The seventh set in the popular Forbidden Hollywood Collection is a true gem. All four films, on 4 MOD-DVD discs, are rife with all the sins that make Pre-Codes so enjoyable to watch.
I started to do something recently that I have been wanting to do for a very long time: watch Pre-Codes every morning. It sounds like a silly ritual and I blame it all on TCM's influence. I had TCM for years before I moved out on my own and couldn't afford cable anymore (I got it back last year). I had become used to waking up early in the morning, turning on TCM and watching about 20-30 minutes of whatever early 1930s film was showing. It became a habit and for years afterwards I had always craved Pre-Codes in the morning. The only bad part about this was that I would want to watch the entire film but didn't have the time. I would either rent it or buy it later but that didn't always work because many of the films weren't available on DVD. Now that I own numerous Pre-Codes, including several of the Forbidden Hollywood Collection sets, I decided that I would pop in a DVD in the morning and watch 30 minutes of a Pre-Code. I know it seems like such a weird thing but this new morning ritual makes me so happy and gives me a nice start to my day. If I have time, I watch the entire film in the morning if I can. I started this new ritual with the seventh set in the Forbidden Hollywood Collection and I had so much fun that I hope to stick with it.
Now on to the films...
The Hatchet Man (1932) - This curio from First National stars Edward G. Robinson and Loretta Young. They are both made to look Asian and Loretta Young is almost unrecognizable in "yellow face". The story takes place in San Francisco's Chinatown and explores the conflict between old Chinese traditions and the modern sensibilities of 1930s America. Edward G. Robinson plays Wong Low Get, a Hatchet Man who acts as an executioner for the different Tongs in Chinatown. Whenever a crime is committed, he executes the criminal with his hatchet. He has to kill his best friend but before he does he makes a promise to take care of his daughter Sun Toya San (Loretta Young). There is romance, adultery, betrayal and violence in this rather disturbing movie. It's the slowest of the four films in the set and probably the most odd but worth watching.
Skyscrapers Souls (1932) - This is the first of the two Warren William films in this set, this Pre-Code looks at the lives of the people who work in a New York City skyscraper. All the action happens inside the building. The conceit works really well and made for a very enjoyable and clever little film. Warren William is despicable as the womanizing executive who is hell bent on owning the entire building. That skyscraper is his life, he lives, breathes, eats, works and sleeps in it. He's having an affair with his secretary Sarah (Verree Teasdale), funds his wife's (Hedda Hopper) adventures to keep her out of his sight but isn't satisfied until he gets his hands on his secretary's secretary Lynn (Maureen O'Sullivan) who happens to be having a romance with bank teller Tom (Norman Foster). That is quite a romantic entanglement! Anita Page is also in the film but has a very minor role. She receives good billing and I don't think she was utilized well. It's an enjoyable film with a rather serious ending.
Employees' Entrance (1933) - Warren William is back to his old antics in this film (well not really, in real life he was a very nice guy!). William plays Kurt Anderson, a tough executive who runs a department store with an iron fist. He has no compassion for anyone except for those who are willing to sacrifice everything, even happiness, in the name of business. Alice White plays Polly, a fashion model who Kurt hires on the side to be a romantic distraction to a busy-body executive. Kurt himself has his eye on another fashion model, Madeline, played by Loretta Young. He lures her into bed only to abandon her shortly after. When Madeline marries the boss' right-hand-man Martin West (Wallace Ford), they have to keep it a secret. Things get really messy when sex, booze and money get involved! If anyone tells you that they think old movies are tame, show them this film! In fact, sit them down and show them several Pre-Codes.
Dog lovers may not care for one particular scene in the film. Consider yourself warned.
Ex-Lady (1933) - I know that Bette Davis used to make fun of her early movies and this one is considered to be one of her flops. I have always disagreed with Bette Davis though and her early pictures are my favorites. In my honest opinion, this one is the best of the set. I enjoyed it so much and the story really resonated with me. It doesn't try to shock like other Pre-Codes do. Instead it takes an honest look at romantic relationships and marriage. Bette Davis plays Helen, a very accomplished artist whose illustrations are highly sought after. She's an independent woman and in charge of her own life and career. Gene Raymond plays Don, an advertiser and Helen's beau. Helen doesn't want to get married so instead Don sneaks in to her apartment and sleeps over regularly. Helen's parents find out and they feel pressure to marry but Helen fights it every step of the way. I could go on but this film is so good that I hope to devote an entire post to it. This film most likely flopped because it took an honest look at relationships instead of romanticizing the marriage ideal. That kind of truth doesn't make for popular entertainment. Everyone wants the fantasy, not the reality. This film is a new favorite indeed!
Forbidden Hollywood Collection: Volume 7 is available on DVD MOD from Warner Archive.
Warner Archive Wednesday - On (random) Wednesdays, I review one title from the Warner Archive Collection. I received Forbidden Hollywood Collection Volume 7 from Warner Archive for review.
The reason why I love precodes so much is because the stories were zippy, fast-paced and realistic (to a certain extent). I can totally understand why you would want to watch one every morning, before work. Most precodes are just over an hour long, so you *could* watch one without having to stop it halfway and leave the house.
ReplyDeleteI've been dying to get my hands on Forbidden Hollywood volumes 4 thru 7 but unfortunately, Warner's doesn't ship directly to Canada :(
Duh! I forgot to comment on Bette Davis ... Like you, I don't understand why she hated her early films so much either. A lot of them are quite enjoyable actually. One of my favourites is Marked Woman. Her later stuff is better, yes, but a little too melodramatic if you know what I mean.
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ReplyDeleteReally enjoyed your reviews -- I'm especially anxious to see EX-LADY now! SKYSCRAPER SOULS sounds like fun too.
ReplyDeleteI completely relate to you watching half or all of a pre-Code before work and think it's wonderful. That's a great way to start the day -- beyond enjoying the movie itself, as the day gets underway it's already a positive day because you had time to fit in something you love!
One reason I watch so many pre-Codes, series films like the Falcon, and "B" Westerns, especially during the week, is if I'm having a busy week I can still manage to watch half of one while I eat lunch, since I work at home, and finish it before I go to bed! I like to watch them all in one sitting when I can but if not, just as you describe, this is the next best thing!
Best wishes,
Laura
wow that's a good foursome of films! good reviews, interesting because i consider Ex Lady to be the least of the 4, lol! i'm sure it wont surprise you when i say Employee's Entrance is my fave of the bunch :) the ending of Hatchet Man is something else aint it? ditto for Skyscraper Souls!
ReplyDeleteI've got to watch all of these films! Heh. Say, does anyone of you have these on Netflix? I hope Warner Bros. starts working on its online library some more, and make it in such a way that it will have all of these in a website or a 'digi-pack' or something. Hope they've got backup systems, too, because that's a lot of film history for them, and well, lotsa files :)
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