TCM Archives: Forbidden Hollywood Collection - Volume One (Waterloo Bridge (1931) / Baby Face / Red-Headed Woman)

Product exactly what I ordered.

There seems to be a great deal of pre-release confusion concerning what will actually be included on this upcoming set, and why. In the interest of sorting things out, I should first point out that although this is the first "Forbidden Hollywood" collection to be released by Warner Home Video on DVD, the franchise itself is not new. There were previously two "Forbidden Hollywood" boxed sets and a number of double features released on LaserDisc back in the 1990's. Additionally, quite a few "Forbidden Hollywood" titles were also offered on VHS cassette. From the git-go, "Forbidden Hollywood" titles were only culled from that cache of movies that premiered during the few short years after the introduction of "talkies" and the imposition of the Hays Production Code in 1934.During this time frame, roughly 1929 to mid-1934, Hollywood studio product became increasingly concerned with subject matter that would later be condemned as taboo after the Code came into effect; these so-called "pre-Code talkies" were filled with characters who indulged in premarital sex, extramarital affairs, and even gay and lesbian liaisons. Films touched on hot-button topics such as rape, abortion, feminism, having children out-of-wedlock, drug abuse, and other social ills. And mind you, these things weren't just delicately hinted at in screenplays ... they frequently were shown on-screen and discussed quite frankly. After the Hays Code was adopted by the motion picture industry as a self-censorship tool, this group of films was deemed unacceptable for future distribution and exhibition without judicious editing to trim out now-objectionable material, and so they became, literally, "Forbidden Hollywood" product.This new two-disc DVD set will feature three titles, but four films, two of them extremely rare. The first disc will include James Whale's 1931 "Waterloo Bridge", a film once thought "lost" and for the last 20 years only screened at film retrospectives (and apparently once or twice on TCM several years ago). The 1940 remake starring Vivien Leigh, though a wonderful and deservedly beloved film, will not be included here since it is not from the pre-Code era, and was never suppressed as part of the "Forbidden Hollywood" catalogue. Instead, the second film on this first disc will be the racy 1932 Jean Harlow vehicle, "Red-Headed Woman", which pushed the envelope back in the day for its bold depiction of a sexually free secretary who sets her sights on her married boss.The second disc will include two versions of a single film, the 1933 scorcher "Baby Face", starring Barbara Stanwyck as a blonde bombshell who - after being pimped out by her father in her own hometown - moves to New York and sleeps her way up the corporate ladder to the very top. Many film historians point to "Baby Face" as the single film most responsible for the introduction of the Hays Code, the one that ushered in an era of censorship that was to last for more than 30 years. Intriguingly, the version that so shocked the public was actually an edited version of the original cut, which then disappeared for over 70 years ... until a complete print was found, restored, and finally premiered on the revival circuit in early 2006. That long-awaited, long-sought original version will be included on this set, as will be the edited version that managed to cause such an uproar when it played theatres in 1933.And there you have it, the official contents of the "Forbidden Hollywood Collection, Volume One", enough to have a large number of pre-Code devotees jumping for joy at the chance to finally see (and own!) some seldom-displayed jewels. Let's just all hope that Volumes Two, Three, and so on are quick to follow!

First off the discs are incorrectly labeled (just the opposite of what they say). That could be OK once you figure that out, but when I select Red Haired Woman it plays Waterloo Bridge. When I select Waterloo Bridge is plays Waterloo Bridge. Seeing Red Haired Woman was the reason I purchased the set so I'm quite dismayed. I see no evidence online of a similar complaint. Is anyone else experiencing this?

This is the first in what hopefully will become a regular series of pre-code films. All three films (Baby Face, Red-Headed Woman, and the first version of Waterloo Bridge) push the envelope in regard to their openly dealing with a variety of taboo subjects such as promiscuity, adultery, prostitution. And unlike later post-code films which obliquely tackled the same topics, for the most part the heroines in two of these movies really don't suffer and/or 'pay for their sins'.Let's start with Baby Face. This is probably the strongest entry or debateably a tie with Red-Headed Woman. Barbara Stanwyk is Lilly Powers, a quick whitted woman who wants to escape her drab (yet unsavory) past by sleeping her way up the social ladder. Stanwyk is just great as she chews up men on her quest for wealth and riches. She's cold and calculating, yet oddly sympathetic on a certain level. If you look closely, you'll even glimpse John Wayne in a incidental part as one of her co-workers.Red-Headed Woman is basically a variation of Baby Face. This time the protagonist is played very differently by the wonderful Jean Harlow at her comedic best. Harlow makes no attempt at subtlety and camps it up as the homewrecker from hell (or in this case the wrong side of the tracks).Undoubtedly, this is one of her best parts in spite of the fact that this film is often ignored. I'd have to describe her character as one really smart and calculating dumb blonde.The last offering Waterloo Bridge is the weakest entry. It is not nearly as interesting as the previous two pictures and lacks the comedic elements showcased in the former entries. Aside from an early screen appearance by Bette Davis in a supporting role, there is nothing that really distinguishes it as exceptional except its subject matter.Overall, I stand by my 5* rating since I found all films enjoyable. And of course I have a new wish list for other pre-code films I'd like to see as entries for this series.

I'm going to be honest and say that I bought this collection mostly because I wad dying to see Red-Headed Woman. I'm a huge classic film enthusiast and I'm quite familiar with the popular pre-Code genre, but Red-Headed Woman - starring the wonderful Jean Harlow - was a film that I spent years trying to hunt down (first on VHS, then on DVD or bluray). I've seen Baby Face before and liked it and I'm fairly certain I've seen Waterloo Bridge at least once on TCM.The Forbidden Hollywood sets are a real treat for us film fans that crave a little bit (or a lot) of naughtiness circa the early 1930s. The majority of pre-Code films are great fun! So, if you're into classic film and would like to give one of these DVD collections a shot, this one is a good starting point. My favourite set of the bunch is Volume II.

Bought this for the Barbara Stanwyck movie 'Baby Face' which features Big John Wayne in an early non-cowboy role.made just as the Hays Office censorship came into effect this is still a very sexy and daring movie Stanwyck is as usual superb as a poor girl on the make,eating men up and spitting them out the move also demonstrates you dont have to take off your clothes or utter the 'F' word to make a great film.Look out for another Stanwyck classic in the same vain 'Stella Dallas'

Il fut une époque ou les baisers ne devaient pas dépasser 5 secondes sinon c'était de la pornographie ... et oui ! Ces films qui ne sont plus visible depuis longtemps sont enfin édités en dvd et nous pouvons retrouver Barbara Stanwyck, Jean Harlow et Mae Clark dans des films presques oubliés !!!

Some great performance from some outstanding actors. Loved this set. Highly recommend to anyone who loves this genre of film.

Unusual look back to forgotten films