Pre-Code Dip: Big City Blues (1932)

Big City Blues is the story of Budd Reeves (Eric Linden), a small town boy from Indiana that spends only seventy-two hours in New York before he decides to come back home. Of course, you can’t blame him, in that seventy two hours he found love (Vida Fleet played by Joan Blondell), lost love, was cheated by his cousin Gibbony (Walter Catlett), hosted a bootleg liquor party, was witness to a murder, abandoned by his cousin and new friends, had a drink with a cougar (Serena Cartlich played by Jobyna Howland) found love again, gambled away his inheritance, arrested for murder then cleared of the charges.

Big City Blues exploits a cautionary tale to the limit and the characters simply revolve around Budd as he lets things fall into place and takes no action besides what he’s told to do by Vida who uses him just as bad as the others despite her motive not to. If this was to prove how green Budd was, it accomplished the goal but leaves the viewer feeling Linden gave a flat performance. I was also not impressed with how nonchalant the other characters at the party were when they were all hauled in for the murder compared to Vida and Budd who were overwrought with the accusations piled up against them.

You can classify Big City Blues as just another pre-code quickie with little treasures like Grant Mitchell as the doubtful station agent, Guy Kibbee as the drunken and clueless hotel detective, and Humphrey Bogart before he became known as a tough guy.

Side Note:

Not seen but heard, the film also features Dick Powell as the radio announcer.

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The Bitter Tea of General Yen (1932) An American missionary falls in love with a Chinese warlord.Cast: Barbara Stanwyck, Nils Asther, Toshia Mori, Walter Connolly Dir: Frank R. Capra

The Crowd Roars (1932)

Joe Greer (James Cagney), is a hotshot racecar driver who returns home to find his kid brother, Eddie (Eric Linden) not only idolizes him but wants to emulate him. Once Joe sees how well Eddie races, he decides to take him along and show him the ropes. Unfortunately Joe does not live the life of a saint. He currently lives in a hotel with his devoted girlfriend Lee (Ann Dvorak) who used to be in it for the fun but now wants a commitment from Joe.

Joe realizes his lifestyle probably isn't the best example to set for Eddie and after he catches Lee and Anne (Joan Blondell) entertaining Eddie with an ample view of Anne's legs and a drink, Joe decides to give Lee the air. Anne and Lee devise a plan spurn Joe by having Anne date Eddie. They promptly fall in love and when Joe confronts Anne about the relationship he says some things about Anne that Eddie feels are uncalled for.

After a smackdown, Joe promptly kicks Eddie off his racing team and goes on an alcholic binge despite having a race later that day. When Spud Connors (Frank McHugh), Joe's racing buddy tries to put a car between Joe and Eddy because he knows Joe is not fit to race, Joe causes a terrible accident that will lead him down a future path of failure while Eddie's racing career is on the rise. The only solution to the problem is for the brothers to work towards a common goal.

The movie was good overall. A few of the storylines could have been fleshed out more, like why Joe was so ashamed of Lee and by extension, himself for the life he led. Also, in the end, despite Eddie never wanting to speak to Joe again after what happened to Spud, he and Joe are suddenly thrown together in the same race car with no explanation as to how they made up with one another.

After seeing this film, I have new appreciation for the pioneers of auto racing. They performed some pretty astounding and daring feats.

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The Actress (1953) True story of Ruth Gordon's early struggles on the road to stage stardom.Cast: Spencer Tracy, Jean Simmons, Teresa Wright, Anthony Perkins Dir: George Cukor