My Favorite Films of the 1930s

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Recently my dad joined Facebook. This illustrates that the social networking site really has taken over the world. Even the “fifty something” crowd is jumping on board. But, that’s another post. This post is about movies, and specifically movies from the “Golden Era” of Hollywood, the 1930s. Dad posted a list of his favorite movie from each decade on his page and it has inspired me to follow suit. However, I quickly realized when it came to the 30s I can’t just pick one! As a fan of classic movies there’s just too many great ones to make my list that narrow. So, with that in mind, here’s my list of favorite movies from the Depression Era.

1920s

I know, this is supposed to be a list about the 30s. But, let me start by going back to the Jazz Age for a moment. I really haven’t seen a lot of silent pictures. But, I am a huge fan of Buster Keaton and Harold Lloyd. So, if I had to pick a favorite, it would be one of their comedies. On a side note, I’m not a huge Chaplin fan. He’s certainly the most famous and recognizable star from the early days of Hollywood, but for some reason I just find him a bit overrated. Keaton and Lloyd, however, were very funny and are unfortunately overlooked and underrated.

1930s

I have to mention Dracula on my list. By today’s standards it may be considered dull and uneventful. However, when released it was considered a very scary movie. A vampire rising from his coffin, freaky “brides” that live with him, the freaky castle, the full moons, and the list goes on. Modern horror fans would probably scoff at this movie due to its lack of blood and guts, but what do they know? This movie makes my list because, along with Frankenstein, it gave birth to the horror genre, and introduced the world to good ol’ monster movies.

One of the funniest movies ever made, in my opinion, is the Laurel and Hardy film Sons of the Desert. The movie, released in 1933, still holds up very well. There is some slapstick in it, but most of the laughs are found in the hilarious dialogue and facial expressions of Stan. This movie not only makes my 1930s list, but also my favorite movie of all time list!

Another movie that is on my all time favorite list is The Thin Man, also released in 1933. In fact, this is tied for the position of my “all time favorite movie” (the other being El Dorado from 1966). The movie is funny, suspenseful, and the chemistry between the two main characters is great! Not to mention Myrna Loy is kind of cute. Five sequels followed and all of them are great in my book.

Being a huge Western fan and a huge fan of the Duke, I’ve got to add 1939’s Stagecoach to the list. Even though John Wayne had been in movies before, this is really the film that introduced America to the Duke. It also has a great plot, great characters and acting, and some good action.

Speaking of action, the 30s had some great adventure movies. Gunga Din is one of the first action/buddy pictures to come out, and the formula has been copied countless times since. There’s also quite a bit of comedy thrown in. It’s a lot of fun, and as always Cary Grant seems to have enjoyed himself. Errol Flynn’s The Adventures of Robin Hood is a favorite of mine. There’s plenty of action, and it’s even in color, which is rare for a film of that time.

There are so many other great films from the decade, and I know after I post this I’ll think of them and say, “I should have included that one!” But, this will do for now. I’ll be back soon with my selections from the 1940s.

If you’re a fan of classic movies, a great site to check out is the Midnight Palace.