Chewers' 100 best films of the 1930s

2. M (1931) d. Fritz Lang

Proto-noir classic. For everything from The Maltese Falcon to Blade Runner, you have this movie to thank.

3. The Wizard Of Oz (1939) d. Victor Fleming, George Cukor, Mervyn LeRoy, King Vidor

One of the most influential films in film history.  One of Technicolor's shining jewels.

4.

1934          dir. Frank Capra

When star Claudette Colbert completed It Happened One Night she told friends, "I've just finished the worst picture in the world!".

Little did she know that this film would sweep the "Big 5" at the Oscars & serve as the gold standard & blueprint for romantic comedies for the next 80 years. This is a classic that's near impossible to watch academically, it's too much damn fun (and Clark Gable is the boss in it).

5. The 39 Steps (1935) d. Alfred Hitchcock

This is possibly the template for the majority of Hitchcock's thriller work. Whilst Hitchcock had been working for over a decade at this time, and his 1929 film Blackmail contained several of the key themes he would return to, The 39 Steps completely refined Hitchcock's sensibilities. His mastery of scope is astounding and his ability to film a grand adventure taking place across a great landscape and still keep his central characters prominent is amazing. This is the sort of film where it would be easy for the characters to get lost in the machinations of the plot, but Hitchcock makes us genuinely care for Hanay and Pamela and he carefully builds their beligerent affection for each other as the film progresses.

7.

1939                             dir. John Ford

Well, there are some things a man just can't run away from.

The Duke arrives in style & John Ford shows a generation of filmmakers how this moviemaking business gets done.

My appreciation for older films is pathetically lacking, but I wanted to throw something in here.

8. Snow White and the Seven Dwarfs (1937) d. David Hand

Even if I can't honestly say I get all that much enjoyment or entertainment out of the film, I would be an utter moron to not appreciate its artistry and the influence it has had on the artform (both cinema and animation).

9. The Roaring Twenties (1939) d. Raul Walsh

Cagney vs Bogie, how cool is that?

I love that Cagney was able to find a vehicle that let him play with his gangster persona. He does some brilliantly subtle things here. There's one scene where he realizes the girl he loves loves his friend. You see his face crumble, and it's devastating, then recover into an icy facade that is chilling. It's one of his best performaces.

Walsh is one of my favorite directors, and his work here is top notch, crafting what I consider THE gangster film of the classic era..

If this wasn't in the top 10, we'd have to start over, simple as that.

10.

1933

dir. Leo McCarey

I'm in a hurry! To the House of Representatives! Ride like fury! If you run out of gas, get ethyl. If Ethel runs out, get Mabel! Now step on it!

Groucho rules the school with jaw-dropping, rapid fire wit & Harpo seems to be inventing, destroying, & reinventing the art of slapstick with every gag. Chico's no slouch but for the most part Duck Soup is Groucho's show. This is the Marx Brothers' crowning achievement & is arguably the funniest film since the invention of moving pictures.

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11. Babes in Toyland a.k.a. March of the Wooden Soldiers (1934)

I always look forward to seeing this on the tube when Christmas rolls around. Not just a great showcase for Laurel and Hardy, but a really solid fantasy movie to boot. The final battle between the Wooden Soldiers and the people of Toyland against Barnaby and the Bogeymen still holds up.

Bit of trivia: I guess producer Hal Roach and Walt Disney were friends and it helps explain how Mickey Mouse pops up in this non-Disney movie.

12. King Kong (1933)

"We're millionaires, boys. I'll share it with all of you. Why, in a few months, it'll be up in lights on Broadway: Kong, the Eighth Wonder of the World!"

Scroll up, gentlemen. We have a redundant #10.

13. A Night at the Opera (1935)

The contract scene, the stateroom, tons of fantastic quotes, the anarchy of the Marx Brothers unleashed during the opera house climax. No wonder The Joker loves this one!

(If that last comment makes no sense, please hunt down a copy of Detective Comics #826. You can thank me later.)

