Movies · 1933
Escapism and Innovation in Pre-Code Cinema
In the depths of the Great Depression, audiences flocked to movie palaces seeking low-cost relief from economic hardship. The year 1933 delivered groundbreaking special effects, bold Pre-Code comedies, and enduring Hollywood masterpieces before strict censorship took hold.
- March 1933 | Monster / Adventure
King Kong
Merian C. Cooper's revolutionary stop-motion masterpiece saw Fay Wray captured by a colossal giant ape atop the Empire State Building.
- November 1933 | Satirical Comedy
Duck Soup
The Marx Brothers delivered an anarchic masterpiece of political satire as Groucho played Rufus T. Firefly, the erratic dictator of Freedonia.
- March 1933 | Musical
42nd Street
Director Lloyd Bacon and choreographer Busby Berkeley revitalized the movie musical with dazzling, kaleidoscopic dance numbers set during the Great Depression.
- November 1933 | Sci-Fi / Horror
The Invisible Man
Claude Rains made a sensational film debut in James Whale's sci-fi classic featuring groundbreaking visual effects of a scientist driven mad by his unseen state.
- November 1933 | Drama
Little Women
Katharine Hepburn shined as Jo March in George Cukor's beloved adaptation of Louisa May Alcott's novel, winning critical acclaim and massive box office success.
- February 1933 | Pre-Code Comedy
She Done Him Wrong
Mae West starred alongside Cary Grant in a sharp, provocative comedy that smashed box office records and earned an Academy Award nomination for Best Picture.
- August 1933 | Comedy-Drama
Dinner at Eight
George Cukor directed an all-star ensemble including Jean Harlow and John Barrymore in a witty exploration of high-society drama during the Depression.
- December 1933 | Slapstick Comedy
Sons of the Desert
Laurel and Hardy delivered one of their finest feature comedies as two lodge members who sneak away to a convention under false pretenses.
Enjoyed your trip back in time?