Timid film critics like to remember the days of the draconian movie production code as a creative time. Why would it have been so great when there was a hard list of what cant be shown on screen? Their excuse is it forced writers, directors and producers to come up with imaginative ways to sneak around the Hayes Office. Forbidden Hollywood Collection: Volume Three proves the code days were stifling and deprived us of real entertainment from those times. This volume allows us to truly experience the power of William “Wild Bill” Wellman. The early thirties saw him making the best of being bad including Public Enemy. The six films included in this box set show that Wild Bill knew how to spice up a movie.
Other Mens Women (1931 – 70 minutes) already has a classic lurid title. But instead of being a torrid romance involving high society, were taken to a lovers triangle at the rail yard. Grant Withers and Regis Toomey are railroad engineers. Regis is a hard drinking kind of guy who during one boozy night asks Joan Blondell to marry him. He doesnt want to be her husband when the booze quits working. Grant helps his buddy by taking him back home to spend time with his wife (Mary Astor). He gets a little too close to his buddys wife. However theres action in this romance of the rails. A flood is heading toward the town. The engineers comes up with a dramatic plan to save the bridge from being washed out. James Cagney pops up in the lusty mayhem. The Purchase Price (1931 – 67 minutes) is a twist on the mail order bride concept. Barbara Stanwyck is a torch singer who decides to break things off with her mobster boyfriend. She escapes him once, but he finds her new location. In a strange twist, a hotel maid confesses she used Barbaras photo while hooking up through the mail with a farmer in North Dakota. The singer decides to fulfill the farmers dream by hopping on the train and heading west. Things get confused when her plan to merely hide out goes wrong. She discovers the farm life can appeal to her big city ways. Its more cute and romantic than forbidden. Anything with a young Barbara is welcomed viewing.
Frisco Jenny (1932 – 71 minutes) lets Ruth Chaterton enter the Tenderloin world. This is a hard knock story that kicks off with the hardest of knocks: The San Francisco earthquake. She loses her dad and fiance in the disaster. She gives birth to a child in the ruins. In order to make cash, she becomes a pimptress. Her vice gig leads to her child being taken away. Its just a downward trip through the underbelly of the city for Jenny. This isnt the uplifting story that gets turned into todays chick flick on Lifetime. Midnight Mary (1933 – 74 minutes) is Frisco Jennys roommate at the School of Hard Knocks. Loretta Young is the title character. Shes a teenage hooker who becomes the main woman of a gangster. She tries to go straight with the help of an attorney. Her criminal past doesnt want to lose such a good earner. Can she come clean without being convicted of numerous crimes?
Heroes For Sale (1933 – 71 minutes) deals with two soldiers experiences in World War I. Richard Barthelmess and Gordon Westcott are serving on the front line. During an attack, Barthelmess captures a German officer. The cowardly Westcott races back to safety with the officer while Barthelmess is left for dead on the line. Westcott becomes a decorated war hero while Barthelmess suffers in a German P.O.W. camp. When he finally returns to America, hes hooked on morphine since thats what the Germans gave him quite often. Hes never seen as a hero like his cowardly buddy. Everything goes against him until he meets Loretta Young. Can he beat his anger and demons to find happiness with her? Its easy to see how a film like this could scare a timid crowd with its talk of how even a real hero can be hooked on narcotics. Wild Boys of the Road (1933 – 68 minutes) is about kids gone desperate. Kids hop trains in hopes of finding money to help out their families. Unlike a happy musical, these kids dont always meet friendly folks wanting to help their neighbor. Theres predators waiting for the fresh meat to cross their paths. This is not a happy journey.
Forbidden Hollywood Collection Volume Three makes the case that William Wellman was a major force when the censors were kept at bay. He didnt pull too many punches. He knew how to take what could have been a soft glow melodrama and twist it into an unflinching drama. While Wellman did have an amazingly long and productive career, it would have been interesting to see what he could have done without the Hayes Office snipping away at his feature films.
