Corruption (1933) PRE-CODE HOLLYWOOD

Stars: Evalyn Knapp, Preston Foster, Charles Delaney
Director/Writer: Charles E. Roberts
A young lawyer is elected mayor of the city and promises to rid it of the corruption it's famous for. The problem is that most of the corruption he's vowed to eliminate is caused by the crooked political machine that helped elect him.

[@johnbeckett8028]

Ever since TV programs have gone in the toilet - a few years ago - I've turned to these great old movies and will never look back. Who the heck dreamed up reality shows? There has been a writers and actors strike? Yeah, when?

[@indrekkpringi]

90 years later and nothing has changed except it's 90 times worse

[@panacheluxury4262]

This gem speaks to the current climate. So, timely! Thank you for sharing this with us!

[@graemesmith6721]

It doesn't speak to the current climate. There has always been corruption. In fact, there was much less transparency in government back then than there is now.

[@solgato5186]

This climate never went away

[@Gustav1353]

Do you mean Trump?

[@kennethdegruchy5503]

Where did these films come from that I never heard of in my entire lifetime? It's fantastic.

[@aspenrebel]

Hollywood. 1933.

[@nameskhar1510]

Schhhh ... not so loud!

[@alexandrecosta2708]

A classic. Touches deep into the usual mud caverns, just retouch here and there and 80 years later the thorns are the same. Excellent.

[@markusmuller6173]

The threatening "performance" of antisocial people has quite "improved".

[@solgato5186]

@@markusmuller6173 More symbolic/stock elements to film back then.

[@markusmuller6173]

@@solgato5186 The first derivative of the previous silent film kabuki theater :)

[@rhondae8222]

I really enjoyed this movie. The lead, blonde actress' role was adorable.

[@leewilson77]

☺️

[@OliviaAnciso]

This is the first classic movie I've seen where a guy Flips the middle finger, so I had to repeat to make sure I saw that correctly! I hadn't read any of the comments prior to the movie of people commenting on Exactly that last gesture, so I'm glad I didn't cause that would of ruined it for me. Great Story with a Great Cast! Really like Preston Foster.

[@thiabrabson2533]

I agree, I'm glad I didn't read them too because it was a great ending💯

[@OliviaAnciso]

@@thiabrabson2533, Yes it was! I'm gonna Continue to ignore reading the comments on these old classics for now on till afterwards.

[@michellefalleur960]

​@tz3218 ... Well if that's the case, give me tame any day

[@stephenannese8228]

Saw Harold Lloyd flip the middle finger in one of his silents.....😮....!!

[@richardvarndelljr1756]

LOVE these old CLASSICS!! Best ending, I've ever seen. Thanks for this and all the gems you give us

[@paulmcginn5146]

right. going out of my mind, the ending. gave him the finger he did. god bless our old boys back in the day. totally thrilling, through and through

[@mallenjm252]

The opening scene is a powerful testimony of everything that is wrong with carreer politicians! If only we could all pray for honest leadership to be elected finally that loves God loves people and will take a firm stand to end the madness of corruption and greed and uphold The guidelines of our Constitution. We must support our police officers they are our brave first frontline superheroes that are Gods gift to humanity!

[@Drumming-Life]

Amen to this! Truth!! I wish that our politicians and citizens truly loved and had a real relationship with God. This country would be blessed and be a completely different place.

[@sandrakennedy3527]

VOTE TRUMP

[@NancyD757]

Better chance with Democrats!

[@garygreen3845]

Love these pre-code movies! He even flipped the bird at the end!!! LOL

[@mallenjm252]

1933 this film could read like tomorrows headlines ...Is anyone paying attention? God is patiently waiting for humanity to figure out..if nothing changes..NOTHING changes! If only humanity would pray for Gods people to be raised up into leadership! Love could and would save the day! #letlovewin ♡♡♡ #OurUnitedAmerica

[@graemesmith6721]

I would argue that government is much less corrupt and society much more just than back in 1933. Not only is government far more transparent due to advances in technology, but women and minorities enjoy far more opportunities now than they had then.

[@keithkirk8697]

Why do we have to pray to God to do something about it? Is She so stupid She doesn't see what's going on by Herself?

