Pre-Code Hollywood

Penthouse (1933) Racketeer Tony Gazotti is thankful that lawyer Jackson Durant helps him beat a murder rap, but Durant just does it for the thrill of it and refuses payment. Durant's defense of mobsters causes his firm to disown him and his girlfriend Sue to leave him. But when young Tom Siddall, Sue's new boyfriend, is framed for a murder, she is the first to come asking for Durant's help. Very enjoyable movie - some very racy lines in the dialogue if you understand the pre-code lingo used at the time (Myrna Loy's character was basically a whore and didn't try to hide it).

It Happened One Night (1934) A renegade reporter (Clarke Gable) trailing a young runaway heiress (Claudette Colbert) for a big story joins her on a bus heading from Florida to New York, and they end up stuck with each other when the bus leaves them behind at one of the stops. Winner of 5 Oscars, this is probably the highest rated movie of the Pre-Code era. (I actually thought I'd already posted this, but the search came back empty, so here it is.)

Touch of Evil (1958) A stark, perverse story of murder, kidnapping, and police corruption in a town on the Mexican border. Classic Orson Welles - the opening three minutes are an unbroken single camera tracking shot that inspired a similar opening for 'Once Upon a Time in the West'.

(1941) Come Live With Me Seeking US citizenship, a rich man's beautiful mistress arranges a marriage of convenience with a struggling writer to avoid deportation. A marvelous romantic comedy - James Stewart and Hedy Lamarr worked well together - it could have been a masterpiece if it never stuck so rigidly to the standard studio template of the time.

(1946) Dressed to Kill Sherlock Holmes sets out to discover why a trio of murderous villains, including a dangerously attractive female, are desperate to obtain three unassuming and inexpensive little music boxes.

(1946) Terror by Night When the fabled Star of Rhodesia diamond is stolen on a London to Edinburgh train and the son of its owner is murdered, Sherlock Holmes must discover which of his suspicious fellow passengers is responsible.

(1945) Pursuit to Algiers Holmes is recruited to safely escort the heir to a kingdom back to his homeland after his father's assassination.

(1945) The Woman in Green Sherlock Holmes investigates when young women around London turn up murdered, each with a finger severed. Scotland Yard suspects a madman, but Holmes believes the killings to be part of a diabolical plot.

WOW, almost had a heart attack - couldn't log in with latest update to Telegram because I don't use a smartphone... But I have my Telegram access back... ...I used the Andy android emulator on my PC and entered the number for my Nokia brick - and I'm back in business!

(1945) The House of Fear Sherlock Holmes investigates a series of deaths at a castle where each death is foretold by the delivery of orange pips to the victims.

(1944) The Pearl of Death When a historic valuable pearl is stolen, Sherlock Holmes must investigate its link to a series of brutal murders. (My favourite as a child along with The Hound of the Baskervilles.)

(1944) The Scarlet Claw When a woman is found dead with her throat torn out, the villagers blame a supernatural monster. But Sherlock Holmes, who gets drawn into the case from nearby Quebec, suspects a human murderer.

(1943) The Spider Woman Sherlock Holmes investigates a series of so-called "pajama suicides". He knows the female villain behind them is as cunning as Moriarty and as venomous as a spider.

(1943) Sherlock Holmes Faces Death During WWII several murders occur at a convalescent home where Dr. Watson has volunteered his services. He summons Holmes for help.

(1943) Sherlock Holmes in Washington Sherlock Holmes and Doctor Watson travel to Washington D.C. in order to prevent a secret document from falling into enemy hands.

(1943) Sherlock Holmes And The Secret Weapon Sherlock Holmes and Doctor Watson must protect a Swiss inventor of an advanced bomb sight from falling into German hands.

(1942) Sherlock Holmes And The Voice Of Terror When a Nazi saboteur jeeringly predicts to the nation new depredations, via their radio 'Voice of Terror', the Intelligence Inner Council summons Sherlock Holmes to help in the crisis.

(1939) The Adventures of Sherlock Holmes The master sleuth hunts his archenemy, Professor Moriarty, who is planning the crime of the century.

(1939) The Hound of the Baskervilles Sherlock Holmes and Dr Watson investigate the legend of a supernatural hound, a beast that may be stalking a young heir on the fog-shrouded moorland that makes up his estate.

Sherlock Holmes (1939-1946) I finally have the complete set of all the original Sherlock Holmes movies with Basil Rathbone as Sherlock Holmes and Nigel Bruce as Dr Watson. These are the first B&W movies I remember looking forward to any time they came on the television - The stories and dramatic twists help my attention, and each movie was never too long even for children. A truly excellent series of movies. I'll use a number system so that it will be easy to watch each movie in order of release even after download - Naturally, I will also post each in release order too, as and when I get around to it.