TCM Archives - Forbidden Hollywood Collection, Vol. 1 (1933)

30's Classics

We obtained this collection because we were curious to see films that were considered forbidden during the 1930's and it is interesting to realize what Hollywood gets away with today, vs. what was considered taboo in the early part of the 20th Century.

To briefly remind ourselves of what the 30s was all about... the USA's population was 123 million people, living in 48 states with a life expectancy of 58 years for men and 61 for females. People were making an average salary of $1,400 and unemployment had risen to 25%. What once was known for the land of opportunity had become the land of desperation and Americans fell into the Great Depression. Rather than a society where people advanced in the natural progression of economic means, Americans experienced a time where survival became the keyword and while democracy prevailed, the attitude and lifestyle of many focused on climbing at whatever costs, to reach monetary power.

Baby Face

Barbara Stanwyck is a favorite of ours, so we selected this movie as first in the collection, and were delighted to see a very young Stanwyck playing the part of a young woman who lives her life struggling to make ends meet by working for her despicable father, who attempts to "sell" her favors to his clients. A friend gives her books for her to develop her mind and he counsels her to learn the works of Friedrich Wilhelm Nietzsche so she learns "to use men" to get herself out of the life she has and to move up until she reaches "her potential."

So... she moves to New York City and "uses men" all the way to the top, climbing from floor to floor until she reaches the boardroom. At some point, she meets her match, a man that sees through her manipulation of men to acquire wealth, and astutely he turns it around, sending her to work at one of the bank's branches in Paris, France. They meet again and finally this woman finds love and marriage and is confronted with the perennial quandary: now she has much but must give it all up to save the man, whom for the first time in her life, inspires her to say "I love you." Excellent film.

Red-Headed Woman

Jean Harlow performs as a young woman in search of fortune and she sets her eyes on the "boss," played by Chester Morris. She takes the mail to his home and makes advances to him, so preposterous that it is sickening to watch. By now we were realizing that aside from these movies surfacing forbidden topics, such as undressing in front of the cameras, which is a mild exposure of arms and legs, or alluding to sexual scenes may have been seen as sinful, the topics were about men and how easily they fall pray to a woman willing to do anything for their money, power or protection.

The main character is able to break her boss's marriage, destroying his family and happiness. As the plot thickens, she moves on to another wealthy older gentleman, but this time her new husband hires a private detective and soon has proof of her betrayal to both husband and lover, for while the older gentleman takes her out in style, she is also having an affair with his French chauffeur, played by Charles Boyer.

The movie has a rather poignant subject for the times, it is interesting to watch, but the performances are a bit contrived.

Waterloo Bridge

The final film in this collection is about a chorus girl played by Mae Clarke who is forced to walk the streets to make ends meet. A soldier played by Kent Douglass is the well to do man she has been looking for, but these are the times when a girl from the lowest class is not permitted to marry, however pure her intentions are, into a wealthy family.

Frankly, it is remarkable how the movies of the 30s seem to have substance and tell stories that teach the consequences of our actions. While society was not yet as advanced as ours, the effort is worth seeing and enjoying. Don't miss this collection!


October 20, 2008

Crystal Clear

It's amazing that these movies have never hit dvd before!!! They have crystal clear sound and picture with a documentary by Robert Osbourne. The thing that caught my attention upon this product was the pre-release version of Baby Face. Those few minutes of film that were cut are sooo essential.
If you like movies from the early 30's then you'll LOVE this collection. I reccomend it! October 4, 2008

God bless Turner

Only Turner Entertainment would pull these out of the vaults, clean them up and offer them on DVD. Other than beating young children without just cause (such as spanking) and third degree methods by the police, the most notorious was the sexual situations. Dialogue that would not make us blush today, pushed the limits of decency back then.

In Baby Face (1933) Barbara Stanwyck has her [...] fondled and sold for sexual favors in a factory. This TCM collection features both the theatrical-release version familiar for decades and a recently rediscovered preview version that is markedly superior, runs five minutes longer, and includes more sexual liaisons.

Waterloo Bridge (1931 version) was purchased by MGM, and locked in the vaults because of the 1940s remake with Vivien Leigh. Here, we learn that prostitutes revealed what sexual favors they performed by the color of their high heels.

The transfer quality is superb. Recommended at any price. Hollywood filmmaking was never more fascinating.
September 25, 2008

Welcome Dose of Reality

Thanks to TCM for providing a long-overdue look at what Hollywood was doing before mindless censorship established a stranglehold on creativity. Just think, after the early-mid-'30s, married couples had to sleep in twin beds for decades of movies and TV. These pre-Code gems give a more realistic look at life in the late-'20s/early-'30s. I enjoyed this set so much, I've since added volume 2 to my collection. Highly recommended! September 15, 2008

Women's power

Three movies in that box, but only one theme. To quote Margo Channing - or Bette Davis - or Jo Mankiewicz - in 'All about Eve' : ''Funny business, a woman's career". If you are born female - and poor - you have two handicaps and you have to fight for life. But you're said to have power on men. So use it or they will use you.
Here we have three really different women, and three different lives.
In "Waterloo Bridge" (1931 directed by James Whales the woman is a victim of poverty, loneliness and war. Mae Clarke plays an ex- chorus girl who became a prostitute to survive. Kent Douglas is a young soldier who falls in love with her without knowing her profession. She loves him too but she can't accept to marry him. None of these actors had big career but they gave great performances and the supporting cast - including Bette Davis as the soldier sister - is excellent too.
In "The Red Headed Woman" (1932 directed by Jack Conway) she is the devil. Jean Harlow uses her beauty to break her boss's marriage, and marry him, then cheat on him and on every man she meets. But why are the men so weak in front of a woman's leg ? Great performances of Jean Harlow (who else could have be so evil ?) and Una Merkel.
In "Baby face" (1933 directed by Alfred E. Green) The victim take revenge. "Life is an exploitation so exploit yourself". Barbara Stanwyck is an ambitious girl who has been used by her father (he "sold" her to protect his bar). Then she decides to use men as staircases to make her way, literally floor by floor, to the top of a New York office building. And on the top floor, she finds love. Fabulous performance of Barbara Stanwyck who carries the all movie almost alone - with the beautiful St Louis Blues music
July 4, 2008

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