On YouTube: Saucy Pre-Code Moments Part 9, Skeletons in Classic Movies and Cats in Classic Movies

 

Hard to believe it, but here is the NINTH installment of Saucy Pre-Code Moments!

   

From fearful, to playful, skeletons make some of the most memorable moments in classic movies and cartoons.

   

This Classic Movie Cat Video stars a kind of kitty different from the pampered pets you see on social media. Far from the world of cat trees and fancy water fountains, they are often strays, frequently ill-tempered, feared by grown men, and even in some cases are the tiny, furry creatures who bring everything crashing down.

On YouTube: More Saucy Pre-Code Cartoons and a Brooch That Made the Rounds on the Warner Bros Lot

 

There are a lot of familiar patterns and themes in classic pre-Code Hollywood movies (the time period roughly between 1930-34), as can be seen in this collection of clips. Censors found it too racy, but these classic films were also honest, humorous, and adult. These moments were even more playful and creative in cartoons from the era, so much so that I did a part two!

   

The story of a brooch that made it into four Warner Bros films of the forties. Three of them classics, one of them essentially forgotten. Hollywood is known for recycling and this cloud brooch with its sparkling raindrops was no exception!

On YouTube: Saucy Pre-Code Cartoons, Joan Crawford Impressions, and Classic Hollywood Kisses

 

There are a lot of familiar patterns and themes in classic pre-Code Hollywood movies (the time period roughly between 1930-34), as can be seen in this collection of clips. Censors found it too racy, but these classic films were also honest, humorous, and adult. These moments were even more playful and creative in cartoons from the era.

   

Perhaps the most interesting thing about most Joan Crawford impressions is that they are usually actually an impression of Faye Dunaway playing Crawford in Mommie Dearest (1981). There's a dramatic difference in the way Carol Burnett portrayed the actress before the publication of the book that would inspire that film and the way impressionists, and particularly drag artists, would portray her after it came out. It's also interesting that the one film role from which many impressionists draw inspiration, What Ever Happened to Baby Jane? (1962) is one of Crawford's most subdued roles and one in which her costar Bette Davis and impressionists tend to steal the spotlight. 

   

A kiss is rarely “just a kiss,” as can be seen in these 100 classic movie screen kisses. Classic film kisses can be romantic, passionate, unusual, shy, violent, forced in an era that had a very different perspective on consent, and any number of emotions and situations in between.

On YouTube: Bette Davis Impressions and 'Toons and Grace Kelly

 

This collection of impressions and ‘toons featuring Bette Davis show some of the many ways she has been impersonated, interpreted, and lampooned in popular culture. As grand as she was, Davis always had a sense of humor about herself. She has been impersonated countless times over the years, and she’s been amused and even enthusiastic about the attention. In fact, she appears in this video doing an impression of herself, that is actually comedian Arthur Blake’s impersonation of the actress, which became the basis of many other impersonations of Davis. She explains all in the video.

    

The thought of classic film noir movies typically evokes shadowy black and white images, but there are lots of color films with the fatalistic themes, tropes, and even the shadows commonly seen in film noir.

On YouTube: Mae West Impressions and 'Toons and Saucy Pre-Code Moments Part Six

 

This collection of Mae West impressions in movies, television, and cartoons is only a small sample of the many times this influential funny lady has inspired impersonators and animators. The funny thing about most West impressions is that they have more in common with each other than the actual Mae West, despite typically being good enough that there’s no question who it is. (I think Craig Russell, here in Outrageous! [1977] and Too Outrageous [1987] gets the closest to capturing the true essence of Ms. West.)

   

There are a lot of familiar patterns and themes in classic pre-Code Hollywood movies (the time period roughly between 1930-34), as can be seen in this collection of clips. Censors found it too racy, but these classic films were also honest, humorous, and adult.

On YouTube: Jean Harlow Being a Bombshell and Robots and Portraits in Classic Movies

 

Jean Harlow was the first blonde bombshell and she made a huge impact in her short life. No dumb blonde, she was funny, sexy, charismatic, and was even developing her dramatic chops (her final scene with Myrna Loy in Wife vs. Secretary showed where she could have gone as a dramatic lead). Her death of uremic poisoning at age 26 was a significant loss. However, her short career was incredibly productive; we are fortunate to have many Harlow performances to watch and love.

