The Devil Plays (1931) PRE-CODE WHODUNIT

PizzaFLIX Presents CLASSIC MOVIE MONDAY
Stars: Jameson Thomas, Florence Britton, Thomas E. Jackson
Director: Richard Thorpe
In this pre-Code “Whodunit” by Chesterfield Pictures, a crime novelist’s detective skills are put to the test when he attends a posh party at an exclusive mansion for a coterie of New York's rich and famous.

[@meechipeachi]

Thank you so much for your service Of finding and uploading these movies. I've had a good bit of mental stress the last many days, and this is gonna be so nice for me to wind down with. Peace be with you.

[@rosajimenez7777]

the outfits so formal, and the way they spoke to each other, so fascinating.

[@winniem1989]

love the style of back then, the elegant suits and gorgeous dresses

[@reynaldoflores4522]

Imagine the men wearing flip-flops, shorts, tank tops and ( reversed ) baseball caps ! 😮

[@crevecouer6772]

Women find it sexy for men to dress that way. If women want to stop it don’t accept it.

[@bethparker1500]

The "goofy cop" is not so goofy. Thank you for finding this gem

[@lightningbug276]

Pre-code films are the best!

[@erikao9189]

🎉❤🎉❤ The dresses, suits, hats, hairstyles are so wonderful! 🎉🎉🎉

[@maryt9631]

Given the age of this one, it was very good. Decent plot and acting, good sound and picture. Thank you

[@rhondae8222]

Great! A Classic Whodunit movie. Thank you. 😊

[@maryhoffmann9512]

Such a clear print and a super fun movie that I don't remember at all, thank you!

[@junheceta268]

Pre-Code films are far superior in writing and characterization compared with a lot of the stuff produced at the height of the Hays Code’s enforcement.

[@miapdx503]

There was no limit, no preconceived, formulaic, scripts. They were daring, realistic...then the code people stepped in and began to dictate what we should and should not see. People had the same problems we have now. There was wealth, and there was poverty. There was hardship and there was good times. Then they decided to sanitize the world. No mention of messy things, like divorce and abortion, babies born "out of wedlock," which was scandalous. Now we live in a world of "baby mamas" and "baby daddies," the sanitizing didn't work, did it. While Hollywood pretended that we lived in a perfect world, the world slowly devolved...except for murder. Hollywood pushed murder as entertainment, and we became a murderous society. Look at us...we're not safe anywhere. A missing child was a headline. Now they can't print enough newspapers to cover all the missing children, every day. No, we haven't become better...😔

[@BritInvLvr]

I love how they would skirt around risqué subjects with innuendos.

[@FrankieBlueEyes]

Agreed. 👏

[@MrEnoBeano]

I was saying that to myself a couple of days ago as I have been watching these movies now for a couple of months. Loving it.

[@MrEnoBeano]

And without using foul words. So mature.

[@chimknee]

Nicely done. Thanks.

[@Ryansghost]

The good old days, when moustaches were thin, lapels were wide, and doctors tested for poisons by tasting the sample.

[@llongone2]

"Come along, sister" - Now I want to use that line.

[@meganefields]

Great print and movie! I love this type of mystery and it was a treat to see a new one. Or an old “new” one 😂

[@pfenixllc4058]

The beautiful gowns, jewelry, hair. To die for...

[@90FF1]

Having a murderer in one's coterie can really mess up a weekend. Pre Code rules! Thanks for another PHun PHilm from Pizza PHlix

[@PizzaFLIX]

🍕🍕🍕

[@NancySanders-om4ic]

Interesting,movie,somewhat convoluted tho. People actually did call police officers "flat foot," sounded funny,amusing to me.Thank you,for showing this movie,PizzaFlix.

[@footfault]

Very entertaining movie. Loved it. Thank you.

[@Equaliser9955]

Love these movies Thank you for the upload. I noticed Richard Tucker was also murdered in The Benson Murder Case. Did he ever make a film when he wasn’t murdered ?😂😂😂😂

[@yankeegirl1836]

Four years into the Great Depression. Most of the audience that could scrape together enough for a ticket to this film in the theater had already lost most of their money when the banks crashed, with no FDIC to insure their deposits. Lost homes, lost jobs, financial ruin. There was a combination of fascination & distrust felt by the general public towards certain folks who seemed to come through the entire financial crash unscathed. The wealthy characters portrayed in this movie would be eyed with suspicion in real life, and viewed as almost certainly corrupt by the general public, so watching them be exposed as immoral murder suspects on screen would have been immensely satisfying. Also the beautiful dresses & suits would have been a simple viewing pleasure for an audience who couldn't afford such things at that time.

