On the movie front, I brushed up on the last batch of Pre-Code Hollwood movies that I had recorded from TCM. They have been on the DVR for months and I was tempted many times to just erase them. But I finally got around to transferring the to DVD. And, boy, am I glad! These were by far the best of the bunch. The other pre-code movies, have been silly, exploitive little romps. Sure some had serious subjects, but the acting and directing weren't the best. These were all directed by William Wellman, who I now think is a directing master. It turns out, I have enjoyed many of his movies- and not known they were his. The three latest are "Midnight Mary", "Heroes for Sale", "Frisco Jenny" and "Purchase Price" Wellman was known for directing "men's" pictures with titles like "The Story of G.I. Joe" and "The Ox-Bow Incident" but he was a marvel at "women's" pictures- stories where the woman was the main character.
And Pre-Code these movies definitely are. Sex, drugs- and jazz (rock 'n roll hadn't been invented yet) are duly represented along with babies out of wedlock, prostitute rings, and a realistic portrayal of the desperation of the Depression. It's so odd to watch and hear these actors who you've seen as very chaste utter the words "Do you like sex?" or a main character-a war hero no less- addicted to morphine, arguing with his dealer and begging for half of the stash. These are just plain good movies too. The stories are great, they are involving and to the point (each movie is just about and hour and 10 minutes.) The actors are great, women like Barbara Stanwyck, Loretta Young,
