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.

Nineteen-year-old Loretta Young turns in a terrific and unheralded performance as Midnight Mary in the 1933 crime drama from MGM that possesses all of that studio’s gloss with Warner Brothers’ grit. Beginning in the courtroom where Mary is awaiting the verdict in a murder trial and unraveling in a compelling flashback structure that’s zippily directed by William Wellman from a story by Anita Loos, the film (originally titled “Lady of the Night”) takes us from Mary’s rough childhood to teenage years spent in prison on mistaken charges to adulthood struggling to find legitimate work at the height of the Depression before becoming the moll of a wealthy gangster (Ricardo Cortez).

Costarring Una Merkel as Mary’s best friend Bunny and Franchot Tone as the kind lawyer whose love might be able to set Mary straight, Midnight Mary is notable for more than its violent proto-noir narrative; it’s also home to some of the frankest discussions of sex and most explicit depictions of sexually-liberated women this side of the Hays Code.

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.

THEATER POLICIES

All seats are first-come, first-served.

The theater opens 30 minutes prior to showtime, except for “Happy Hour” events and pre-shows when the theater opens at the listed start time.

All ages are welcome at Arkadin except for Drinkolas Cage events, which are restricted to 21+. We follow the MPAA rating guidelines for all other films.

Tickets can be purchased using the BUY TICKETS link above. Upon ordering, you will receive a confirmation email from Square. Tickets may also be purchased on the day of the show at the concession counter.

If you’ve purchased advance tickets, when you arrive, please give your name at the concession counter to check in.

Tickets are returnable by sending a request through the contact form located on our About Us page prior to showtime.

When an event is sold out, we reserve the right to release open seats to customers on the waitlist. If you have a pre-purchased ticket and arrive late and there is no seat for you, your ticket will be refunded.

All screenings are held in our indoor theater unless indicated otherwise in the event description above.

Please respect your fellow movie-goers by remaining quiet and refraining from using your cell phone throughout the screening.