Drama
The denotative aspects of drama from Aristotle's "Poetics" include a story development with a beginning, middle and an end. In the more conventional sense, dramatic presentations include the portrayal of characters, settings, life situations and stories in the course of a theatrical performance. In theatre, drama usually takes on the scope of dealing with matters of a serious nature.
Drama is Alice's largest section and a treasure trove of great drama catering for every taste. The bulk of the "Drama" section (generally made since 1965 and include psychological dramas) is listed below, however you may also choose from the "Classic Drama" sub-section (generally made before 1965), in blue on left. Also helpful may be "Alices Playhouse", "True Stories" and "Shakespeare" features.
Right: Scene from Kubrick's beautifully mounted "Barry Lyndon"
A Farewell to Arms (1932)
6.5/10
Director: Frank Borzage
Starring: Helen Hayes, Gary Cooper, Adolphe Menjou
The first Hemingway novel to reach the screen, nominated for four Oscars, with riveting performances by Helen Hayes and Gary Cooper as the sweet Engli... Read more
Grand Hotel (1932)
7.6/10
Director: Edmund Goulding
Starring: Greta Garbo, John Barrymore, Wallace Beery
Welcome to Grand Hotel - a beautiful Berlin establishment filled with palatial splendor and whose occupants include Greta Garbo as a fading ballerina,... Read more
The Most Dangerous Game (1932)
7.3/10
Director: Ernest B Schoedsack
Starring: Irving Pichel, Joel McCrea, Fay Wray, Leslie Banks
Schoedsack and Pichel's adaptation of the famous 1924 short story by Richard Connell that was filmed on the same jungle sets as 'King Kong'. On a dens... Read more
Rain (1932)
6.9/10
Director: Lewis Milestone
Starring: Joan Crawford, Walter Huston, William Gargan
W Somerset Maugham's story of Sadie Thompson, who became a classic of stage, screen and literature, with a brilliant performance from Joan Crawford as... Read more
Tokyo Chorus (1931)
7.7/10
Director: Yasujiro Ozu
A married Tokyo man faces unemployment after standing up for an older colleague. Read more
The Miracle Woman (1931)
7.3/10
Director: Frank Capra
Starring: Barbara Stanwyck, David Manners
A minister's daughter finds fame as an evangelist but struggles with her own lack of faith in Frank Capra's impassioned drama. Inspired by a true stor... Read more
Mata Hari (1931)
6.7/10
Director: George Fitzmaurice
Starring: Greta Garbo, Ramon Novarro, Lionel Barrymore, Lewis Stone, Karen Morley
Who better to play the famous World War I spy than the Swedish Sphinx, Greta Garbo? She is mesmerising as the dancer-turned-German spy in a wartime P... Read more
The Skin Game (1931)
5.8/10
Director: Alfred Hitchcock
Starring: Helen Haye, C V France, Edmund Gwenn, John Longden
Early Hitchcock drama, based on John Galsworthy's popular stage play, that was decidedly atypical of the Master's subsequent suspensers. The aristocra... Read more
Svengali (1931)
6.9/10
Director: Archie Mayo
Starring: John Barrymore, Marian Marsh, Donald Crisp
John Barrymore stars as the mysterious music teacher whose hypnotic hold over a young model (Marian Marsh) propels her singing career, until their biz... Read more
The Gangster Films (1930)
Director: Yasujiro Ozu
'Walk Cheerfully' 1930. Kenji is a small thief who likes drinking and fighting. When he falls in love with sweet and simple Yazue, and she finds ou... Read more