[@monaattianese9838]

This is really a timely and significant work.. corruption has been from the beginning of time....thank you pizza flix. 😇❤️❤️❤️

[@yukyukyuk1335]

Never more than today, November 11th 2020.

[@nameskhar1510]

From January, '21, what say you now? yuk yuk

[@yukyukyuk1335]

@@nameskhar1510 Never more than today, January 12 2021.

[@kendalson7817]

Jeez, that's one sassy secretary. Long smooch too. And the bird got flipped.

[@MerleOberon]

Anyone's who's worked in government knows nothings changed.

[@nameskhar1510]

2020 -1: Yes it HAS: IT'S BECOME W O R S E ...

[@jacquelinegibbs9483]

Great dialogue still used today, "sheep", "awake", and on and on. 020 and relevant. Image and secret without technology of today are used for wins, power and influence. Change is constant. At least in 1933 corruption is looked at. Thanks for this. From Virginia.

[@acehandler1530]

Don't forget "Scram!" 😇

[@gsmith5140]

Excellent expose on political and gov't corruption. That last gesture reminded me this is a pre-code film. 😉

[@smallies7154]

The kick in the arse???

[@Kate-fi8oh]

What does pre-code mean?

[@Demondragonkinggav]

@@Kate-fi8oh (it means this film was made before this code was put into play in Hollywood) The Motion Picture Production Code was the set of industry moral guidelines for the self-censorship of content that was applied to most United States motion pictures released by major studios from 1934 to 1968. It is also popularly known as the Hays Code, after Will H. Hays, who was the president of the Motion Picture Producers and Distributors of America (MPPDA) from 1922 to 1945. Under Hays' leadership, the MPPDA, later known as the Motion Picture Association of America (MPAA), adopted the Production Code in 1930 and began rigidly enforcing it in mid-1934. The Production Code spelled out what was acceptable and what was unacceptable content for motion pictures produced for a public audience in the United States. From 1934 to 1954, the code was closely identified with Joseph Breen, the administrator appointed by Hays to enforce the code in Hollywood. The film industry followed the guidelines set by the code well into the late 1950s, but during this time, the code began to weaken due to the combined impact of television, influence from foreign films, controversial directors (such as Otto Preminger) pushing boundaries, and intervention from the courts, including the Supreme Court.[1][2] In 1968, after several years of minimal enforcement, the Production Code was replaced by the MPAA film rating system. (For further information: en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Pre-Code_Hollywood#:~:text=Pre%2DCode%20Hollywood%20was%20the,%22%2C%20in%20mid%2D1934 )

[@13applejaxxx]

i must admit that I did NOT expect that gesture. That would not have ever made it in the scene if movie was made much later (Hays Code).

[@mallenjm252]

@@Demondragonkinggav Wow that was amazing thank you for your beyond informative post!

[@bambinoandmore46]

What a clever court scene. Avant-garde.

[@mikediamond353]

Yes, I agree. Boil it down to the important parts, we don't have to see the stenographer, bailiff, lawyers, gallery of people. It's a Railroad

[@monaattianese9838]

That ending is amazing the finger ouch⚡️😂🙃💥💥💥💥😜😝🤗

[@nishantsigdel1841]

Can't believe he shot him the finger at the end. Blew me away... God, I love these old movies... Thanks

[@PizzaFLIX]

Thanks for watching! May the Sauce be with you.

[@Riogi]

I love them too!

[@whiskeyriver4322]

Gotta be the best "uncensored" last 5 seconds of any movie, of the Golden Age of cinema! And for today, St Patrick's Day, I had to grab a Guinness and 60 minutes, to watch and feel the relevance of this movie in today's climate of filth and political corruption. Peace y'all

[@sandibeach7291]

+Whiskey River (Doc) Its more than 5 seconds, its more like 59 seconds.

[@mikediamond353]

59:30 is that American gesture slipped by the morality police. The drunk guy burping is Irish, and cooking the stomach of a man is hideous, except if he's Italian. 🍕 Cheers!

[@SamStuart07]

Pretty well stated for 1933, it hasn't changed that much since then.

