A Bill of Divorcement (1932)

A Bill of Divorcement (1932)

[4] Katharine Hepburn's affection for director George Cukor began with this, her feature film debut. A Bill of Divorcement stars John Barrymore as a man returning home after five years in a mental asylum. During that time, his wife (Billie Burke) and…
The Adventures of Robin Hood (1938)

The Adventures of Robin Hood (1938)

[7] Errol Flynn stars in his most enduring performance in this romantic action adventure that has captured audiences of all ages for more than three-quarters of a century. You know the story: In the absence of King Richard, Prince John seizes control…
Angels with Dirty Faces (1938)

Angels with Dirty Faces (1938)

[8] James Cagney and Pat O'Brien star as a criminal and a priest who grew up on the streets of New York, rekindling their friendship and mentoring a new gang of street rats through O'Brien's youth ministry. At first, the boys benefit…
Alice Adams (1935)

Alice Adams (1935)

[7] Katharine Hepburn stars as a poor young woman trying to enter snobbish social circles to find a husband in this first major film directed by George Stevens (Woman of the Year, Gunga Din). Hepburn's character eventually lands a doting beau (Fred…
Big Brown Eyes (1936)

Big Brown Eyes (1936)

[6] Cary Grant and Joan Blondell star as a private eye and a manicurist-turned-journalist who help solve a mystery that began as a jewelry theft ring and escalates to the accidental shooting death of a baby in Central Park. Yeah, Big Brown…
Frankenstein (1931)

Frankenstein (1931)

[7] James Whale (Waterloo Bridge, The Invisible Man) directs Boris Karloff in his iconic performance as Frankenstein's monster in this cornerstone of Universal Pictures' monster movie legacy. The adaptation from Mary Shelley's novel is somewhat loosey-goosey, but taken on its own merits,…
American Madness (1932)

American Madness (1932)

[7] In this early Frank Capra flick, romance blossoms and seeds of betrayal are sown during two days at a bank where a robbery leads to a public panic that threatens the bank's existence. Walter Huston plays the bank's owner, an optimist…
Rain or Shine (1930)

Rain or Shine (1930)

[6] Frank Capra directs this tale of a struggling circus troupe trying to put on a show in Everytown, America, before the money dries up and the performers go their separate ways. Joe Cook plays the circus manager, a very Groucho Marx-esque…
Ladies of Leisure (1930)

Ladies of Leisure (1930)

[8] Behold the glory of Barbara Stanwyck. One of classic Hollywood's sassiest broads makes a big splash in this early talkie that's leagues ahead of other early 30s flicks in terms of story, craftsmanship, and performance. Babs plays a "party girl" (we…
The Reckless Hour (1931)

The Reckless Hour (1931)

[5] Dorothy Mackaill stars as a young woman strung along by a wealthy suitor who eventually declines to marry her, souring her relationship with any man until a rich artist comes along and strikes her fancy. The Reckless Hour is cut from…