This is an absolutely amazing short film and perhaps the best example of what a "Pre-Code Film" was. Up until 1934, the studios pretty much made whatever they wanted despite the Hays Office being there to ostensibly oversee the industry to make sure the films were acceptable for families. Not until the new Production Code came into effect in '34 did things change. The nudity, drugs, violence, sexual innuendos and rough language all were pretty much eliminated from films for decades and films became family friendly, though a tad sanitized as well. Here in this 1930 short from MGM, tons of material that the Production Code would have eliminated is present--and reveling in it!!
The film is set mostly in Hell and takes great advantage of the Two-color Technicolor process. Instead of full color, the film consisted of a black & white image, a green-blue image and a red-orange image all superimposed on each other. It was not true color but in a few films it looked really good (such as in the 1929 re-release of PHANTOM OF THE OPERA and in this film)--because of the subject and setting of the film. Often, however, over time the colors have either completely disappeared (resulting in a black & white movie) or the colors bleed so badly that the film is almost 100% orange--and an ugly mess.
It begins with one of the demons (in a nice suit) talking with a similarly dressed Lucifer. They are both upset because too many souls are going to Heaven and they are apparently losing the contest. So, it's up to Satan's #1 demon to go up to Earth and do some recruiting. With promises of a "heck" of a good time, tons of incredibly stupid young people come pouring into Netherworld for a huge party--complete with lots of dancing and an absolutely amazing set that you just have to see to believe.
So what's to like and what's to hate? Well, I must admit that some of the jokes are very, very corny and some of the dancing isn't very good compared to what was being made just a year or two later. In addition, some religious people will find the whole thing rather distasteful. However, on the plus side, this is the most astoundingly strange and original short I have ever seen from Hollywood, a great example of early color, is very entertaining and is historically significant in so many ways. While some might see these early shorts as old fashioned or expendable, they are a hugely important part of our cinematic history and what better way to illustrate how incredibly uninhibited and free people actually thought and acted during the supposedly conservative 1930s?! An absolute must for film historians, lovers of the strange and early film buffs.
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