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.

“Deliberately sordid.” A “trashy, sex-plugged piece.” “Revolting” and the “best example of bad taste yet seen.” Those are just a few of the phrases critics in 1933 hurled at “The Story of Temple Drake,” Paramount’s adaptation of William Faulkner’s controversial novel “Sanctuary.” Miriam Hopkins stars as the titular Temple, the coquettish granddaughter of a prominent Mississippi judge. Sex is a game to Temple, until one of her suitors gets drunk and crashes their car outside the dilapidated hideout of a band of ruthless gangsters and bootleggers.

Originally titled “The Shame of Temple Drake,” the story plunges deep into the moral reckoning and redemption of a woman in peril, with scenes so shocking— the centerpiece being a deviation into old dark house horror that revels in grotesque details and hallucinatory imagery— they resulted in the film being shelved for decades after its release, remaining largely unseen until its 2011 restoration. That’s the real shame, because “Temple Drake” is clearly one of the greatest artistic triumphs of the 1930s, from its gothic lighting and doom-laden cinematography by frequent F.W. Murnau collaborator Karl Struss, to Hopkins’ deft handling of her character, to its central rape scene, artfully designed and extensively storyboarded by future noir director Jean Negulesco.

THEATER POLICIES

All seats are first-come, first-served.

The theater opens one hour prior to showtime, except for “Happy Hour” events when the theater will open at the event’s 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.