   

Robots and mechanical beings, have been a part of the movies from the beginning. They’re an especially interesting aspect of the movies because while they can have many common similarities, like a slow gait, the ability to kill with eye lasers, stilted speech, and a habit of crashing through doors and windows, the way they have been portrayed on screen is also wildly creative and varied. I haven’t strictly gone with the definition of robot in this collection, because I think it’s interesting how mechanical people/automatons are similar in so many ways to the machine-run robots that followed (I also snuck one cyborg in there).

   

Despite lacking motion, portraits can be a powerful part of a movie, driving the plot, inspiring emotion in characters, and creating mood and drama simply by existing. This collection of clips shows how portraits can create romance, comedy, horror, and mystery.

On YouTube: A Tribute to Shelley Duvall and More Goofy Monsters

 

I was saddened by the passing of Shelley Duvall, because she has long been one of my favorite actresses. She was a gentle soul, who was wildly talented both as an actress and a producer. While this video contains many of the best moments of the late, great Duvall, it isn’t meant to be a “best-of” tribute, but rather a collection of clips that captures the unique essence of this versatile and unusually appealing actress who elevated every moment she appeared on the screen.

   

The sci-fi and horror genres are packed with creative and often unintentionally hilarious creatures. Though in their time there were plenty of young movie fans who feared them, there were some which inspired laughter from the beginning. This video shares the diversity in these creature designs and the hilarious similarities in creature behavior and how people reacted to them.

On YouTube: The "Sissy" Stereotype in Classic Hollywood and Grand Dame Guignol, AKA "Hagsploitation"

 

In a time when homosexuality was illegal, 1930s Classic Hollywood films commonly had so-called “sissy” characters. Clearly coded as gay, their effeminate demeanor was presented for laughs and ridicule. While these characters were meant to be mocked, they triumphed in their own way. They were bold in expressing their identity, were typically engaged in careers they were passionate about, and lived how they pleased, without caring what anyone thought of them.

  

Known as Hagsploitation, Psycho-Biddy, and the more elegant Grande Dame Guignol, there was a subgenre of movies primarily in the 60s and 70s in which middle-aged to elderly screen queens extended their careers in horror. While many found these roles demeaning to the actresses, these genre films would often effectively explore the anxiety, fear, frustration, and powerlessness a lot of these actresses, and women their age, felt in a society that either scorned or forgot them as they aged. They were also a great vehicle from them to cut loose with bold, unhinged, and often delightfully campy performances.

On YouTube: Joan Crawford, Monsters, Reefer, Parties, and Vamps!

 

 I have been extremely occupied with my YouTube channel lately. Every time I finish a video, I get a new idea and can't resist getting started again. 

I made the above video about Joan Crawford because I was struck by how dramatically her image changed throughout the years. Much more than the change of appearance that comes with aging and changing times, she transformed her persona in a remarkable way.

   

The goofy monsters video came from my pure love of these inventive, if not usually terrifying sci-fi movie creatures and is also an appreciation of what great fun genre movies can be.

   

While I'm not personally a fan of smoking weed, I find the ill-informed hysteria reflected in classic movies about getting high both fascinating and hilarious. I knew YouTube would demonetize this one, but it was too interesting a subject to resist.

 

There's nothing like an epic party to up the excitement in a movie. This video is both about the fun of those celebrations and how much they have changed over the decades.

   

While many classic film fans know that Theda Bara was a famous movie vamp, I don't think quite as many know just how many more movie vamps there were in the silent era. This video is a brief introduction to those early movie vamps and also offers a look at the way the archetype was later parodied in 1950s films.

On YouTube: Saucy Pre-Code Moments Part Four

 

There are a lot of familiar patterns and themes in classic pre-Code Hollywood movies (the time period roughly between 1930-34), as can be seen in this collection of clips. Censors found it too racy, but these classic films were also honest, humorous, and adult in a way movies never were again in quite the same way, both in classic movies and on to modern times. 

I have so much fun making Pre-Code videos. A part five is coming. Here's what I've done so far: 

Saucy Pre-Code Moments

Saucy Pre-Code Moments Part Two 

Saucy Pre-Code Moments Part Three 

On YouTube--Magnificent Marlene Dietrich Moments: The von Sternberg Years

 

The seven films director Josef von Sternberg made with Marlene Dietrich are a remarkable record of the filmmaker’s obsession with his star. From the cheap cabaret of The Blue Angel to the grandeur of The Scarlet Empress, von Sternberg explored different settings, but coached Dietrich to maintain a familiar array of characteristics in each film. From the way she moved and spoke, to the little bits of business that gave the woman she played life, there is one Dietrich who rises out of the seven women she played for the director who made her not only a star, but a legend. 

