Barbara Stanwyck at 100

For many, Barbara Stanwyck epitomizes pre-code film: her portrayals of hard-edged, strong women who were not afraid to use their sexuality to get ahead in the world most definitely contributed to stricter enforcement of the Hays Code starting in 1934. The fact is, Stanwyck remained a unique presence in American film and television in a career spanning over 50 years. Though one could argue that she often played variations on the "tough cookie" role, her range was quite extraordinary - film noir ("Double Indemnity," "The Strange Love of Martha Ivers"), westerns ("Forty Guns," "The Big Valley"), comedy ("The Lady Eve," "Ball of Fire"), tearjerkers ("Stella Dallas"), thrillers ("Sorry, Wrong Number"),and drama ("Meet John Doe").

Many repertory film theatres are running Stanwyck tributes this year in honor of the 100th anniversary of her birth (July 16th, 1907). Besides the just-wrapped tribute at the Brooklyn Academy of Music, a lengthy series is running at the UCLA Film and Television Archive through June 16th. If you are not familiar with her trademark raw emotion and take-no-prisoners demeanor, get to know Barbara by checking her out on the big screen or on DVD, where she is fairly well represented.

The New Yorker's Anthony Lane does a nice job of summing up Stanwyck's allure in this recent "A Critic at Large" piece.

Pre-Code Musicals

Two repertory houses on different coasts are spotlighting pre-code musicals on their schedules this winter and spring. First, the Stanford Theatre in Palo Alto will be showing early "all singing, all dancing" films every weekend from February to April. Pre-code movies include:

Monte Carlo (2/24, 2/25) - This early Ernst Lubitsch talkie from 1930 stars Jeanette McDonald.

One Hour With You (3/24, 3/25) - More Lubitsch magic, co-directed by George Cukor.

Footlight Parade (4/7, 4/8) - Busby Berkeley's kaleidoscopic chorepgraphy dazzles in this 1933 musical.

The eclectic winter schedule also features some rare film noir as well as Val Lewton classics.

3000 miles away, Film Forum continues to bring unsung and forgotten classic films to new audiences, this time with an eclectic series of B Musicals. Though most films on the schedule are from the late '30s through the '40s, there are a few nights featuring rarely-screened pre-code musicals.

Sitting Pretty (4/1) - A pre-Fred Astaire Ginger Rogers is pared with Jack Haley in this Paramount production from 1933. Also stars Thelma Todd and Jack Oakie.

Torch Singer (4/1) - Another Paramount gem starring a sultry Claudette Colbert as a New York City nightclub chanteuse. "The worst woman in New York...sang the best love songs!"

Melody Cruise (4/4)- Where else could you see a pre-code "ice ballet?"

Moonlight and Pretzels (4/4) - William Frawley (Fred Mertz) is in this intriguingly titled Universal low-budget musical.

Hips, Hips, Hooray! (4/10) - Wheeler and Woolsey's corny jokes alternate with catchy tunes and scenes of scantily-clad models in this sexy Pre-Code musical.

College Rhythm (4/11) - "Wanna buy a duck?" comic Joe Penner stars in this college musical released at the end of the Pre-Code era.

Song of Love (4/15) - Once thought lost, this 1929 musical features Eve Arden in her film debut.

Also on 4/15, a program of restored Vitaphone shorts from 1926-1930 featuring Broadway and vaudeville stars of the era.

Check out the rest of the schedule for more movie musicals. Though they may not have the budget or name recognition of "Dreamgirls," many of them are sure to get your toes a tapping.

RKO Lost and Found at Film Forum

New York's Film Forum is once again offering some pre-code rarities in its late winter schedule. The six long-thought lost RKO films recently unearthed by Turner Classic Movies (mentioned in this previous post) will be shown off in their newly restored 35mm splendour. Four of the six films were originally released from 1930-1934. The movies will be screened in three double bills from February 23 through March 1. TCM will be premiering these films later in 2007.

Fox Before the Code at New York's Film Forum

Pre-code movie fans in New York City have some early Christmas presents in store with Film Forum's three-week "Fox Before the Code" series, running from December 1st through the 21st. Many of the titles in the series are rarely screened - sadly, Fox Movie Channel (unlike Time Warner's Turner Classic Movies) generally shies away from pre-1940 fare. Though many of Fox's silents and early talkies are lost, it is nice to see such a treasure trove offered.

On the bill:

Several early Spencer Tracy films, including the delightful "Me and My Gal" with a saucy pre-"Dark Shadows" Joan Bennett, paired with Jean Harlow in "Goldie," and "Quick Millions," a 1931 gangster flick with George Raft.

"Advice to the Lovelorn," a 1933 comedy with pre-code favorite Lee Tracy.

"Blood Money," with an outrageous, censor-provoking turn from Frances Dee.

and for the titles alone: "3 on a Honeymoon," "Girls Demand Excitement," "Coming Out Party," and "She Learned About Sailors."

Who could resist? Many of the films will have new 35mm prints. Hopefully, some of these films will make their way out west after their runs at the Film Forum.

13th Festival of Preservation in Los Angeles

The UCLA Film and Television Archive shows off some of its recent restoration handiwork with the 13th Festival of Preservation at the James Bridges Theater from July 20th-August 19th. The festival runs the gamut from well-known titles to forgotten films, silent movies to TV episodes.

The month-long program schedule includes a few pre-code features and shorts:

Vitaphone Varieties (July 27th, 7:30pm): Early sound shorts from 1927-1930 feature music and vaudeville acts from the era.

The Barker (7/27): This 1928 early talkie starring Dorothy Mackaill, Milton Sills, and Douglas Fairbanks, Jr. was a silent film that had Vitaphone sound sequences added into finished product for its official premiere.

Dynamite (July 30th, 7pm): Cecil B. DeMille's first sound feature.

Many silent rarities are also being presented with live accompaniment.

Two films based on Thorne Smith's comedic fantasy novels also get dusted off during the festival. The better known of these is the original "Topper," Hal Roach Studio's whimsical screwball comedy featuring Cary Grant and Constance Bennett as the two of the wittiest and most stylish ghosts you'd ever meet. But the real buried treasure is "Turnabout." This 1940 comedy, was directed by Roach and stars the lovely Carole Landis and a very funny turn by John Hubbard. This gender-bending comedy holds up well thanks to a great supporting cast (Franklin Pangborn, Marjorie Main, Mary Astor, and Donald Meek). I got a sneak preview of "Turnabout" at the San Francisco International Film Festival in April, and I can tell you the 35mm print looks wonderful.