Complicated Women

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.

Director: Hugh Munro Neely

Cast: Jane Fonda, Frances Dee, Karen Morley, Kitty Carlisle, Mae Madison, Mark Vieira, Mick LaSalle, Molly Haskell

Audience-only score — full critic data not yet in the ReelXO vault.