When I watch movies, I always take pictures of the kissing scenes!!

Unknown, late 1920s

Clara Bow in It, 1927

Unknown, early 1920s

Rudolph Valentino, early 20s

Unknown, 1920s

Okay, okay, this week I cheated! These aren’t my standard 1930s kisses, but they ARE preCode kisses, nontheless! These are gleaned from “Why Be Good?: Sexuality and Censorship in Early Cinema” that I got from Netflix. I’m about halfway through and it’s a very good. Next week, I’ll post some ladies smoochin… so I know you’ll be back with bated breath!

When I watch movies, I always take pictures of the kissing scenes!!
These shots are stills from “Stella Dallas” (1937).
The film starts out the in 1920s, and in the above scene, Barbara Stanwyck and her lover are at a cinema. The figures kissing are on the movie screen and the head just below illuminated by a small lame is the accompanist.
For not being a Pre-Code, this move was pretty racy! You may remember the refrain of “St. Louis Blues” during Stanwyck’s 1933 movie, Babyface, was played to indicate whenever she was about to do something unspeakably slutty off screen. One scene in Stella Dallas had Stanwyck all gussied up about to nab a man and move to South America and a refrain of “St. Louis Blues” was playing. Neat cross over!
Barbara’s daughter got her self a pure-bred collegiate honey that she smooches (above) and marries (below). Check out those strappy shoes and polka dot belt and scarf combination.

When I watch movies, I always take pictures of the kissing scenes!!

Why Change Your Wife (1920)

Dames (1934)

They Made Me a Criminal (1939)

Red Headed Woman (1932)

This was from an “extra reel” on the Dames DVD, where Dick Powell is judging the kissing of the new campus cuties. I think Dick Powell looks adorable when he’s smooching!

When I watch movies at home, I always take a photo of the kissing scenes:
Wild Boys of the Road (1933)
Wild Boys of the Road (1933)
This was a PreCode, can you tell by the sensuous kissing?
I loved this movie, it was very sweet and heartbreaking at the end. It was all about two boys who leave their mid-American town in search of work in NYC during the Great Depression. There were many scenes of train hopping and grisly moments of life on the road.
In true PreCode form, there were undertones of rape, murder, cross dressing, poverty, and injustice.
Heroes for Sale (1933)

Union Pacific (1939)

This is Barbara Stanwyck and Joel McCrea kissing on a railroad car AS Indians are attacking them.
See the items flying off the shelf in the background? That’s the attack!