Prior to 1934, Hollywood had a more free hand in its movie making. After what was considered to be a spate of violent movies, and in keeping with that Depression era, Wickedness must be Punished view, the Hayes Codes came in. No sex, no violence, no bad guys winning.
Getting just under the wire was Trouble in Paradise, directed by Ernst Lubitsch. Two jewel thieves (Miriam Hopkins and Herbert Marshall) seek a big score by way of the rich and lovely Madame Colet (Kay Francis). I'd call her the Geena Davis of that day - big and tall.
Lots of interesting techniques used for the story telling. Time lapse shots with a clock in the hallway. Sexual innuendo with lots of coming in and out of hotel rooms. And the classic shadow silhouette on the bed.
Good dialogue too: "A bird in hand in worth 2 in jail". "There's more sex appeal coming on the first of the month". Spoiler alert - they get away with the heist. Don't see that so much in the successor genres - To Catch a Thief, Mr. and Mrs. Smith, Ocean's 11, the Sting and many others. The Heist movie is still alive and well all these years later.
* * * 1/2
No comments:
Post a Comment