16. The Bride of Frankenstein (1935) d. James Whale

This is probably my favourite film from the 1930s, it's easily in my top 10. Just an amazing timeless work which is both iconic and kind of strangely experimental when you watch it. With it's lush cinematography, amazing visual sense, arch sense of humour, and amazing sets it's probably my favourite take on the Frankenstein story. There's a wonderful gothic feel to the film, with conspicous religous iconography and a far more brutal treatment of it's characters. It's the sort of film you assume to be toothless because of it's age and because of how iconic it is, but in actuality it's surprisingly vicious at times.

17) I Am A Fugitive From A Chain Gang (1932) d. Mervyn LeRoy

Paul Muni kills it as the escaped convict trying to survive on the lam, with one of the classic closing lines of American cinema history.

18.

1939

dir. George Marshall

James Stewart's Destry hates guns. Thinks they're stupid things for stupid people. This might be a problem, bein' that he's the sheriff of a violent, corrupt town an' all. 

With only his wits, Stewart lays down the law in this rollicking action comedy that's waaay ahead of it's time. Marlene Dietrich brings her smoldering 'A' game as the dame that can't quite figure this idiot out. This is kinda the Sneakers of pre-1950 westerns.

[I love this movie. F*CKING love it]

19. All Quiet on the Western Front (1930)

Still one of the most effective war films of all time.

I have a feeling that this list might be dominated by Lang...

20. The Testament of Dr. Mabuse (1933) d. Fritz Lang

This film feels like a flipside to M. Essentially it's about a raving lunatic who plots out schemes in his insane asylum cell. Unfortunately these plans keep coming to fruition despite Dr Mabuse's incarceration. This is a fascinating blend of social commentary and proto-action movie, with our main protagonist having to join forces with local gangsters to get to the bottom of an ever expanding conspiracy. With shoot outs, evil hypnotists, and a finale at an exploding power-plant this feels like a proto-action film, but it's also laced with a general distrust for authority that earned it a ban in Germany by the Nazi's and finally forced Lang to flee from Germany after he was offered the ultimatum of becoming a Nazi filmmaker or be denied distribution. It's also perhaps one of the most handsomely shot films of the 1930s.

This actually leads me to an interesting point. The 1930s are a difficult time for world cinema. The major cinematic players of the time were the US, UK, France, Germany, Italy, and Japan. Despite certain directors who outright refused to toe the party line (like Lang in Germany and Ozu in Japan) the cinema of Germany, Italy and Japan is hard to qualitively represent on this list because as great a director as someone like Frederick Pabst or Riefensthal are, it's difficult to put the work of a Nazi or Fascist filmmaker onto this kind of list.

21. The Adventures of Robin Hood (1938).

"You speak treason!"

"Fluently..."

Even if this movie consisted of nothing but Olivia de Havilland's Technicolor closeups it would be a classic for the ages. But of course it's also the enduring, definitive Robin Hood film, with just enough Depression-era commentary to keep it from getting too precious.

22. Freaks (1932) d. Tod Browning

"One of us! Gobble gobble!"

23.

1934

dir. W.S. Van Dyke

Nick Charles: Oh, it's all right, Joe. It's all right. It's my dog. And, uh, my wife.
Nora Charles: Well you might have mentioned me first on the billing.

d/p

24. THE THREEPENNY OPERA (1931, dir. G. W. Pabst)

26. Modern Times (1936) d. Charlie Chaplin

Chaplin's other great film of the decade, his first "sound" film (although the sound is nearly all sound effects, save for the Tramp's gibberish song). The recent Criterion re-release on Blu looks fantastic.

27. Grand Hotel

Besides this movie being one of the first (if not the first) movies with an ensemble cast (Greta Garbo, John Barrymore, Joan Crawford, Wallace Beery, Lionel Barrymore, Lewis Stone, Jean Hersholt - all big names back in those days), Grand Hotel is just an enjoyable movie. It has all the vibe and energy that you would expect from a hotel that is always busy and some of the stories are enjoyable.

28.

1930

dir. Josef von Sternberg

Obsession kills.

29. Dodsworth (1936, d: William Wyler)

An exceptionally mature tale of late bloomers, as a well-off middle-aged American couple take a long-deferred European vacation and promptly discover they have nothing in common. Walter Huston (reprising his stage role) gives a performance of great subtlety, and Mary Astor seems to relish the opportunity to play a nice person for a change. I love movies that depict characters who are always open to new ideas and experiences-- this could double up well with Harry and Tonto.