Films in video: 

The Blue Angel (1930) 

Morocco (1930) 

Dishonored (1931) 

Shanghai Express (1932) 

Blonde Venus (1932) 

The Scarlet Empress (1934) 

The Devil is a Woman (1935)

On YouTube: Christmas in Classic Movies

 

There are many common themes and characteristics when it comes to Christmas in classic movies (Santa, gifts, trees with SO much tinsel), but there are also several ways vintage Hollywood films play with the idea of what the holiday should look like and how people feel about it. This compilation shows both those familiar patterns and the more rebellious points of view. 

New Video: Memorable Film Noir Moments

 

There are a lot of familiar elements in classic film noir: heavy use of voiceover, femme fatales, rain-soaked night streets, wrinkled trench coats, and a deep sense of fatalism. Here I also explore the stylized sex and violence and desire for escape, wealth, and possession found in many films of this singular style of cinema. 

Films featured: 

The Big Heat (1953) 

Kiss of Death (1947) 

Night and the City (1950) 

Kansas City Confidential (1952) 

99 River Street (1953) 

The Hunted (1948) 

The Crooked Way (1949)

In a Lonely Place (1950) 

The Big Sleep (1946) 

Laura (1944) 

Blast of Silence (1961) 

Murder, My Sweet (1944) 

The Big Combo (1955) 

Wicked Woman (1953) 

Too Late for Tears (1949) 

Detour (1945) 

Kiss Me Deadly (1955) 

The Maltese Falcon (1941) 

Gun Crazy (1950) 

Double Indemnity (1944) 

One Girl’s Confession (1953) 

Deadline at Dawn (1946) 

This Gun for Hire (1942)

New Video---Japanese Vampires: The Bloodthirsty Trilogy

 

There have been endless variations of vampire movies since the beginning of cinema. One of my favorite interpretations is in a trio of Japanese classic films directed by Michio Yamamoto and co-written by Ei Qgawa. Known as Bloodthirsty or The Bloodthirsty Trio, they were filmed at Toho studios in the early 70s and offered an interesting East meets West take on the eternal bloodsucker. 

Films featured: 

The Vampire Doll or The Bloodthirsty Doll from 1970 

Lake of Dracula or Bloodthirsty Eyes made in 1971 

Evil of Dracula or The Bloodthirsty Rose from 1974

On YouTube: 100 Years of Movie Vampires

 

While there are many commonly known characteristics of vampires, from blood and crucifixes to sunlight and garlic, there has always been a lot of variety in the way these blood drinkers are portrayed in movies across time, genre, style, and world culture. This collection shows the similarities and differences across a century of cinema. I thought it was the perfect way to celebrate the start of Spooky Season!

On YouTube: James Cagney Gets Physical

 

James Cagney became famous for his slick way with street-smart wisecracks, but he was also a remarkably physical actor, from dancing and action sequences to little bits of business with his expressive hands and face. This compilation explores the many ways this energetic star expressed his physicality in his roles. It was such a fun video to make. I love watching Cagney at work!

On YouTube: The Worst of Classic Juvenile Delinquent Films

 

I had a blast putting together this video about 1950s juvenile delinquent flicks. Full of stick-ups, fights, leather, drugs, and “teens” who look like they’re in their 20s or even 30s, there’s nothing quite like them. These are classic movies because their awkward mix of stern, moralistic warnings and bold exploitation are endlessly entertaining.

On YouTube: Bette Davis Completely Loses it

 

My latest on YouTube: a tribute to the fiery power of Bette Davis, the actress who inspired my lifelong passion for classic movies.

On YouTube: 50 MORE Saucy Pre-Code Moments

 

I had so much fun making my 50 Saucy Pre-Code Moments video that I had to do a part two. There are a lot more clips I want to share, so it is likely that I will eventually make a part three! This period of Hollywood film history is endlessly amusing.

On YouTube: Barbara Stanwyck Completely Loses it for Four Minutes and Cary Grant Gets Physical

 

I have been having a blast making YouTube videos lately. My two most recent uploads are tributes to a pair of my favorite actors: Barbara Stanwyck and Cary Grant. I'm going to be posting more frequently on the channel, as I have a lot of things to explore, so if you haven't already, follow me over there to keep in the loop!