1930 1931 193219331934 1935 1936 1937 1938 1939

1933 Movies

Take a nostalgic look back at the top movies of 1933, celebrating the films, directors and actors that defined the year and left a lasting legacy in the world of entertainment.

Gold Diggers of 1933
Written by: James Seymour, Brown Holmes, Harry Warren, Al Dubin
Directed by: Mervyn LeRoy
Starring: Warren William, Joan Blondell, Aline MacMahon, Ruby Keeler, Dick Powell, Guy Kibbee
Country: United States of America
Outline: A Broadway director assembles a group of chorus girls to perform a musical revue during the Great Depression.
source: imdb.com
Dinner at Eight
Written by: Frances Marion, Herman J. Mankiewicz, George S. Kaufman
Directed by: George Cukor
Starring: Marie Dressler, John Barrymore, Wallace Beery, Jean Harlow, Lionel Barrymore, Lee Tracy, Edmund Lowe, Billie Burke
Country: United States of America
Outline: An ambitious New York socialite plans an extravagant dinner party, leading to a series of personal and professional crises among her guests. The film delves into the complexities of social interactions and the challenges of maintaining appearances.
source: imdb.com
Footlight Parade
Written by: Ben Markson, Earl Baldwin, Robert Lord
Directed by: Lloyd Bacon
Starring: James Cagney, Joan Blondell, Ruby Keeler, Dick Powell, Guy Kibbee, Frank McHugh, Hugh Herbert, Ned Sparks
Country: United States of America
Outline: A Broadway director faces financial ruin and personal challenges while trying to produce a series of musical extravaganzas. The film showcases the behind-the-scenes struggles of the entertainment industry during the Great Depression.
source: imdb.com
42nd Street
Written by: R.B. Haldane, James Seymour, Bradford Ropes
Directed by: Lloyd Bacon
Starring: Warner Baxter, Bebe Daniels, George Brent, Ruby Keeler, Dick Powell, Guy Kibbee, Ned Sparks, Una Merkel
Country: United States of America
Outline: A young chorus girl gets her big break when the star of a Broadway show is injured, leading to a series of challenges and triumphs. The film highlights the resilience and determination of performers in the face of adversity.
source: imdb.com
Roman Scandals
Written by: Ben Markson, Earl Baldwin, Robert Lord
Directed by: Frank Tuttle
Starring: Eddie Cantor, Stuart Erwin, Gloria Stuart, Edmund Gwenn, Charles Butterworth, Leonid Kinskey, Edward Arnold
Country: United States of America
Outline: A young man is transported back in time to ancient Rome, where he becomes entangled in political intrigue and romance. The film is a comedic take on historical events, blending fantasy and satire.
source: imdb.com
Tugboat Annie
Written by: Earl Baldwin
Directed by: Mervyn LeRoy
Starring: Marie Dressler, Wallace Beery, Robert Young
Country: United States of America
Outline: Tugboat Annie, a seasoned tugboat captain, faces challenges when her son returns from the Navy and falls in love with a young woman. Amidst romantic entanglements and maritime adventures, Annie strives to keep her crew and family together.
source: imdb.com
I'm No Angel
Written by: Earl Baldwin, Mae West
Directed by: Wesley Ruggles
Starring: Mae West, Cary Grant, Edmund Gwenn
Country: United States of America
Outline: Tira, a circus performer, becomes a sensation in vaudeville, leading to a romantic entanglement with a wealthy man. As she navigates love and ambition, Tira's sharp wit and charm keep her at the center of attention.
source: imdb.com
Dancing Lady
Written by: Ernest Vajda, John Meehan
Directed by: Robert Z. Leonard
Starring: Joan Crawford, Clark Gable, Franchot Tone
Country: United States of America
Outline: Janet, a dancer with dreams of Broadway, faces numerous obstacles, including a love triangle and financial hardships. Her determination and talent lead her to a chance at stardom, but not without personal sacrifices.
source: imdb.com
She Done Him Wrong
Written by: Mae West, John Bright
Directed by: Lowell Sherman
Starring: Mae West, Cary Grant, Owen Moore
Country: United States of America
Outline: Lady Lou, a nightclub singer with a colorful past, becomes entangled with a young man seeking to reform her. Amidst gangsters and romantic pursuits, Lou's charm and wit keep her at the center of attention.
source: imdb.com
King Kong
Written by: James Ashmore Creelman, Ruth Rose
Directed by: Merian C. Cooper, Ernest B. Schoedsack
Starring: Fay Wray, Robert Armstrong, Bruce Cabot
Country: United States of America
Outline: A filmmaker and his crew journey to a mysterious island to capture footage of a giant ape, King Kong. After capturing Kong and bringing him to New York City, the beast escapes, leading to a climactic battle atop the Empire State Building.
source: imdb.com
Duck Soup
Written by: Bert Kalmar, Harry Ruby
Directed by: Leo McCarey
Starring: Groucho Marx, Harpo Marx, Chico Marx, Zeppo Marx, Margaret Dumont
Country: United States of America
