Classic Films in Focus: MADAM SATAN (1930)

Cecil B. DeMille's 1930 musical extravaganza is hard to classify in terms of genre and even harder to describe in terms of sheer spectacular weirdness, but Madam Satan is one of those Pre-Code pictures you really need to see for yourself in order to appreciate the extent to which it revels in a "mor... Read full article

Clearing Out My DVR Part 2: Madam Satan (1930); A Dress, A Dirigible and a Dame

I love my DVR. Next to the Keurig coffee maker and the GPS, it is an invention that changed my life for the better. However, unlike the coffee maker, which gratifies me instantly with hot coffee and the GPS, that provides quick and (usually) correct directions, the DVR requires that I actually watch... Read full article

Musical Monday: Madam Satan (1930)

It’s no secret that the Hollywood Comet loves musicals. In 2010, I revealed I had seen 400 movie musicals over the course of eight years. Now that number is over 500. To celebrate and share this musical love, here is my weekly feature about musicals. This week’s musical: Madam Satan (1930) – M... Read full article

Pre-Code Crazy: Madam Satan (1930)

You may not know this about me, but I am no horror fan. Oh, I’ve seen the occasional horror movie – Frankenstein and Bride of Frankenstein, and I even recently caught most of Dracula – but for the most part, no thank you. So when I looked over TCM’s pre-Code offerings for the month of Octo... Read full article

DeMille’s Opus: Madam Satan (1930)

“Don’t try to believe it. Just accept it for what it’s worth, the most amazing, lavish, gorgeous DeMille spectacle ever put on screen…” opens Photoplay magazines October 1930 film review. We couldn’t agree more, this film is over the top. It’s almost as if C... Read full article