Forbidden Hollywood

A collection of movies from "pre-Production Code" Hollywood from TCM, intriguing. Sounds racy, maybe even a little bit naughty, right? Not really, it may be "pre-Production Code", but most of these movies were made in the early 30s. So, if you're looking for titillating, try basic cable.

Forbidden Hollywood

Volume 1 - Baby Doll, Waterloo Bridge, Red-Headed Woman

Volume 2 - The Divorcee, A Free Soul, Three on a Match, Female, Night Nurse

Volume 3 - Other Men's Women, The Purchase Price, Frisco Jenny, Midnight Mary, Heroes for Sale, Wild Boys of the Road

I wasn't really expecting anything particularly salacious, but I was curious, so I added the list to my Netflix que. So far, results have been mixed.

Volume 1 Disc 2 overview: "The women are wicked and the stories steamy in these pre-Production Code Hollywood dramas. In Waterloo Bridge, the wealthy family of a Canadian solider forces him to give up the woman he loves when they learn she's a prostitute. (Mae Clarke, Douglas Montgomery and Bette Davis). Then, Jean Harlow is the gold-digging Red-Headed Woman who snags her married boss (Chester Morris) while carrying on another affair with a chauffeur (Charles Boyer)."

Waterloo Bridge was great. The description got quite a few details incorrect, but the movie was good. Red-Headed Woman, on the other hand, was a complete disappointment. I don't remember the main character's name so we'll call her GD (for gold digger). GD lacked any redeeming qualities and the object of her affections so lacked a backbone it's amazing he could walk upright. I quit watching before the chauffeur appeared, so I don't know if he was any better or how things ended up. Can't say I care.

So, if we're keeping score, we're 1 for 2 on the Forbidden Hollywood Collections, but I'm still intrigued and the movies are full of the big names of the day, so I'll keep them on the que. It may be a while before another disc ships; I've just discovered True Blood.