Outline: Rufus T. Firefly becomes the dictator of bankrupt Freedonia and declares war on neighboring Sylvania over the love of his wealthy backer Mrs. Teasdale, contending with two inept spies who can't seem to keep straight which side they're on.
source: imdb.com
King Kong
Written by: James Ashmore Creelman, Ruth Rose
Directed by: Merian C. Cooper, Ernest B. Schoedsack
Starring: Fay Wray, Robert Armstrong, Bruce Cabot, Frank Reicher, Sam Hardy
Country: United States of America
Outline: A film crew travels to the mysterious Skull Island, where they discover a giant ape named Kong, who is captured and brought back to New York City, leading to tragic consequences.
source: imdb.com
Going Hollywood
Written by: Bert Kalmar, Harry Ruby, James V. Kern
Directed by: Raoul Walsh
Starring: Marilyn Miller, Stuart Erwin, Charles 'Buddy' Rogers, Edward Arnold, Charles Ruggles
Country: United States of America
Outline: A Broadway starlet travels to Hollywood to make it big in the movies, facing challenges and romantic entanglements along the way.
source: imdb.com
Queen Christina
Written by: H.G. Saperstein, S.N. Behrman, Salka Viertel
Directed by: Rouben Mamoulian
Starring: Greta Garbo, John Gilbert, Lewis Stone, Elizabeth Young, Ian Keith
Country: United States of America
Outline: Queen Christina of Sweden abdicates her throne to live a life of freedom and love, leading to a romantic and political upheaval.
source: imdb.com
The Invisible Man
Written by: R.C. Sherriff
Directed by: James Whale
Starring: Claude Rains, Gloria Stuart, William Harrigan, Dudley Digges, Una O'Connor, Henry Travers, Forrester Harvey
Country: United States of America
Outline: Dr. Jack Griffin, a scientist who discovers the secret of invisibility, becomes a madman bent on terrorizing the world. As his insanity grows, his fiancée and mentor struggle to stop him.
source: imdb.com
Sons of the Desert
Written by: Frank Craven
Directed by: William A. Seiter
Starring: Stan Laurel, Oliver Hardy, Mae Busch, Dorothy Christy, Charley Chase
Country: United States of America
Outline: Stan and Ollie trick their wives into thinking they're on a medicinal cruise while attending a convention, leading to comedic complications when the wives discover the truth.
source: imdb.com
Lady for a Day
Written by: Robert Riskin, Damon Runyon
Directed by: Frank Capra
Starring: May Robson, Warren William, Guy Kibbee, Ned Sparks, Halliwell Hobbes, David Landau
Country: United States of America
Outline: A Broadway director assembles a group of chorus girls to perform a musical revue during the Great Depression.
source: imdb.com
Wild Boys of the Road
Written by: Earl Baldwin, Daniel Ahern
Directed by: William A. Wellman
Starring: Frankie Darro, Edwin Phillips, Rochelle Hudson, Dorothy Coonan Wellman, Sterling Holloway
Country: United States of America
Outline: In the depths of the Great Depression, two teenage boys embark on a journey to find work, facing numerous hardships along the way. Their adventures highlight the struggles of youth during a challenging economic era.
source: imdb.com
The Working Man
Written by: Robert Lord, Earl Baldwin, William Hurlbut
Directed by: John G. Adolfi
Starring: Warren William, Joan Blondell, Aline MacMahon, Guy Kibbee, Ned Sparks, Halliwell Hobbes
Country: United States of America
Outline: A Broadway director assembles a group of chorus girls to perform a musical revue during the Great Depression.
source: imdb.com
Bombshell
Written by: John Lee Mahin, Jules Furthman
Directed by: Victor Fleming
Starring: Jean Harlow, Lee Tracy, Frank Morgan, Franchot Tone, Pat O'Brien, Una Merkel, Ted Healy, Mary Forbes, C. Aubrey Smith
Country: United States of America
Outline: A satirical comedy that delves into the life of a movie star, highlighting the challenges and absurdities of fame in Hollywood. The film offers a humorous take on the entertainment industry's pressures and the personal toll of stardom.
source: imdb.com
The House on 56th Street
Written by: J. Walter Ruben, William Anthony McGuire
Directed by: Robert Florey
Starring: Kay Francis, George Brent, Ian Hunter, Margaret Lindsay, Reginald Owen, Alan Hale, Sr.
Country: United States of America
Outline: A melodrama about a woman who, after being wronged by a man, seeks revenge by seducing his son. The film explores themes of betrayal, revenge, and the complexities of human relationships.
source: imdb.com
The Devil's Brother
Written by: Hal Roach, Charley Rogers
Directed by: Hal Roach, Charley Rogers
Starring: Stan Laurel, Oliver Hardy, Thelma Todd, Charles Middleton, James Finlayson, Edgar Kennedy
Country: United States of America
Outline: A comedic adventure where two bumbling characters, Stan and Ollie, are mistaken for bandits and become involved in a plot to rescue a kidnapped princess. The film is a parody of the opera 'The Gondoliers' by Gilbert and Sullivan.
source: imdb.com