Forbidden Hollywood is a monthly series hosted by STL film critic Katie Carter celebrating the Pre-Code films of the early 1930s, when movies were wild, racy, transgressive, and tons of fun.

One thing the 1934 pre-Code musical comedy Hips, Hips, Hooray! can’t be accused of is not delivering on its title: there are hips galore, as evidenced by the bevy of scantily-clad female cast members who saunter across the screen, and plenty of hooray in the film’s zany plot turns (it’s about rival cosmetics companies, sort of), borderline deranged song-and-dance numbers, and cornball sense of humor. Directed for RKO by Mark Sandrich (who went on to helm several of Fred Astaire and Ginger Rogers’ most famous vehicles) and starring Bert Wheeler and Robert Woolsey — a wildly popular comedy team in the early 1930s whose short-lived career means they haven’t sustained the legacy of some of their contemporaries — Hips, Hips, Hooray! showcases the duo’s brand of sexual comedy at its peak, with comedienne Thelma Todd, torch singer Ruth Etting, and Wheeler and Woolsey regular Dorothy Lee providing ample support.

Arkadin does not generally provide advisories about subject matter or potentially triggering content in films, as sensitivities vary from person to person. However, we encourage researching titles to determine if a screening may contain content that could be upsetting to you. Please feel free to contact us for guidance on specific films. Information about content can also be found on Common Sense Media, IMDB and DoesTheDogDie.com, as well as through general internet searches.