[@gloriamontgomery6900]

Movie theaters , gas stations and other businesses apparently would give out free dishes, now a collectible item called “depression glass” to encourage people to keep going to the movies. It is cheap glass with lovely colors and patterns. And movies were pretty cheap. One person could buy a ticket and then sneak friends in once in the theater. My Dad lived through the Depression in New York. There was quite a bit more open space in this country then, surprisingly even in New York City. Dad’s family did okay. His father was a minister with a salary and a place to live provided by the church. People paid their tithes (like dues for membership in a church) with hams, chickens, eggs, vegetables, fruit, home canned goods, breads and so on. People could and did plant vegetables in pots on balconies and in vacant lots in cities. People worked for food and a place to sleep for he night. An older lady in my city told me that her mother did laundry for food for the family from a farm further south and grew vegetables and fruit in the backyard as well-canning any excess. The mother also sewed clothes for people to earn money, or in exchange for things. A barter economy sprang up almost overnight as people just didn’t have cash. Dad never forgot the Depression and tried to avoid spending money whenever her could.

[@arnoldcohen1250]

@@gloriamontgomery6900 free dish day at the movies even continued into the 1950s in some NYC movie theaters!

[@albertawalters3731]

Love this! A walk back in time😊

[@52conn]

Thank you 😊

[@WadeRaney-vv5oi]

A 👍relaxing storyline,in a fine clear print,Thanks 😉

[@sancho8521]

...Miss Diana, in the library, with a candlestick & the steak knife! 🎉

[@johnevans9751]

An exceptional print.

[@atthebijou8209]

in what way?

[@divi2747]

thank you for posting these wonderful movies

[@antoinettegreen5344]

Great movie really enjoyed it!! Thank God it wasn't colorized 😊😊 hate when they does that to B&W films😡😡

[@kimroberson1385]

Pretty Good Thanks 👍

[@RetiredSchoolCook]

🍕🍕Thank you PizzaFlix 🍕 Gabby Hayes was the doctor 🤠🐴🍕 Good movie 🎥🎞🎬🍕🍕

[@scarygary-qq1pj]

I've seen Hayes in a few John Wayne films before "Stagecoach" rocketed him to the big time.

[@RetiredSchoolCook]

@@scarygary-qq1pj 🤠👍The early John Wayne western movies I enjoy watching 🤠🐴🥰👍

[@djr6876]

The depression era was the best time for glam movies. The mansions, the gowns ,and tuxedos

[@johnbeckett8028]

Ahhh life during the depression. Yes, while working all day for a dollar.

[@alonzocalvillo6702]

And cars too!

[@monbrat3064]

I love pre code films so much

[@Vintagevanessa99]

What an elegant era. Can we teleport ❤

[@marisamartin3664]

It was the Depression, pretty bad for most folks then

[@wareforcoin5780]

No thanks, people were still getting lynched back then.

[@arnoldcohen1250]

@@marisamartin3664 I remember one old guy telling me "the depression wasn't so bad...if you had a job". What he didn't say was so many people didn't have a job.

[@brendakrieger7000]

Awesome! Thank you kindly for sharing💜🧡 #HappyHalloween 🎃👻

[@iac4357]

Good Movie, Thanks !

[@AtomicExtremophile]

I like the elegance of the age, but, man, all that smoking would do my head in lol

[@QPRTokyo]

Thank you.

[@annaquinn4810]

I agree, great precode film. No cursing, no nudity, well except for low cut gowns, and I mean low cut!!! Interesting films in that era, but let’s face it folks, the acting was not so great. Nothing against that, I just love watching what my Mom watched before I was born!!! Keep them coming, please.👏👏👏👏

[@youtube_username_]

I would say the acting was great - they enunciated and I could hear all the words without subtitles. It was just more of a stage-style acting. No mumbling.

[@ThePiratemachine]

Another good one Pizza.

[@armynurseshark]

Such a clean print!

[@lorifarias-hamel4460]

Thank u

[@user-kl6rq2sy7n]

Very clean print looks like they released a day ago❤👍

[@dukromeo]

everyone knows cursing and nudity are far more immoral and worse than murder. this is a nice wholesome family story. unlike all the filth they put out today amirite? AMIRITE?!??? HELLO? how amazing is it to watch a film about murder with no cursing. warms the heart.

[@bethparker1500]

Evil doesn't need to advertise!

[@johnbeckett8028]

Yes, and they are so well dressed. Even the murderer is well dressed. Who could their tailor be?

