Essential Cinema: Pre-Code Barbara Stanwyck

Essential Cinema
PRE-CODE STANWYCK
AUGUST 6-27
AFS AT THE MARCHESA (6226 MIDDLE FISKVILLE ROAD)
Hollywood's Production Code was established to centrally manage all the various censorship needs that were imposed upon films by various review boards or religious authorities. Rather than make 20 separate cuts of a movie to accommodate the needs of all, a sweeping platform of restrictions (colloquially called the "thou-shalt-nots") was established in Hollywood and administered there. Fortunately for all of us now, the enforcement of the code was toothless and ineffectual before 1934, when Joseph Breen took over the office and began rigorously forcing adherence. When we watch the films made during the pre-code period there is a shock of recognition. These people are a lot like us. They have the same drives, the same appetites, and often speak in the same rude language as us.
Simultaneous with all of these developments, a young woman arrived in Hollywood from New York, wife of a much better known performer named Frank Fay. Her upbringing had been especially tough, she had been forced to fend for herself without parents after her mother died and her father abandoned the children. As a teenager she began working as a showgirl in some fairly tough dives. Later, she became a stage actress on the great white way. By the time she arrived in the movie capital her deceptively innocent eyes had seen the human condition in all its various guises. She was tough as nails and had years of experience on the stage. She was ready to play working class heroines, hard on the outside with tantalizing dimensions of vulnerability. She was the ultimate pre-code screen goddess.
www.austinfilm....

[@keithkoenig5320]

Stanwyck's Pre-Code work is untouchable. She was a true force of nature. A fascinating actress of her time. 👏

[@davidpar2]

“Oh yeeeh?” is quintessential 1930s

[@patrickryan1515]

Tough broad - YEAH!

[@prisonersforprofit]

i see these clips and think of bonnie parker, along with millions of depression era girls gobbling movies like this up.

[@willgarcia4073]

What movie is 0:34?

[@jesusjavierondo6774]

The miracle woman 1931

[@maxwellalberts7332]

Isn't that Joan Crawford she slaps?

[@Belacroix5]

Maxwell Alberts no

[@tomc8115]

I believe that is Dorothy Burgess getting throttled. Ladies they Talk About. 1933. One of her best Pre-code flicks

[@rossmartenak5517]

First of all, so-called 'Barbara Stanwyck" was not her real name. I think it's a disgrace and shows complete disrespect of one's heritage to change their birth name, unless when a woman gets married. If a woman gets married and DOESN'T change her last name, that shows disrespect to her husband. There was absolutely nothing wrong with the name "Ruby Catherine Stevens". The change was probably made as a result of pressure from a greedy Business Manager and or Studio, with respect to perceived anticipation of greater recognition and subsequent monetary gain?!

[@danielthoman7324]

Sit down and shut up.