Call of the Wild (1935)

Call of the Wild (1935)

[8] William Wellman directs Clark Gable in this loose adaptation of Jack London's classic novel. While the book is entirely from the point-of-view of Buck, a weathered sled dog, this film version focuses more on human characters. Gable and his comedic sidekick…
Other Men’s Women (1931)

Other Men’s Women (1931)

[7] Two train engineers put their friendship to the test when one of them falls in love with the other's wife in this noteworthy drama from William Wellman (Battleground, The High and the Mighty). I really enjoyed the first half of this…
The Bride of Frankenstein (1935)

The Bride of Frankenstein (1935)

[8] Director James Whale (Waterloo Bridge) was given free reign by Universal Pictures to craft a sequel to his highly successful Frankenstein. The result is a more daring and stylized film considered by many to be the most remarkable in all the…
Night Nurse (1931)

Night Nurse (1931)

[8] Barbara Stanwyck stars in this pre-code drama about a scrappy young nurse trying to save two sick children from an evil chauffeur (Clark Gable) whose poisoning them so he can marry their drunk mother (Charlotte Merriam) and steal their trust fund.…
Murder! (1930)

Murder! (1930)

[5] Alfred Hitchcock's first sound film is emblematic of his usual content, if not his his trademark style and suspense. Murder! centers around an actress (Diana Baring) found in a fugue state next to a bloody fire poker and a murdered acquaintance.…
Merrily We Go to Hell (1932)

Merrily We Go to Hell (1932)

[5] Sylvia Sidney (Madame Butterfly, Sabotage) plays a rich girl smitten with a drunkard. Fredric March co-stars as her somewhat charming but sobriety-challenged lover, effectively doing a dry-run for the type of role for which he'd receive an Oscar nomination five years…
I’m No Angel (1933)

I’m No Angel (1933)

[7] Mae West wrote and stars in I'm No Angel, one of her more absurd and uncompromised outings, released before Hollywood began imposing its Production Code on films. After the Code, West's sultry and witty charm would be considerably watered down. I'm…
The Awful Truth (1937)

The Awful Truth (1937)

[8] Irene Dunne and Cary Grant star as a couple who file for divorce, then proceed to thwart each other's attempts to socialize with new partners. Both are too proud to admit they still have feelings for the other until the divorce…
Young and Innocent (1937)

Young and Innocent (1937)

[7] A young man falsely accused of murder (Derrick De Marney) escapes his hearing and sets out to prove his innocence, dodging the police and falling in love with a blonde young woman (Nova Pilbeam) who helps him against her better judgment.…
Mr. Smith Goes to Washington (1939)

Mr. Smith Goes to Washington (1939)

[8] Jimmy Stewart gives a career-defining performance in this Frank Capra classic about a celebrated boy scout leader (Stewart) who gets chosen to fill a deceased senator's seat in the U.S. congress. His party assumes Stewart will be a doting yes-man, seriously…