28 Films from the 1930 Oscars

SAL OF SINGAPORE received an Academy Award nomination for Best Writing in its second year. As one of the earliest talkie films, it was almost lost to time. A preservation print is held at UCLA, but it is currently unavailable…

Blondy and Swede are rough-and-tumble best friends who work as skyscraper builders. Blondy develops feelings for Sally after rescuing her from a falling beam, but pushes her away when he's injured in an accident and temporarily loses the ability to…

A seasoned carnival barker's life is disrupted by his son's unexpected arrival – a son he'd hoped would avoid the carnival lifestyle. The son becomes involved with a showgirl, while the barker himself grapples with the presence of his jealous…

A woman from a privileged Southern family begins a romantic relationship with a working-class man, and their connection ultimately results in a devastating tragedy.

This film tells the story of a close friendship forged between two American Marines and a naive German soldier in the aftermath of World War I. The Americans successfully persuade the German to join their ranks. Years later, while serving…

Pete Smith, a harbor lift bridge operator, experiences loneliness in his isolated cabin, with the occasional visit from police officer Sgt. Coughlin. One night, following the sound of gunfire, Smith shelters a wounded man, Marcas, hiding him from Coughlin. Before…

The wife of a plantation owner stands accused of shooting a man during an alleged attack. However, a handwritten letter surfaces, suggesting a different story altogether.

A German concert pianist's passionate nature leads him to repeatedly betray his loving wife. This film is thought to no longer exist.

Thunderbolt, a notorious criminal, is imprisoned and awaiting execution. A framed innocent man, Bob Moran, is placed in his cell. Unaware of Thunderbolt's connection to the woman he loves, Moran develops feelings for her. Thunderbolt desperately hopes to delay his…

Diana, Neville, and David have been friends since childhood, but their adult lives become complicated by a love triangle. Diana and Neville have always been drawn to each other, but her father opposes their relationship, leading to her marriage to…

Cynthia, wealthy and in love with Roger, who is married to Marcia, navigates a modern arrangement with the couple. Marcia is willing to divorce Roger if Cynthia provides a financial settlement. However, Cynthia's inheritance is tied to her marrying within…

This early film adaptation of the classic novel is a partial talkie, though only a silent version remains (preserved at the George Eastman House in Rochester, NY). It presents a straightforward story of a group of strangers whose lives become…

At a grand charity event hosted by Mrs. Cheyney, the enigmatic Fay attracts the attention of wealthy Lord Elton and the charming playboy Lord Arthur Dilling. Later, at Mrs. Webley's house, Fay once again becomes the focus of their interest,…

Army Sergeant Mickey Dunn pursues the legendary Cisco Kid, a charming outlaw known for his generosity. The Kid's sweetheart, Tonia, is secretly having an affair. When her lover is away, Tonia is tempted by Dunn's offer of a large reward…

In 18th-century Russia, Czar Paul is plagued by assassination attempts and relies solely on Count Pahlen. Pahlen wants to safeguard his friend, the increasingly unstable king, but burdened by the severity of the czar's actions, he believes removing him from…

Newly released from prison, Prohibition-era gangster Chick Williams quickly re-enters his criminal world. When a police officer is killed during a robbery, he becomes the prime suspect. Chick had taken the officer's daughter, Joan, to a theater, leaving her during…

The passionate relationship between Lady Hamilton and Admiral Horatio Nelson creates a scandal that shakes the foundations of the British Empire.

Marie Ducrot, a young woman from rural France, is ostracized after being seduced by a German soldier. Seeking solace, she becomes a nurse, joining the "sisters in white" working in the field hospitals during World War I. *The Awakening* was…

A young mother and wife is abandoned by her husband, the French Attorney General, who refuses to let her see their three-year-old son, despite her pleas for forgiveness. For years, she flees to other countries and seeks solace in absinthe.…

Against the colorful, ever-changing setting of a traveling carnival, a determined young woman struggles with poverty and homelessness. She finds a place among the carnival's diverse performers and meets a carefree painter who travels with only his art supplies. Their…

Four orphaned children are raised by an elderly clown and eventually become the stars of a circus high-wire act. This is a lost film.

A doctor battling alcoholism is deeply disturbed by the way white people are taking advantage of the island's inhabitants. He's then shipwrecked and finds himself stranded on a stunningly beautiful, untouched island.

David Carroll becomes the new editor of a Vermont newspaper. He's drawn to Dot, a sophisticated local woman, but he marries Allie Parker, the daughter of the boardinghouse owners where he lives. Allie stays behind while David travels to New…

Harriet and Queenie Mahoney, vaudeville performers, get their big break joining their friend Eddie Kerns on Broadway in a production by Francis Zanfield. Their lives become entangled with New York's upper class, and Queenie finds herself pursued by two very…

A gangster is imprisoned, where he discovers a path to redemption through music. After his release, he struggles to find success, facing constant temptations.

A man facing execution desperately tries to persuade two women that he is not their son and brother, urging them to move forward with their lives.

Two women compete for a millionaire's affection: one presents herself as a naive young woman, while the other hides her true intentions beneath a flapper's charm.

This film showcases a collection of actors from the MGM studio's roster of stars.