[@geezermann7865]

That's the impression I got, these people were all to vain and wealthy and well-dressed, and immoral. The only decent human was the butler. I also consider the fact that all these people are now dead.

[@mikeoak5289]

cop: Where's your headache? Lady: In my head, of course. Were they trying to be funny, or what?

[@Meestergootjesfietstnaarschool]

Thanks

[@footfault]

Loopt hij terug?

[@paeganshadow]

Something about jameson thomas reminds me of sir ben Kingsley 😊

[@rainydaylady6596]

That's who I was trying to think of. I kept looking at him, but couldn't put my finger on it. Thank you. 🙂🖖

[@paeganshadow]

@@rainydaylady6596 glad I could help, drove me mad for ages hahaha xoxo

[@lindaloe]

This Was Great!! I Never Guessed The Murderer!!😊

[@shelbynamels7948]

When they talk about specific amounts of money in these old movies, it helps to have an inflation calculator handy, to better understand how much is at stake. $10 000 in 1930 translates roughly $150 000 to $170 000 today, or something like three years of average income, a considerable sum of money. Like I said before, inflation is a bitch.

[@thomashernandez8700]

Great hats. Berets, skull caps and cloche hats.

[@williamscoggin1509]

Pretty good who done it! 👍🏻

[@bobbailey7024]

The dialogue and acting flows effortlessly. 🤣Corpse on the floor behind the counter in a crowded tea room - Cop, "Get behind the counter and act as if nothing has happened." A crime scene FFS.🤣 The YT adverts about a razor sharp Japanese knife must have been included by a person with a warped sense of humour. 🤗 So corny it's almost worth watching.

[@MelanieMaguire]

Well, my brain must be going because I'm 16 minutes in and haven't a clue what's going on. Everyone is creeping about in and out of rooms and the men all look the same and I don't know their names or relationships - I can't figure out anything. Congratulations to everyone else who is able to follow this, but for me, life is too short. Thanks anyway for the upload. :)

[@Jasper7182009]

I’m with you - but I may return another day to see it out.

[@youtube_username_]

After watching it, I know who the killer is but I don't know the motive.

[@MelanieMaguire]

@@youtube_username_ Ha ha ha! You see, that would drive me mad... Every now and then for the rest of my life I would suddenly expostulate "But why?!". Maybe one of the new rules in the Hayes code was that it had to make sense....! 😁

[@MelanieMaguire]

@@Jasper7182009 Good for you - you're made of sterner stuff than me. I will do my very best to forget all about it!!! 😁

[@kenzeetwo]

A murder mystery evolves during a weekend at an exclusive mansion.

[@TheMocao]

I became a big fan of Dorothy Christy through the B-movies.

[@footfault]

Yes! I loved her performance in Parlor, Bedroom and Bath with Buster Keaton, also a 1931 film.

[@MiqueCapel]

yep great medicine against stress

[@robertbruner7429]

Considering this is just under an hour I wonder if it was originally intended for the extremely limited television broadcast audience of 1931, or whether it was a second feature in movie theaters. Anyone know?

[@arnoldcohen1250]

Probably the second feature along with cartoon and may a news reel. Interestingly, many of the B movie actors, producers, directors did switch over to early TV. They were used to the rapid production times and a tight budget, limited resources, etc of early TV.

[@Ourladyrules]

i may have seen this years ago , bit im old and cant remember. in any case Happy Monday Movie all you vintange film fans, now roll that film 🎬📽️🧓

[@rhondae8222]

Lol 😊

[@ShirleeKnott]

[@llbxq]

happy Halloween:)

[@Ourladyrules]

​@@ShirleeKnottthe dresses and gowns they wore back then shirlee were gorgeous! 💃💃💃🧓

[@carolirvine3367]

The women look amazing in those beautiful outfits. I'm inspired to go on a diet now.

[@ChrisCarlin-is8wv]

Diet of cigarettes and booze.

[@melvinscott9017]

Great movie and i only knew only 4 people in the movie.

[@ChrisCarlin-is8wv]

Wow, since most are obviously dead at this time great to know 4 are alive and you know them.

[@turbostatic1]

My main man Walt Disney on the silver screen??

[@marymayer2282]

This is The first precode movie I've seen it's still better than most of the trash they show currently in movies I'll take old movies anyway precode or not compared to what they show when I say old movies I mean 30 s thru 70 s Early 80 s

[@MsCrazycatlady]

Women were women and dressed like women. The dresses were beautiful in this movie ❤

[@reynaldoflores4522]

Wow ! A talking picture from 1931 !

