Tuesday, February 23, 2021

Three on a Match

Three on a Match is a 1932 pre-code crime drama with Joan Blondell, Warren William, Ann Dvorak, Bette Davis, and Humphrey Bogart. You can watch it online here. Blondell's publicity photo was later banned:



Here's a trailer:


I'd enjoy the outing:



but not the cigarettes.

Pre-Code.com says, "Denounced by critics and ignored at the box office, it’s become a cornerstone for serious cinema students when exploring the movies of the early 1930s. It embodies the Warner Bros. style while showcasing strong women characters all with irrepressible momentum." TCM has an overview.

Please join me at the T Stands for Tuesday blogger gathering hosted by Bleubeard and Elizabeth.

19 comments:

  1. ...thank goodness that cigarettes aren't as common as they use to be.

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  2. Three on a match is bad luck as in lighting 3 cigarettes from one matchstick. Oh, to go on that outing and be ladies who lunch. Happy T Day

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  3. Happy Tuesday, happy tea day. I would very much like to be like the likes in the last photo - out with friends, laughing together, sharing food together ... (insert heavy wishful sigh, maybe in 2022!). I agree no smokes of any kind!

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  4. I wonder if the tobacco industry made a contribution: I believe they had a hand in making sure that cigarettes and other smokes were made to look sophisticated and glamorous throughout the early days of film. That's one Bogart film that I should see as I have not yet watched it.

    be safe... mae at maefood.blogspot.com

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    1. Tobacco companies paid for most of the advertising back then, as I understand it. This is one of Bogart's earlier films. It's fun to see him at different periods.

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    2. I think it must have been hard for the movie and magazine industries to give up cigarette ads. They were so prevalent back then. Pick up any magazine prior to the 70s and you will see a plethora of cigarette ads. Loss of income from these companies must have caused the magazines to increase their prices (along with constantly increasing postal costs during that time, too). The internet seems to have found a way around this, though.

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    3. Yes, and once TV became a big thing in the 50s tobacco companies were program sponsors. They had money to burn it seems ;)

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  5. The precode movies are a hoot! We love watching them and yes, have seen this one more than once. Fun to pick out the innuendos and what would have made it precode back in the day:) Happy T day!

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  6. Loving the hairstyles, clothing and sets - gorgeous 😀. So lovely to be part of the ladies who lunch scene too! Happy T Tuesday! Hugs, Jo x

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  7. Joan Blondell's publicity photo would not be considered racy today. In fact, I've seen worse on TV that would have put her photo to shame.

    I DO enjoy seeing a bunch of women sitting and sipping coffee or tea, while discussing the politics of the day (grin). Oh for those days again. Thanks for sharing this trailer with us for T this Tuesday.

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  8. Funny how everyone smoked in films and on TV years ago, I’m guessing it was thought sophisticated back then, here in Spain they are still big smokers,
    Happy T day
    Jan S

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  9. I was wondering what pre-code was until I read further into your post and figured it out. Joan Blondell's photo looks really modern actually. Whoever thought up that pose was certainly ahead of their time. And nice frame for T this week. I can't wait for covid to disappear so lady friends can get together at a table inside and chat again. Hope it was a good T day!

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  10. And there are still so many smokers, despite the high prices, crazy!

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  11. I really like Joan Blondell's pose. You are made to believe she is naked (and I'm sure she would not have been) but it is naughty in a nice sort of way. Nowadays the sight of three chainsmoking women gossiping in a tea room would be much more controversial. How the world has changed.
    How I long for the days where I can go out with my girl friends (without the smoke, as none of my friends smoke) and put the world to rights.
    I didn't know what pre-code was, so I googled it and found myself looking at old clips for the next one and a half hours! You always get me going either with a film clip or a short story. I have learnt now to leave your blog until last as I know I won't be doing much else for at least an hour. So thank you.
    Happy T-Day,
    Lisca

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    1. That's so kind of you :) You can tell what I do with my time, can't you? Watch movies and read lol

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  12. I liked this movie. What a terrific cast -- but you're right about the smoking!

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  13. I really like this movie. There is something special about the oldies.

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  14. I thought I might have seen this but peeked at--nope. Watched the whole thing and it was very good. Interesting to see all these actors so young! What a cast! I loved the old movies and TV shows that had a moral. Old fashioned, I am.

    I tried to see who played the little boy so well but couldn't find him. Talented kid!

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  15. Interesting. I liked Joan Blondell. I like old movies, too. Thanks for sharing. Happy belated T Day.

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