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What's Your Favorite Line and Precode observation

posted 13 years ago by borodinrodin
16 replies | jump to latest

Upon being questioned by the bank board of directors about going to the press to sell her story, George Brent character asks, "When this 'thing' happened were you working hard?"
To Which Barbara Stanwyck responds, "Yea, but not at the bank" - so funny its right up there with ending of Dinner At Eight.

Another thing I find more real (and sexy) in these early 1930s precode films that TCM has in the collection is that the women are mostly pre'augmentation' as todays world has become and the clothing style of the day was classy in general which makes the sexuality (and innuendo) seem amplified and more genuine (the dialogue and acting mean more than the overt physical display of flesh). Versus the in your face display of physical sexuality and plasticized augmented starlets of today.

[–] digitaldiva 13 years ago

Hi borodinrodin,

I didn't have a favorite line from "Baby Face" but do have an observation about Pre-code films. In addition to the moral ambiguity and sexual situations, films produced prior to the code had a great deal of social daring. Producers were more likely to take on the issues of the day and did not balk at presenting darker themes. Though the films didn't explore homosexuality in depth, gay characters were present in those films and people of color were often featured in prominent parts. I honestly think that Theresa Harris, the lovely actress who played Chico in "Baby Face" might have had a bigger career if the code hadn't explicitly forbade miscegenation. Certainly Broadway plays were getting bolder and there were a number of producers willing to push the envelope.

[–] bill3-1 12 years ago

"Give the old boy Irish stew", Idk what it means, but I love how Stanwyck says it, always make me laugh!

[–] digitaldiva 12 years ago

Hi bill3-1,

I remember that line. Stanwyck's character had been set-up in a penthouse by a wealthy man and she dressed in the finest fashions. She managed to convince the old guy that she adored him but had Chico feeding him working class food. One of Stanwyck's finest hours, love her in this film.

[–] bill3-1 12 years ago

She managed to convince the old guy that she adored him but had Chico feeding him working class food.

Yes, and she even asked him "did you like your dinner?", she's so great, she had him liking it too, how funny!
It's all the part of her little scheme "to get a few more pennies in her bank from "fuzzy wuzzy".

There's so many great lines and precode observations one could make, and Stanwyck in her always-fine form, this proves why she's the best. This movie could be remade today and it would be interesting, but it could never be improved on, just like Stella Dallas wasn't.

[–] belalugosihouse 12 years ago

And when she asked him for "a few more pennies," he says something like "why don't you ask for something hard." LOL! I didn't get that one until later when I started to think of all the double meanings. I've got to watch it again!

[–] marbleann 12 years ago

I agree with digitaldiva. To me what I noticed about pre-code movies is friendships they had between people of different races. Theresa Harris was stunning and after the code she was regulated to maid roles. I also saw a movie with Clara Bow, a talkie and they dealt with issues you would never see after the code was enacted. Her character went through all kinds of problems including prostitution. The code really set things backward.

[–] shoshanah21-848-486101 11 years ago

Yes, the code did really slow social progress. Just think of all the social ills we might have avoided or lessened in our country had the U.S. been allowed to develop naturally.

[–] marbleann 11 years ago

As much as people are influenced by TV and movies I am sure things would of been different.

[–] pelscc2000 11 years ago

My favorite line was "I always wanted a Mrs. on my tombstone". Precode observation; the sexuality throughout the film.

[–] Bree_33 11 years ago

You must use men, not let them use you.

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[–] alifeatthemovies 10 years ago

"You know what is in this bag? A half a million dollars. One day I will get the other half that goes with it."

[–] deadlydanish 10 years ago

Yeah I'm a tramp and who's to blame? Dirty rotten men. I'll hate you as long as I live.

[–] stanleyhetz 9 years ago

My favorite line: When the secretary told John Wayne: "Wake up, kid. Baby Face is moving out of your class."

[–] epitmet 8 years ago

Chico: He's a big politician, ain't he?

Lily: He's a big something,and it ain't a politician.

[–] agcaoili675 7 years ago

Is that a penis joke?

[–] richspenc 7 years ago

If this was what it was really like in the early 1930s, people were very far from nice and innocent back then. All the roughhousing by the drunks in the bar at the beginning and the way they kept harassing Stanwyck, the angry abusive attitude of Stanwyck's dad, and then of course, the main theme of the film, her sleeping her way to the top. Then again, like today, not everywhere you go is the same. In this film, and im sure that the real life 30s, the people at the start of the film were typical industrial working class types such as the guys in the bar and Stanwyck's dad, more rough around the edges. Then during the main part of the film were the office types of people which as we saw were more refined and had a little more class. However, in both places, people still contained the same natural desires, which of course is and always was just being human.

The one thing that was different back then was the harassment from the guys at the bar at the beginning. Guys today are a little more respective of "no means no" and don't start grabbing women like that unless they get the signal that she's OK with it. Back then and in this film, even when it was obvious that it was really bothering her, they didn't care and just kept on harassing her. Guys are a little more cautious and understanding bout that today due to modern harassment laws.