Category Archives: movies 1930s

‘Grand Hotel,’ March, Beery and Hayes top Oscar winners 80 years ago today (1932)

(Friday, November 18, 1932)Grand Hotel, a film about guests at a posh Berlin hotel, was named Best Picture of 1931-32 tonight at the 5th Academy Awards at The Ambassador Hotel in Los Angeles.

Fredric March (Dr. Jekyll and Mr. Hyde) and Wallace Beery (The Champ) tied for Best Actor and Helen Hayes (The Sin of Madelon Claudet) won Best Actress.

Best Director went to Frank Borzage (Bad Girl).

‘Horse Feathers’ premieres in New York City 80 years ago today (1932)


Video: 'Horse Feathers' trailer

(Wednesday, August 10, 1932)Horse Feathers, a Marx Brothers film comedy about a college president who mistakenly recruits two loonies to beef up his school’s football team, premiered tonight at the Rialto Theatre in New York City.

Directed by Norman Z. McLeod, the film stars Groucho Marx, Harpo Marx, Chico Marx, Zeppo Marx, Thelma Todd and Reginald Barlow.

‘One Hour with You’ premiered in the U.S. 80 years ago today (1932)


Video: 'One Hour With You' clip

(Tuesday, March 22, 1932)One Hour with You, a musical comedy about a married couple who find themselves attracted to other people, premiered today in the U.S.

Directed by Ernst Lubitsch (“with the assistance of” George Cukor), the film stars Maurice Chevalier, Jeanette MacDonald, Genevieve Tobin and Charles Ruggles.

In 1932, it was nominated for the Academy Award for Best Picture (click here to watch the complete film).

‘Shanghai Express’ opens in New York 80 years ago today (1932)


'Shanghai Express' clip

(Tuesday, February 2, 1932) — A beautiful temptress re-kindles an old romance while trying to escape her past during a tension-packed train journey in Shanghai Express, which opened today in New York City.

Directed by Josef von Sternberg, the film stars Marlene Dietrich, Clive Brook, Anna May Wong, and Warner Oland (click here to watch the entire film).