[@bobsaturday4273]

actually it has , the level of insanity and criminality has sunken to the level of the roman empire before its collapse . the graft and corruption of these scum was nowhere near the outright traitorous acts of staged attacks upon america by criminal bush and consortation with foreign powers by trump

[@mikediamond353]

Let's not claim only one party is crooked, plenty of crime to go around. Probably gonna get much worse.

[@nameskhar1510]

Check out: "This Land Is Mine 1943", Charles Laughton, Maureen O'Hara (etc)

[@mikediamond353]

I can't remember even watching this one Did the movie contain any... You know... Boob Shots?

[@lml2RockeR8lml]

I had NO IDEA they flipped the bird back in 1933, but then again this is PRE-CODE Hollywood, I just love watching 1930s movies, almost all are under an hour... Quick and to the point

[@CosmosNut]

Thanks for the great movie upload. Funny how some things do not change?!

[@margaretgarrett6506]

V4ry

[@Prof.Tarfeather]

Wow! I can't believe that in a 1933 film the Reporter flips the bird at the end! This happened to be a pretty good Film.

[@markwinstonsuits8680]

bravo precode flipped bird finish... cool film!!

[@nancysanders2398]

PizzaFlix,Thanks So Much4 Sharing this very good,relevant film! I particularly,enjoyed the ending!! Preston Foster was so handsome& a good actor. The title of the film IS"right on!"

[@graemesmith6721]

He reminds me a lot of Ralph Bellamy.

[@dominicpiscopo7915]

This is the first time I ever heard Mischa speak without an accent

[@acehandler1530]

Nah - you could hear it a bit....'Out-the-window Carlo' 😂

[@queenashantee8432]

Actually a really good film and storyline..... illustrating at the basic level how political leaders are elected and used as puppets..... ty for da upload.....

[@waderaney7]

Preston Foster always seems so modern !!

[@brucehain]

He gave 'im the Finger!!!

[@thomashorton4435]

Quite the finger!

[@sharonlaudat3297]

I had to watch that few times to be sure! Pre-code indeed😆!

[@brainseagle]

Pre code

[@toussantlbisso]

Same Corruption Different Day ! Or everything Old is New again !

[@nameskhar1510]

"Every nation gets the government it deserves." Joseph de Maistre

[@eyeOOsee]

Good film! Thank you for posting and sharing. I love that one finger salute at the end! LOL!

[@ikutu7771958]

I can't believe that man shot him the finger at the end!!!!

[@remmymafia3889]

At the end, (59:29 mark) am I seeing the cat in the hat flipping the proverbial bird? in 1933 no less- wow! This is a pioneering thing here folks.

[@paulmcginn5146]

very fast pace, not one second goes by something doesn't happen. truly good movie.

[@deborahleone4351]

WHOA!!! Flipped him the bird in 1933! Doncha just love it?!?! 👏🏼👏🏼👏🏼👏🏼👏🏼👏🏼🙋‍♀️

[@neilangus4401]

The film is in excellent condition

[@quinktap]

Lol. 59:26. Was that the First Time in cinema the "Finger" was used. Lol. Priceless.

[@rhobot75]

Ooooo! Flipping him the bird at 59:30-- Perfect!!

[@thejerseyj5479]

Evalyn Knapp is gorgeous and Preston Foster is as handsome as a man can be. They make a beautiful couple and because of the invention of cinema, they'll live on that way forever.

[@nameskhar1510]

This has everything that I love in a golden oldie ... Many thanks for sharing this new found favorite. Oh, and Evalyn Knapp was "HOT"!

[@yukyukyuk1335]

Kind of like a cross between Mae West and Shirley Temple!

[@nameskhar1510]

Uhhhhh ... no!

[@victorireland8913]

Reminds me of Upton Sinclair's 1934 EPIC campaign for CA governor. It was called the birth of media politics. Hearst did everything he could to stop him; and succeeded, Great and brave movie. Spirited acting all round. Thanks. I enjoyed it a lot.

[@miasalazar1980]

Great movie and I rate it a 10.

[@Drumming-Life]

Evalyn Knapp is absolutely stunning. So gorgeous.