30. Only Angels Have Wings (1939), d. Howard Hawks

Features one of Cary Grant's greatest performances, playing against type as the stoic head of the company. Also one of Howard Hawks' finest films, which says a LOT.

31. Gone with the Wind (1939)

How have we gotten this far without this?

Quote:

Originally Posted by MrTyres 

31. Gone with the Wind (1939)

 

How have we gotten this far without this?

Speakin' for myself. I just find the movie gross. While it's an iconic, technical achievement & crucially important film, it celebrates the mythology of White Southern gentry & racial superiority. Granted, one could make the case that it isn't that simple & that Scarlett is more of an anti-heroine that the movie paints as of a woman who's fatally wrapped up in her own bullshit amidst societal collapse. But..well..hell, I guess the fact there exists so many possible readings is exactly why it's so important & worthy of earlier inclusion.

Nevermind. Good call, mate.

I'm with Art. I recognize the impact GWTW made on the cinematic landscape, and the technical achievement it represents. But it's not a film I'll willingly revisit....ever.

32. Scarface (1932) d. Howard Hawks

Even tho I prefer the DePalma update, I like Hawks' version a lot. Jean-Luc Goddard called it the best American sound film, so props due.

33. The Invisible Man (1933) James Whale

My favourite of the universal monster batch. James Whale keeps the film moving at a break neck pace. The special effects still hold up to this day and Claude Rains gives a great performance with mostly his voice. His Invisible Man is mostly an unapologetic evil bastard, but damn if he isn't electrifying and you wind up rooting for him, anyway.

Oh and did I mention that it's funny as hell on occasion too? James Whale had a great biting sense of humor.

As a side note, can we do a tally by year? I remember reading somewhere on this site that 1939 was the greatest year of film of the age. I would love to see if that pans across our list? Or am I jinxing it by mentioning it?

34. The Rules of the Game (1939) d. Jean Renoir

Renoir satirizes French society under the guise of a comedy of manners. As much of a primer on deep focus cinematography as Citizen Kane.

35. Bringing Up Baby (1938) d. Howard Hawks

Possibly the archetypale screwball comedy. Whilst this isn't Cary Grant's first leading role, it feels like the debut of his assured persona. Even when playing a bumbling, malleable, character like David Huxley Grant exudes a charm and confidence that is almost unearthly. He's well supported by Katherine Hepburn who has a lot more to do, her character is free spirited and fun, and completely makes the role her own. This is the sort of film you might start watching out of academic curiosity, but by the end you're completely invested in the characters thanks to it's amazing script, it's insatiable tone, and two amazing lead peformances.

36. Alexander Nevsky (1938) d. Sergei Eisenstein

Epic historical drama as allegory for the growing unease between the Soviets and Nazi Germany. Features great cinematography, a rousing score, and influential battle scenes.

Quote:

Originally Posted by Mister Falcon 

36. Alexander Nevsky (1938) d. Sergei Eisenstein

 

Epic historical drama as allegory for the growing unease between the Soviets and Nazi Germany. Features great cinematography, a rousing score, and influential battle scenes.

God, I can't believe I forgot about this. Just amazing, it's so far ahead of it's time I never really pegged it as a 30s movie before. It's glorious for so many reasons but the Prokofiev score is just insane.

This piece, subsequently nicked for the Conan the Barbarian trailers, is just insane.

37.

1939    dir. Frank Capra

While the massive naivete of Capra's classic may undermine the power of it's commentary today, it's reassuring that a film like this, which identifies & condemns very real & corrosive governmental behaviours, is so prominent in the populist American mind*.

*It's also a really f'in good piece of cinema.

Quote:

Originally Posted by Spike Marshall 

 

This piece, subsequently nicked for the Conan the Barbarian trailers, is just insane.

Ha! That was the exact piece I was listening to when I posted.

38. Mata Hari (1931)

One of the great espionage thrillers set during WW1 and starring Greta Garbo, Lionel Barrymore and Ramon Novarro.