Citizen's Top 62, 1930s Actors & Actresses

Mae West is pretty juicy in her older films. It's fun to watch them in chronological order as the censors cut down on her double entendre with each movie. She's at her bawdiness in the first couple films that she made.

I haven't seen either of those, but based on what you and Mark said I'll for sure have to watch them.

Sadly not had any luck finding any of her 30s fillums readily available to me yet

As you love musicals I'm sure you must have seen My Fair Lady which is a version of Pygmalion with musical numbers. I reckon you'd enjoy The Scarlet Pimpernel, actually I'm a little surprised you've never seen it tbh.

Love My Fair Lady, in fact I'm over due for a watch. I'd heard of Pygmalion but never seen it, I'll have to remedy that.

Pygmalion's ace .

Gave Of Human Bondage a runout yesterday and Berkeley Square one just now and Mr. Howard was his usual dependable self in both, though for me his performance is a touch overly sappy in the former.

Of Human Bondage is a classic tale but imo suffers from the origins of the infatuation not being sold effectively enough in this version and although Ms. Davis is consistent in her portrayal her affected accent grates. In Berkeley Square the scene-setting is a little lengthy and clunky and the fantasy element isn't introduced that well but once the tale proper begins it's a fairly amusing and effective watch.

My #23 Favorite 30's Actress is

My #22 Favorite 1930's Actor is
Scarface (1932)

I Am a Fugitive from a Chain Gang (1932)

The Good Earth (1937)

I like both Dietrich and Muni. Dietrich is amazing in The Blue Angel even though i didn't love it, surprised that you've seen it since it's in German. That's the only 30's film of hers i've seen and i've only seen four others. I Am A Fugitive From a Chain Gang is the only Muni performance i've seen, loved both the film and him in it though.

My #22 Favorite 30's Actress is

I didn't really love Blue Angel either, still it was a good watch and Marlene always holds one's attention fast. Blonde Venus is a pretty outrageous precode film of hers. If you get a chance check that one out.

I Am A Fugitive From a Chain Gang, that would be my favorite film of his. The Good Earth, is amazing too, but...today's audiences probably would be distracted by Caucasians playing Asians. That film also stars Luise Rainer who's on my list, she won back to back Oscars, then walked away from making movies.

Omg - I was only thinking yesterday that it had been a long time since I remembered this thread being updated so here I am and I find I've somehow completely missed the last three entries No idea how that happened, feel free to gently nudge me if you see I've not been paying attention again.

Marlene Dietrich
Of her 30s works I've watched both Der Blaue Engel and Angel fairly recently (both good) and will surely have seen Destry Rides Again in my youth but it'll need a rewatch if I can find it. Shanghai Express has been on my 'to-watch' list for ages, I'll bounce it to the top and have a hunt to see whether anything else of hers from that decade is available to me.

edit: Boooooo, IA only have a 're-envisioned' version available of Shanghai, should've paid more attention when I originally found it

Paul Muni
Watched Scarface when a youth, another that needs a rewatch if I can find it. I'll have to see what else I can dig up for him, I did have a quick look for both I Am A Fugitive From A Chain Gang and The Good Earth a while back but sadly neither was available to me then.

edit: Watched Scarface - an excellent performance by Mr. Muni and a very enjoyable film aside from the 'appeal' which breaks the flow but is easily forgotten soon after imo

Mae Clarke
Recently watched her in Night World and imo she makes it a better film so she was already a 30s gal on my radar. To that end I already had a watch of The Penguin Pool Murder lined up - just my type of title lol - so I'll bump that one too and then see what else of hers I can find to add as well .... Frankenstein is another of those classics that falls into the 'needs a rewatch if I can find it' category and sadly I already know Nana isn't available to me as it was co-directed by Dorothy Arzner and I went through what I could of her filmography for the 'Directed by Women' countdown (that I hope will actually take place as I finally got round to sending in my list the other day).

edit: watched The Penguin Pool Mystery and although 4th billing and one of the prime suspects Ms. Clarke really doesn't have that much to do in it

Glad you're back! I'll try to finish this list, really I will (work has been so crazy). I hadn't heard of The Penguin Pool Mystery...I did see your ratings for it and Scarface. Glad you liked Scarface. I'm pretty sure I did a review of the latter.

Stay tuned, I will persevere.

Gave Desire a spin this morning, Ms. Dietrich is in fine form and it's well worth a watch for anyone considering 30s fillums for the countdown imo.

My #21 Favorite 30's Actress is

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Seen Mae Clarke in Frankenstein, The Public Enemy and Singin' In The Rain. Must admit i haven't found her that memorable so far but i'll be keeping an eye out for her now.

Haven't seen Rainer in anything, according to Letterboxd she was only in 18 films.

My #21 Favorite 1930's Actor is
My Man Godfrey (1936) a screwball comedy that's in the public domain so easy to find.

Topper (1937) a situation comedy about two ghost who don't know they're ghost. Also in the public domain so easy to find.

The Adventures of Robin Hood (1938) The classic movie, Eugene plays a memorable Friar Tuck.

Mr. Smith Goes to Washington (1939) Frank Capra's film on political shenanigans.


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I kind have a thing for Mae Clarke and Luise Rainer too!

Have seen Pallette in three films: My Man Godfrey, Steamboat Round The Bend and Mr. Smith Goes To Washington. I really adored him in Steamboat Round The Bend as the Sheriff, and thought he was pretty good in the other two.

Pallette might not always be in great movies, but he's always fun to see. I haven't seen Steamboat Round The Bend.

Starting to suffer a little burnout here and herself is at home all next week meaning I may not get that many viewings in so I'll just play catch-up as and when with those last two.