[@BRKJNH1929238]

This is a really entertaining film with a wildly optimstic ending. Thanks for posting

[@REALcatmom]

59:28 flipping the bird 😂

[@Gkuljian]

That ending should cause people to recognize just what puritan ethics have been shoved down our throats over the last century. I have binge watched these black and whites for the last several months. I come away with the sense that once we were uncensored and grown up and healthy. I dearly hope that we're returning to that. Think of the children, my ass.

[@DavidRice111]

I bet YOU could well do with some "puritan ethics"!

[@emf49]

What a surprise ending! Delightful!

[@marktuyet]

Wonderful . Thank you .

[@nancysanders2398]

I thought this was,a very good,realistic film! I liked the ending touch of “ the giving of the finger.” Classic touch,touché!

[@skeeterwayne]

Very good print. Thanks for posting.

[@williamneumyer7147]

$250 - still real dollars, before Roosevelt took all the gold.

[@mikediamond353]

All coined gold must be turned in to the federal government for safekeeping. Fannie and Freddie get married to uncle Sam!

[@markusmuller6173]

The threatening "performance" of antisocial people has quite "improved".

[@dariowiter3078]

Nifty!(Preston Foster) A reference to Clara Bow's final film, Hoopla(1933). 😁😁😁😁😁

[@SybilDefense]

I loved those old voting machines. My mother worked the local elections and I got to play with them (when it didn't count of course) when I was just tall enough to reach the lower levers.

[@speedysteve9121]

Decent flick. Some hot dialog around 4:00

[@Gabriella-r2h]

❤ Evelyn AND Natalie! ❤

[@briandelion49]

Hah! At 59:30 he's giving the guy the middle finger. Good old pre-code Hollywood! Love anything that has Evalyn Knapp. She deserved more than B movie roles.

[@soulvigilante]

Norm MacDonald made a great leading man in the pre-code days.

[@sergusbower1270]

Phenomenal once again

[@tonyprost5575]

he flips him the bird in the very last scene! never seen that before!!

[@vixtex]

And this is from 1933. Shit has never changed.

[@jamesbugbee6812]

Evalyn Knapp - hafta pull over & see her again 💜💜💜. And, given the chance, again.

[@MohamedElSayed-wz4im]

best movie and story

[@kpflo123]

Wow! Did u c the guy give the old corrupt father the finger, as he was leaving the office, at the 59:26 mark? Also, the could have used more of Natalie Moorhead, especially at that weak 'vanilla' ending. I just know she was itching to say something.

[@idontcareaboutyou7757]

LOL that mid finger at the end was unexpected, we had to wait the 80's to see something like that again.

[@leemorrison1700]

Wonderful old fashioned movie

[@JoeCannon1]

Wow! This was interesting for so many reasons. Thanks for uploading!!

[@huntingthekaiser6490]

They knew what that finger gesture meant 'way back in 1933 I guess. Great picture. Thanks!

[@fredneecher1746]

Who do you think invented it?

[@jimtownsend7899]

I knew I'd seen that face somewhere. Evalyn Knapp is reincarnated as Erin Napier, star of Home Town on HGTV. OK, so maybe Erin's chin is a bit bigger, but the resemblance is startling.

[@kathycurtiz4584]

OMG! 58:28 - Oh my, this was 1933!

[@mimiluvfromsf]

I know! A one finger salute and with gusto!!!

[@mikediamond353]

But your time is mistaken, 59:28

[@MissouriOldTimer]

59:27 I didn't think giving the bird back then was acceptable..lol

[@kpflo123]

I also saw that! Hahahaha! I played it back, just to make sure.

[@trapper1064]

I haven't looked it up yet, but I love word/phrase origins and am not familiar with giving the black bird -- though isn't it cooked in a pie (sorry, plural, aren't they cooked in a pie) and other bird references? Do tell...

[@nishantsigdel1841]

Me too....

[@denisejohnson2960]

@@trapper1064 I think that "black bird pie" is part of a nursery rhyme and was used in one of Agatha Christie's books "Pocket Full of Rye". I think it is also actually a pie.

[@VictoriaAlfredSmythe]

a good one

[@johnzube3611]

Many of the terms of territorial politics are very misleading. Politics, countries and their populations should be reorganised through voluntarism, just like religions and philosophies are and the diverse "ideals" and utopias. - JZ, 7.1.21.

