La Chienne (1931) Director: Jean Renoir La Chienne (sometimes called "The Bitch") is the second sound film of the great Jean Renoir's career, son of painter Pierre-Auguste Renoir. It was later remade by Fritz Lang as Scarlet Street in 1945. Michel Simon, the lead actor, is best remembered for his roles in other films: Boudu Saved From Drowning and L'Atalante by Jean Vigo. … Continue reading La Chienne
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The Freshman
The Freshman (1925) Director: Fred C. Newmeyer and Sam Taylor The Freshman is the original college satire film. It was Harold Lloyd's second big hit comedy film after Safety Last! in 1923. The film was shot at a variety of California college campuses, including USC and the sports teams at the close of the film were actually Stanford and UC … Continue reading The Freshman
In Old Arizona
In Old Arizona (1928) Director: Irving Cummings Nominated for Best Picture, this film was based on the story Caballero's Way by O. Henry. It was first "talkie" western film. Its many filming locations included Zion National Park in Utah, Mission San Juan Capistrano, and the Mojave Desert. It tells the story of the Cisco Kid, … Continue reading In Old Arizona
Captain Blood
Captain Blood (1935) Director: Michael Curtiz Captain Blood, starring Errol Flynn, is wonderfully entertaining film. It is based on the 1922 novel of the same name. Much of the film was shot on a Hollywood sound-stage, however the epic battle scenes at sea were shot in Laguna Beach, CA. The film was a huge public … Continue reading Captain Blood
Curly Top
Curly Top (1935) Director: Irving Cummings Curly Top is a classic Shirley Temple film - one of her best. It features one of her best known sing-a-long songs: "Animal Crackers In My Soup." It was one of the best box office draws of 1935. The script is based on a 1912 story called "Daddy Long-Legs" and … Continue reading Curly Top
The Little Colonel
The Little Colonel (1935) Director: David Butler The first of four films starring Shirley Temple alongside Bill Robinson, The Little Colonel is a fun film of north and south comaraderie post-civil war, however portrayals of African Americans in the film will, no doubt, be troubling for modern audiences. Ironically, the famous scene of dancing on the … Continue reading The Little Colonel
Man on the Flying Trapeze
Man On The Flying Trapeze (1935) Director: Clyde Bruckman Starring W.C. Fields, Man on the Flying Trapeze is a hilarious film. It is actually a loose remake of a film called Running Wild originally made in 1927, also starring W.C. Fields. It tells the story of Ambrose Wolfinger a "memory expert" for a woolen manufacturer - a memory … Continue reading Man on the Flying Trapeze
Queen Christina
Queen Christina (1933) Director: Rouben Mamoulian Starring the famous Greta Garbo, Queen Christina is a historically inaccurate retelling of the story of Queen Christina of Sweden in the 17th Century. Christina assumed the role of Queen after the death of her father, but preferred the educated life of a scholar. Amidst pressures from her people to … Continue reading Queen Christina
The Gay Divorcee
The Gay Divorcee (1934) Director: Mark Sandrich The Gay Divorcee is a delightfully nostalgic film. It was the second of ten pairings for Fred Astaire and Ginger Rogers in movies. It was based on a musical of the same name. It was nominated for an Academy Award for Best Picture. The film takes place on … Continue reading The Gay Divorcee
The Man Who Knew Too Much
The Man Who Knew Too Much (1934) Director: Alfred Hitchcock When Francois Truffaut famously interviewed Alfred Hitchcock (published in 1967), Hitchcock remarked that The Man Who Knew Too Much (1934) was merely the work of an amateur. He later went on to create his own remake in 1956, which he much preferred. The film holds nothing in … Continue reading The Man Who Knew Too Much
