The Marx Brothers reinvented comedy for the sound era, but had to tone down their sheer anarchy (a little) to score their biggest hit.
Tag Archives: 1930s movies
LA REGLE DE JEU (1939)
A French masterpiece about upper-class romantic games, played blithely as the world teeters on disaster.
MR. SMITH GOES TO WASHINGTON (1939)
If Frank Capra’s particular brand of idealistic American mythmaking feels dated today, that may be more our problem than his.
FRANKENSTEIN (1931)
This iconic Horror classic has lost some of its power to shock, but still elicits sympathy for its “Monster.”
SWING TIME (1936)
Fred Astaire and Ginger Rogers bringing dancing to maybe its greatest heights. The rest of the movie, who cares?
GONE WITH THE WIND (1939)
It’s well over three hours, is super racist, and features a very unlikable heroine. It’s also maybe the single biggest hit of all time.
BRINGING UP BABY (1938)
Perhaps the best known of all screwball comedies, it is a bit too aggressively madcap for me.
MADCHEN IN UNIFORM (1931)
Maybe the first feature film dealing with themes of homosexuality, it feels surprisingly fresh today.
CITY LIGHTS (1931)
Charlie Chaplin’s Tramp helps a flowergirl regain her sight in perhaps his most iconic silent comedy.