[@mallenjm252]

He did shoot him the Bird really aprapo wonderful ending! Here's one bird for all our families of generations being needlessly screwed over by greedy crooked politicians! #OurUnitedAmerica #letlovewin ♡♡♡

[@barbaralanders6049]

Great movie. What a loyal assistant - she pays her own salary! But I didn't get the opening scene. What is it with the voting system of pushing buttons, and the numbers? Some party-election system of the 1930s?

[@samtopeka2535]

59:29 at end of film reporter gives the bird to corrupt pol.

[@chrissiemac8500]

So happening today...

[@ahinds100]

Great film.

[@divi2747]

did he really flip the bird there at the end?

[@laurakibben4147]

Those people and sets must have positively reeked with all the smoking EXPECTED in movies back then🤢🤢

[@bobsaturday4273]

Ellen's a real sweetheart

[@quinktap]

Very appropriate for the world of today. Nothing changes.

[@myrnagroger132]

SILLY.... but most things like corruption has not changed much....the only honest ones are ones that have not been caught...YET.(LS)

[@jimmymileski9716]

59:27 I wonder if "giving him the finger" meant the same thing in 1933?

[@brainseagle]

Corrupt government is still the story. Some things don’t change. That’s pre code too.

[@davidforbes6250]

BRANDY IT UP! ! ! ! ! !

[@graemesmith6721]

Did Charlie flip Gorman off at the end there? Well, it IS Pre-Code. Not a bad little flick, but a bit on the absurd side. Regan's thug pulls his gun on the mayor in his office? That's a pretty dumb move. How has Regan stayed out of prison this long? And then he does it again in the hallway! I understand the writer needed a way to frame Butler for murder, but it's done very clumsily. There wouldn't have been any powder burns on Butler's hands, so it would be obvious that he didn't fire the gun. And presumably, the bullet fired by the thug's gun would have embedded itself in the wall, so the cops could easily determine that was the bullet fired by the thug's gun, which means Butler couldn't have shot Regan, since the bullet that killed him didn't go through his body. And apparently, this major metropolitan city has only one coroner, so nobody else can examine Regan's body and determine that there was no bullet in it and that the bullet hadn't been removed. The courtroom scenes are shot in an interesting way, though, with completely black backgrounds, giving them an ominous, surrealistic look.

[@user-mh5cj8lw2j]

The reporter was Stone Cold Steve Austin before Stone Cold was

[@DavidRice111]

The police commish is played by Jason Robards (Sr), father of the better known "Triple crown" winner, Jason Robards (Jr). {ain't wiki wonderful?} @59:28~ Serious evidence that this film was "pre-code"!

[@waderaney7]

Evalyn was a cutie😊

[@stephenannese8228]

I believe the old corrupt dude with the sweet daughter was future actor Anthony Perkins (Psycho) real life dad/Osgood Perkins..!?

[@catholiccrusader5328]

Ms. Knapp was a pretty woman.

[@shahinbadsha8509]

Completely agree with you

[@irispoplar2440]

Hopefully you saw her in "Strange Marriage" --- she is charming in that one also & it's entertaining

[@robertwalker5521]

Quick witted Excellent delivery of her lines!

[@johnzube3611]

The term "the people" for whole populations, in all their varieties, is also very misleading. Only voluntary members of and subscribers to network societies, all under non-territorial autonomy, would be sufficiently alike to rightfully call them their people. - JZ, 7.1.21.

[@mrskenscott9643]

Things dont change. Except for the smoking.

[@MrUhwoody]

Good flick.

[@user-wc7mo9uo9o]

Interesting plot.

[@claztube]

In the final scene (59:29) our news reporter flips the bird at the elitist power figure; go figure PRE-CODE 1933!

[@kathleenmckeithen118]

Yep, when you put the guy in by hook or by crook, put the guy in that can be controlled. Someone who has sold himself out as a senator for decades. Someone who only cares for money. Yep. That's the way to do it, alright..............

[@theresaholguin699]

The American people need to vote for younger government officials. Instead of these that are getting voted into office. Biden is 77. We need young fresh ideas and young people would be just right. At least 45 years of age for voting into office a president.