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The video is 1.33:1 full frame. Theyve done a remarkable job restoring these titles. They probably havent looked this good since the studio was forced to recut them to conform to the code. The audio is Dolby Digital Mono. Theyve done a fine job mixing the sound so theres no major defects. The subtitles are in English and French.
Other Mens Women Trailer (2:46) teases us with life on the railroad with gin, jazz and dames.
You Dont Know What Youre Doin! (6:51) is a Merrie Melodies cartoon from Hugh Harman-Ruolf Ising. Two pigs arrive for a concert that turns into mayhem. Theres a black face gag that gets the warning before the cartoon starts.
Purchase Price Trailer (1:18) teases us with Barbara Stanwyck singing.
The Wall Street Mystery (17:13) is a live-action crime thriller from S.S. Van Dine. The cops are called in on a double homicide in a brokerage firm. The investigating officer calls in a Dr. Crabtree (Donald Meek) to help him investigate. Not quite an episode of Monk.
Moonlight For Two (6:51) is a Merrie Melodies cartoon from Hugh Harman-Ruolf Ising. This is Hillbillies in action.
The Studio Murder Mystery (18:51) is another S.S. Van Dine inspired short with Dr. Crabtree. They raid the lavish side of the sets and wardrobe department for this upperclass homicide in Hollywood.
Frisco Jenny Trailer (2:28) asks if we remember Madame X. Were told that Frisco Jenny was “a girl who was too beautiful to be good and too good to be forgotten.”
Goofy Movies #1 (8:32) is a Pete Smith short. They spoof a cinema show with their metrophony newsreel and reworking of a feature. It was directed by Jules White of Three Stooges fame.
Boskos Parlor Pranks (7:50) is a Happy Harmonies cartoon directed by Hugh Harman & Ruolf Ising. Bosko does his best to entertain a bratty kitten. This is an early color cartoon.
Midnight Mary Trailer (2:20) declares the title character is a prisoner of love. She just cant help seducing men. This trailer should be studied for its tempting tease.
The Tran-Atlantic Mystery (21:37) is a S.S. Van Dine inspired short with Dr. Crabtree. This time the famous Stanhope Jewels are stolen. Its up to Dr. Crabtree to solve what baffles Scotland Yard. Perry Masons Ray Collins has a supporting role.
Sittin On A Barnyard Fence (7:18) is a Merrie Melodies cartoon directed by Earl Duval. Has noisy cats singing away to wake up the neighborhood.
Heroes For Sale Theatrical Trailer (1:55) shows the angry emotions captured in the film.
Wild Boys of the Road Trailer (2:19) promises us “the living truth about 600,000 wild boys and innocent girls.” This looks rough and wild.
One Step Ahead of My Shadow (7:15) is a Merrie Melodies cartoon directed by Hugh Harman-Ruolf Ising. The short is about Asia with plenty of stereotypes to offend. The mice carrying the outhouse on a sedan cracked me up.
Will Bill: Hollywood Maverick (1:33:47) is documentary about the director featuring tough actors such as Clint Eastwood, Mike Connors and James Garner giving praise.
The Men Who Made the Movies: William Wellman (57:48) is part of Richard Schickels series about major directors. Wellman talks about his life, loves and films.
Forbidden Hollywood Collection Volume Three is the perfect tribute to the early work of William Wellman. The two documentaries give a great sense of what influenced his view of life and cinema. The six films featured her show us why the prudes of America wanted him clipped with the Hayes Office. For anyone who thinks that censorship improved movies, this box set reminds us that such punditry is merely wishful fascism. It was better when we got the real deal.
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Warner Home Video presents Forbidden Hollywood Collection Volume Three. Directed by: William Wellman. Starring: Loretta Young, Barbara Stanwyck and Ruth Chatterton. Boxset Contents: 6 movies on 4 DVDs. Released on DVD: March 24, 2009. Available at Amazon.com
