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Baby Face (1933) is one of my most favorite preCode movies. Barbara Stanwyck stars as a saloon hall girl who sleeps her way to the top. Her hair reminds me of a huge seashell. The girlfriend walks in while the secretary sneaks a snog. Kissing in furs. If you have 10 minutes, the following clip [...]

When I watch movies, I always take pictures of the kissing scenes! Nancy Carroll goes in for a one-gloved smooch while her honey holds a dish of ice box pie. A rolling around kiss. You can tell these are precode! These stills are all from Hot Saturday (1932), and was Cary Grant’s first movie as [...]

When I watch movies, I always take pictures of the kissing scenes! These are from the pre-code film Murder at the Vanities (1934). Close your eyes and think of me. This blondie is the little cutie who stars opposite from Dick Powell in the “Young and Healthy” number from 42nd Street (1933). I’m unsure of [...]

When I watch movies, I always take pictures of the kissing scenes! I live near a giant discount grocery store that carries a strange selection of $1 double feature movies. I bought a stack of them on a whim and I’ve been slowly going through them when I’m waiting for my Netflix to arrive. For [...]

When I watch movies, I always take pictures of the kissing scenes! A surreal kiss planted on a boy wearing a paper mache mask. These are all of Marlene Dietrich from The Glamour Collection DVDs. Not even a sweater can come between this kiss. Kissing while holding an empty wine class in Morocco.

Reefer Madness! Formally titled “Tell Your Children,” this cautionary tale from 1938 features a trio of drug dealers and innocent teens who become addicted to “reefer cigarettes.” Here are the teen sweethearts, smooching while studying Shakespeare and innocently drinking hot chocolate. After Mary’s mother busts up the amour, Jimmy falls into a fountain. In the [...]

When I watch movies, I always take pictures of the kissing scenes! Ever since I met Stella Polaris earlier this year in Paris, I’ve been obsessed with watching Marlene Dietrich movies. Both women possess a remarkable grace and mysterious air about them. These kissing scenes come from two movies: “The Devil Is a Woman” and [...]

When I watch movies, I always take pictures of the kissing scenes! Here is Greta Garbo starring as the sultry and mysterious Mata Hari (1931). This story is loosely based on the persona of the real Mata Hari, a German exotic dancer who was convicted and executed as a spy during World War I. Garbo [...]

When I watch movies, I always take pictures of the kissing scenes! Last week I watched Prix de Beauté (1930) with Louise Brooks. This film was planned as a silent, and Brook’s voice was dubbed by a French actress. I suppose one could refer to it as a “Creaky Talkie.” Brooks plays a secretary in a [...]

When I watch movies, I always take pictures of the kissing scenes!! Forbidden kisses: captured through the gauzy curtains. Captured between gentlemen. Marlene Dietrich in a tux and top hat, Morocco (1930). Queen Christina (1933) starring Garbo as the queen. Queen Christina, also. Lean over that fruit bowl, baby girl! A kiss between servicemen, in [...]

When I watch movies, I always take pictures of the kissing scenes!! This week’s theme is passionate, uncomfortable kisses The kind where the teeth clank together. Where faces are obscured by the light. Wherein hands clasp backs of necks, And noses press into noses, And the smells of fish dinners, of champagne, comingle And the [...]

When I watch movies, I always take pictures of the kissing scenes!! Welcome to this week’s series: the awkward third. Here is a typical awkward-third-party on the dance floor who are looking at the lusty couple. Can we take this out to the veranda? This is the ultimate voyeur shot: the guard on the left [...]
When I watch movies, I always take pictures of the kissing scenes!! Don’t muss Ms. Davis’s hair, she’s watching! Now, that’s better. Cowboy kiss from “Two Fister” (1927) – notice gun pointed at enemy. A kiss from behind the curtain (Unknown movie).

When I watch movies, I always take pictures of the kissing scenes!! I wonder if the men were kept from running their fingers through the perfect curls? Imagine stopping the kisses so as to swat hands away! I would have to resist boinging the sausage curls.

When I watch movies, I always take pictures of the kissing scenes!! Alice Fay in Tailspin (1939) Cary Grant in Kiss and Make-up (1934) I like the smile/smooch. Cary Grant plays a successful plastic surgeon in a Pygmalion-scenario where his creation, Eve, turns on him. Although this is a comedy about the lengths women go [...]
When I watch movies, I always take pictures of the kissing scenes!! Returning the gaze. I think he is wearing a dressing robe, from the silky collar and the funny print. Also, this is Joan Crawford (I can tell by the eyebrow). Red Headed Woman (1932). I love this movie because she kisses so many [...]
When I watch movies, I always take pictures of the kissing scenes!! This is the excessive kissing and lustful embraces installation of our 50 part series on preCode kisses. Sucks to you, Mr. Hays. Lustful grabbing. Excessive shadow kissing. Neck craning lustilly. This is a surge of kissing! Make it stop!

When I watch movies, I always take pictures of the kissing scenes!! Bonjour tout le monde! Je suis en Paris this week but I shall keep you up to your ears in kissing film stills, nonetheless! Louise Brooks pulling back from an embrace. I think that’s a balloon she’s holding! A kiss captured among decomposing [...]

When I watch movies, I always take pictures of the kissing scenes!! A kiss as seen through a crack in the door. Eyes open. It almost looks as if she’s kissing a statue. Parisian Love (1922) Same man as above. This one looks heavenly. Clara Bow in Parisian Love (1922) with her droopy eyebrows and [...]
When I watch movies, I always take pictures of the kissing scenes!! Unknown, 1930s I’m pretty sure this is James Cagney Oh so sweet! Lookit their chicken dinner and her apron. Face Smoosh! Unknown, 1930s
When I watch movies, I always take pictures of the kissing scenes!! Unknown, 1930s This is from a dancing scene, of course. Despite a sweet floral hat, her long eyebrow makes me giggle! Unknown, 1930s Face Smoosh with potential choke hand. Also: he has his eyes open – rude! Unknown, 1930s (Joan Crawford?) I’m just [...]
When I watch movies, I always take pictures of the kissing scenes!! The Sheik, mid 1920s Unknown, late 1920s Unknown, 1920s Unknown, 1930s
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 [...]

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 [...]