 5th of the 6 films Kay Francis made with William Powell from 1930 to 1932, the first being “Behind the Make-Up” (1930) and the final was “Jewelry Robbery” (1932)
#MusComEnt #KayFrancis #WilliamPowell #PreCodeApril

“One Way Passage” is the 5th of the 6 films Kay Francis made with William Powell from 1930 to 1932, the first being “Behind the Make-Up” (1930) and the final was “Jewelry Robbery” (1932)
#MusComEnt #KayFrancis #WilliamPowell #PreCodeApril

“One Way Passage” is the 5th of the 6 films Kay Francis made with William Powell from 1930 to 1932, the first being “Behind the Make-Up” (1930) and the final was “Jewelry Robbery” (1932)
#MusComEnt #KayFrancis #WilliamPowell #PreCodeApril

Doctor: “Don’t do anything strenuous or exciting”
Kay Francis: *spends an entire cruise making out with William Powell*
#MusComEnt #PreCodeApril #OneWayPassage #KayFrancis #WilliamPowell

Doctor: “Don’t do anything strenuous or exciting”
Kay Francis: *spends an entire cruise making out with William Powell*
#MusComEnt #PreCodeApril #OneWayPassage #KayFrancis #WilliamPowell

Doctor: “Don’t do anything strenuous or exciting”
Kay Francis: *spends an entire cruise making out with William Powell*
#MusComEnt #PreCodeApril #OneWayPassage #KayFrancis #WilliamPowell

Doctor: “Don’t do anything strenuous or exciting”
Kay Francis: *spends an entire cruise making out with William Powell*
#MusComEnt #PreCodeApril #OneWayPassage #KayFrancis #WilliamPowell

Doctor: “Don’t do anything strenuous or exciting”
Kay Francis: *spends an entire cruise making out with William Powell*
#MusComEnt #PreCodeApril #OneWayPassage #KayFrancis #WilliamPowell

I'm a big fan of Cecil B. DeMille’s comedies. My favourite is his outrageous pre-code musical sex comedy Madam Satan (1930). Zeppelins, amazing costumes, lots of pre-code naughtiness. It all adds up to delirious crazy fun.

My review: https://dfordoom-movieramblings.blogspot.com/2023/04/madam-satan-1930.html

#precodehollywood #precodemovies #precode #classicmovies #classicmovie #1930smovie #goldenagehollywood #KayJohnson #CecilBDeMille #musicals #hollywoodmusicals #PreCodeApril

Busby Berkeley directed the dance/musical sequences in the film and most famously the “By The Waterfall” prologue(https://youtu.be/CfHRQFJB3GI)
#MusComEnt #PreCodeApril #PreCode #FootlightParade #BusbyBerkeley