[@danielreiff8320]

How can this movie be precode when in the beginning credits says it has passed the code review?

[@PizzaFLIX]

Hi Daniel 🍕"Pre-code" refers to the "Production Code" or "Hayes Code" which began to be enforced in early 1934. It is not the same as "National Board of Review" that is listed in the opening credits of this 1931 film🍕

[@i_am_a_freespirit]

👍🏻

[@behappy8012]

What does pre code films mean? 🙏🏽

[@reynaldoflores4522]

Before the Hollywood Hays Code of 1934, movies were allowed to have profanity, graphic violence, racism, sexual portrayals and all that other vile stuff. Much like the movies of today.

[@davidcarlson2152]

Her: _So what do you want?_ Him: _Imagine a modern young girl asking that?_ I know it goes without saying, but I marvel every time I hear the word _modern_ used in historical settings. But contrary to the definition, I feel like even today is primitive, compared to our quantum mechanical future where computers and robots will vastly outperform humanity, and indeed will come to define humanity itself.

[@terrykapp6385]

I would like to know how many movies and tv mysteries are based on the plot of a woman being blackmailed about the love letters she had written.

[@dr.skipkazarian5556]

The real culprit.......cigarettes......huzzzah!

[@kathymateer]

Agatha Christie wrote The Mysterious Affair at Styles and her style was copied by many.

[@kathleenlynch7603]

They don't make character actors like these anymore!

[@CaribouDataScience]

Husband and wife sleep in separate beds.

[@littlerichie874]

That’s the way God intended it. It’s in the Bible, I think.

[@113dmg9]

Just like Lucy and Desi.

[@scarygary-qq1pj]

​@@113dmg9Until the Bob Newhart show.

[@youtube_username_]

Like people who enjoy a good night's sleep.

[@footfault]

They were even in separate bedrooms. No need for contraptions like controls for heat and mattress angle in the two halves of the same king- or queen-size bed. Each person does his/her own thing for sleep comfort.

[@sancho8521]

... love all the no-bra wearing 🎉

[@cyclesgoff9768]

No sound track. Forgive my ignorance but we’re they expecting the theatre pianists to fill in the blanks?

[@johnoliver533]

This wouldn't have been the first film without a soundtrack. There have been many more. M is another one (also released in 1931). Hitchcock's Rope + The Birds had no soundtrack. (M is well worth viewing, that is if you haven't seen it already)

[@michaeldelgiudice1057]

thank goodness. real life usually has no soundtrack.

[@footfault]

Lots of films don't have sountracks. More natural. You have to make up your own mind when there's a moment of danger, no soundtrack to tell you it's coming.

[@kellwng]

I say this everytime anyone uses the term Pre-Code. You claim that they aloud things that they dont today, but today they allow things they would never have then. The term is void, stop using the term. They never showed nudity, didnt use vulgar languages, no sexual things of any kind, or even inappropriate activity. They never used derogatory words or treat anyone of color in a racist way.

[@scarygary-qq1pj]

"Maniac" (1934) has nudity and a rape scene. Just one example to counter your claim.

[@scarygary-qq1pj]

ALLOWED

[@number62]

You don't understand the time and you don't understand the significance of pre code. It has nothing to do with modern film degeneracy.

[@wareforcoin5780]

You see the date of 1931 on a movie and still expect boobs, that's on you, because that's not going to happen.

[@WVgirl1959]

An early Harvey Weinstein

[@HoTrEtArDeDcHiXx]

Ooh dirty language 😯

[@dukromeo]

😂

[@dukromeo]

the word murder is not dirty. we can't get enough of it. seriously try counting how many times they say it in these old films. thousands. because wholesome.

[@carmelbrain7399]

woefully wooden wonder

[@micheldowell4627]

Fail to see that smoking a cigarette is considered acting !!!!!!

[@footfault]

In one of the early scenes, Dorothy Christie flicks her ashes right on the rug (she's sitting on the arm of an armchair, and apparently there's no ash tray within reach.)

[@dukromeo]

inb4 all the goofy comments about morals. this is a film about murder. may i remind the reader how immoral murder is. dumpster fire found it.

[@jonrobertson8234]

Your comment doesn't make sense to me. The movie does not present murder as a good thing. Morality or immorality in a movie (or play) has to do more with what it affirms or condemns.

[@turbostatic1]

*Moi'dah

[@maxlinder5262]

SUCH A TERRIBLE FILM .....WITH B A D ACTING ..????

[@loug2414]

I wish they had used real actors.

[@benjamlnlewis6836]

Not a very good movie @ all. Writing production acting.