Want to buy or sell something? Check the classifieds
  • The Fedora Lounge is supported in part by commission earning affiliate links sitewide. Please support us by using them. You may learn more here.

Need '20s movies recommendations

FedoraFan112390

Practically Family
Messages
642
Location
Brooklyn, NY
Hey, was wondering if you could list some movies from the 1920s or set in the 20s which were about or included any of the five following elements. They don't have to include all 5--just any ONE of the following elements.

1) A classic murder mystery plot--I've read these were pretty common in the '20s and a lot of 20s nostalgia or tributes I've seen focuses on the murder mysteries of the '20s

2) Flappers and/or flapper culture; ragtime music.

3) A main character with one of those pencil mustaches that was popular in the decade.

4) That extremely exaggerated boxing you see in 20s movie tributes.

5) A character like the one this guy begins playing at 2:10--I swear I've seen a character with mannerisms/exaggerated acting and a voice/accent like that in either a 20s movie or a movie set in that decade--It's something I can remember clearly but not from where: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=tcTw8y0iQ9o--I'm talking about the character the guy plays who says "This isn't a mansion, it's a museum", "I am Carter Forstman, Yale '26." I swear I've seen a character exactly with that voice and mannerisms somewhere.
 

Shangas

I'll Lock Up
Messages
6,116
Location
Melbourne, Australia
For the unknowing, ragtime music was basically dead in the 1920s. I think you're referring to hot jazz (which in its basic form can sound a bit like ragtime).

Might I suggest Sergio Leone's "Once Upon A Time in America" if you like gangster films? It's set between the 1910s-1930s (with small parts in the 1960s).

It contains hot dames, snappy dressers, classic cars, jazz-music, speakeasies, bootleg hooch and tommy-guns.

Or perhaps you might like "The Untouchables"? Set in 1930? Based very loosely on the legend (cough) of Elliot Ness, the man who tried to take down Al Capone.
 

LizzieMaine

Bartender
Messages
33,828
Location
Where The Tourists Meet The Sea
For the murder mystery, how about "Bulldog Drummond," (1929), starring Ronald Colman. This would also fit the bill for the pencil moustache.

For the flapper movie, how about "Our Dancing Daughters" (1928) with young Joan Crawford as a rampaging member of the rolled-stockings set.

For boxing, Buster Keaton's "Battling Butler" (1926) features one of the most harrowing boxing matches ever committed to film.

For the exaggerated-upper-class dialect stuff, look for any movie Conrad Nagel made in 1929.
 

kittypackard

Familiar Face
Messages
57
Location
Hollywood, CA
20s movies

*rubs hands together ... pours drink (water, no ice) ... nestles into high backed velour chaise ... "

1.) Definitely "The Lodger." A serial rapist killer let loose in the murky London fog with a young Alfred Hitchcock as the director? What more could you want!

2.) You want a flapper? Then you want Clara Bow. Therefore, the movie's gotta be "It." Clara Bow's sexy salesgirl forever defined the idea of 'the It girl.' It's a movie about a wrong-side-of-the-tracks Flapper and the folly of blind love.

3.) Not that I'm biased, but ... OK. I'm biased. William Powell had the best pencil mustache of the 20s, OK? Try "The Canary Murder Case" on for size and, when you're not busy ogling Louise Brooks, you'll see what I mean. :)

4.) OK, so "City Lights" didn't premiere until January of 1931-- it was produced during the late 20s so therefore I am mentioning it. Exaggerated boxing sequence? Done. With all the finesse of a Tchaikovsky ballet.

and ...

well ...

sorry.

can't help ya with #5, i'm afraid.

:(

FedoraFan112390 said:
Hey, was wondering if you could list some movies from the 1920s or set in the 20s which were about or included any of the five following elements. They don't have to include all 5--just any ONE of the following elements.

1) A classic murder mystery plot--I've read these were pretty common in the '20s and a lot of 20s nostalgia or tributes I've seen focuses on the murder mysteries of the '20s

2) Flappers and/or flapper culture; ragtime music.

3) A main character with one of those pencil mustaches that was popular in the decade.

4) That extremely exaggerated boxing you see in 20s movie tributes.

5) A character like the one this guy begins playing at 2:10--I swear I've seen a character with mannerisms/exaggerated acting and a voice/accent like that in either a 20s movie or a movie set in that decade--It's something I can remember clearly but not from where: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=tcTw8y0iQ9o--I'm talking about the character the guy plays who says "This isn't a mansion, it's a museum", "I am Carter Forstman, Yale '26." I swear I've seen a character exactly with that voice and mannerisms somewhere.
 

kittypackard

Familiar Face
Messages
57
Location
Hollywood, CA
upon reading my obviously biased answer for number 3, i fear i must rescind ... sorry, billy powell ...

but i do believe it was the great lover John Gilbert who had the best pencil moustache.

That being the case, watch "Flesh and the Devil" with the smoldering Greta Garbo.

;)

kittypackard said:
*rubs hands together ... pours drink (water, no ice) ... nestles into high backed velour chaise ... "

1.) Definitely "The Lodger." A serial rapist killer let loose in the murky London fog with a young Alfred Hitchcock as the director? What more could you want!

2.) You want a flapper? Then you want Clara Bow. Therefore, the movie's gotta be "It." Clara Bow's sexy salesgirl forever defined the idea of 'the It girl.' It's a movie about a wrong-side-of-the-tracks Flapper and the folly of blind love.

3.) Not that I'm biased, but ... OK. I'm biased. William Powell had the best effing pencil mustache of the 20s, OK? Try "The Canary Murder Case" on for size and, when you're not busy ogling Louise Brooks, you'll see what I mean. :)

4.) OK, so "City Lights" didn't premiere until January of 1931-- it was produced during the late 20s so therefore I am mentioning it. Exaggerated boxing sequence? Done. With all the finesse of a Tchaikovsky ballet.

and ...

well ...

sorry.

can't help ya with #5, i'm afraid.

:(
 

dhermann1

I'll Lock Up
Messages
9,154
Location
Da Bronx, NY, USA
"Coquette", 1929, with Mary Pickford. It's an early talky, and a terrific film. Some startling womens styles.
"Some Like it Hot", 1959. Marilyn Monroe, with Tony Curtis and Jack Lemmon in drag, hiding from the St Valentie's Day massacre guys in an all girl jazz band. Total hoot.
"The Freshman", 1925. A classic silent with the great Harold Lloyd.
For skinny mustaches, check out Warren William. He was very big as a leading man in the late 20's and early 30's, then settled into playing really great cads. Wonderful actor, great mustache.
Of course, "The Great Gatsby", 1974, with Robert Redford is excellent.
For boxing movies, try "Palooka" aka "Joe Palooka", 1934, based on the comic strip that debuted in 1921.
 

scotrace

Head Bartender
Staff member
Messages
14,393
Location
Small Town Ohio, USA
Marc Chevalier said:
Ah, but in the '20s, Garbo used to walk out of her house completely nude in order to pick up the newspaper on her lawn...


.


I hope she invested in surrounding real estate before beginning this practice.
 

Forum statistics

Threads
109,655
Messages
3,085,767
Members
54,471
Latest member
rakib
Top