Gloria Swanson Wearing Chanel in Tonight or Never (1931)

Tonight or Never is a 1931 American pre-Code comedy film directed by Mervyn LeRoy, starring Gloria Swanson and featuring Boris Karloff. Nella Vargo (Swanson) is a Hungarian prima donna whose latest performances include singing Tosca in Venice. Although she is praised by the audience, her music teacher Rudig feels that she can not be the greatest opera singer in history until she performs in New York City. When she is criticized for not putting her soul into the song, she gets mad, until she suddenly notices a mysterious man walking on the street. She becomes smitten with the man, until Rudig claims that he is a gigolo whose latest client is Marchesa Bianca San Giovanni, a former diva with a notorious past.

Gloria Swanson in Tonight or Never directed by Mervyn LeRoy, 1931. Dress by Coco Chanel via

Gloria Swanson in Tonight or Never directed by Mervyn LeRoy, 1931. Dress by Coco Chanel via

Gloria Swanson in Tonight or Never directed by Mervyn LeRoy, 1931. Dress by Coco Chanel via

Clara Bow in Pre-Code Hollywood Drama “Call Her Savage” (1932)

Clara Bow in “Call Her Savage”, 1932 via

Clara Bow in “Call Her Savage”, 1932 via

Louise Brooks as “The Canary” in The Canary Murder Case (1929)

The Canary Murder Case is a 1929 American Pre-Code crime-mystery film made by Paramount Pictures, directed by Malcolm St. Clair and Frank Tuttle. The screenplay was based on novel The Canary Murder Case by S.S. Van Dine. – Louise Brooks plays the role of Margaret Odell (The Canary), a scheming nightclub singer

Louise Brooks in The Canary Murder Case via

Louise Brooks in The Canary Murder Case 1929.  Image by George P. Hommell via

Bebe Daniels in Dangerous Female (1931)

The Maltese Falcon (1931) is an American pre-code crime film, based on the novel of the same name by Dashiell Hammett and directed by Roy Del Ruth. The film stars Ricardo Cortez as private detective Sam Spade and Bebe Daniels as Ruth Wonderly.

The Plot of the film is that a lovely dame with dangerous lies employs the services of a private detective, who is quickly caught up in the mystery and intrigue of a statuette known as the Maltese Falcon.

Bebe Daniels as Ruth Wonderly, 1931

Bebe Daniels as Ruth Wonderly, 1931

Bebe Daniels as Ruth Wonderly, 1931

Bebe Daniels as Ruth Wonderly (1931)

Bebe Daniels adds to the cash she keeps in her stockings, 1931