Complicated Women

Before Hollywood had boundaries, they weren't afraid to push the limits.

Looks at the stereotype-breaking films of the period from 1929, when movies entered the sound era, until 1934 when the Hays Code virtually neutered film content. No longer portrayed as virgins or vamps, the liberated female of the pre-code films had dimensions. Good girls had lovers and babies and held down jobs, while the bad girls were cast in a sympathetic light. And they did it all without apology.

Cast

Jane Fonda

Self - Narrator (voice)

Frances Dee

Self - Interviewee

Karen Morley

Self - Interviewee

Kitty Carlisle

Self - Interviewee

Mae Madison

Self - Interviewee

Mark Vieira

Self - Interviewee

Mick LaSalle

Self - Interviewee

Molly Haskell

Self - Interviewee

Barbara Stanwyck

Self (archive footage)

Bette Davis

Self (archive footage)

C. Aubrey Smith

Self (archive footage)

Chester Morris

Self (archive footage)