In truth, there is barely enough story here to make a film.

It's a movie as timely as it is provocative and amazingly, for much of its running time, it is weirdly funny.

Although I seem to have had higher expectations than I thought, the movie is super entertaining.

what a terribly boring film. I'm sorry but this is absolutely not deserving of best picture and will be forgotten quickly. Entertaining and engaging cinema? No. Nothing performances with flat faces and mistaking silence for subtlety.

"The Story of Temple Drake" is an infamous Pre-Code film that was withdrawn from circulation for two decades because the content of the movie was considered inappropriate after the new Production Code was put into effect in mid-1934. The tale about rape and murder was simply impossible to show based on the dictates of the new system. However, the film was later rediscovered and is considered by some one of the most daring films of the era.When the film begins, Stephen Benbow (William Gargan) is in love with Temple Drake (Miriam Hopkins) and has asked her to marry him. But while she cares about him, she's also a flirtatious lady and doesn't want to yet settle down. Unfortunately her lifestyle gets her into trouble one night when she and one of her many boyfriends have an accident and they are stranded in the middle of no where. They come upon a house run by a bunch of very stereotypical white trash and eventually one of them, a thug named Trigger (Jack La Rue) rapes her and then hold her hostage as a love slave for some time thereafter. Eventually, Temple is able to break free of this monster...and walks into the middle of a court case being defended by Benbow...and if she talks about her trials, she could help get Benbow's client acquitted. But this also means talking about her ordeal in front of folks....during an era where no one would dare talk about this.Fortunately, while the content is rather racy, the rape was NEVER shown and was handled tastefully. And, surprisingly, the topic of rape was treated rather fairly considering this was an era when women were often blamed for the assault. An important and groundbreaking film that actually stands up pretty well today...and features some powerful acting by Hopkins and Gargan.

Infamous Pre-Code Movie that is often Cited as one of those that brought the Hays Code as the Predeterminer of all Things out of Hollywood. It was Banned in Pennsylvania and Ohio, and once the Code Took Effect, the Do-Gooders made it Clear that this one was Never to be Re-Released in Any Form. Thanks a Bunch.Because of all the Hoopla this was a Rarely Seen, until recently, Film that was "Lost" for Decades. Then when it did Resurface in Bad Prints and were a Disappointment at Best and Impossible to Watch at Worst. But Recently, thanks to TCM and others, a New 35MM Print has been Restruck and Pre-Code Fans were Salivating to get a Glimpse at this Faulkner Story that was Considered Unfilmable. But Paramount did Film it and Release it with a Title Change, because the Book was as Infamous as the Movie would Become. The Book, "Sanctuary", was considered Lurid Trash. The Movie, "The Story of Temple Drake", was considered Lurid Trash. So Everyone Wins, so to speak.It is Quite a Ride with Miriam Hopkins Playing the Lead, a Late Teen Southern Belle with a Family History on Her Side and a Beau always at Her Side who were Always Invited but Never let into "The Temple". A Scrawl on the Bathroom Wall says it All..."Temple Drake is a Fake...She Wants to Eat and Have Her Cake".The Movie is Divided Distinctly in Two Parts. First are the Fancy Free and Gay Party Scenes where Temple Bounces from Boy to Frustrated Boy, comes in at Dawn and is Happy just to Dance and Drink the Night Away.Part Two is a Gothic Horror Story that Pulls Few Punches. The Fantasy Daydream has become a Nightmare when Temple Finds Herself Stranded in an Old Dark House with Hillbilly Horrors.There are Filthy, Sweaty Men Lusting after Her Disrobed, Pre-Code Female Form and this Climaxes with a Barnyard Rape and a Stockholm Syndrome Situation. Jack La Rue is the Bootlegger, Pimp, Murderer, Rapist, that has Temple Under His Spell and after Spending some Nights in a Brothel, the Final Act of Capitulation, the Courtroom Conclusion is brought about so Things can be Set Righteous. This is a Racy, Raunchy, Sordid Story of Sex, Murder, and Drunks. All Surrounding a Southern Family. Class Structured Elitism Exposed in the William Faulkner Way with a Heaping of Pre-Censorship, Expressionistic, Hollywood.Note...This is one of the most written about Pre-Code Films and there is much more information to be found elsewhere with in depth discussions about the Film's History.

Stephen Benbow (William Gargan) is an idealistic defense lawyer who is in love with Temple Drake (Miriam Hopkins). She is a southern belle wild child and a tease. Her granddad Judge wants her to go with Stephen but she can't seem to marry the straight laced Stephen. She leaves a party with the drunken Toddy who crashes the car. They're taken by bootleggers. Soon she's in fear of the lowlife criminals and the drunken Toddy is useless. She is raped by the well dressed killer Trigger (Jack La Rue). He kidnaps her as his kept woman. Stephen investigates Trigger for a murder and finds Temple. She pretends to be Trigger's woman to send Stephen off.The controversial salacious content is pre-code. There is some violence and a lot of suggested sexuality. It's actually effective as a noir style movie. The surprising thing is that it's still very watchable. The acting isn't always the best. William Gargan is a bit stiff. Miriam Hopkins is playing it very melodramatically as is usually the case of this era. It works in this melodrama. Jack La Rue is great as the quietly threatening villain.

Story of Temple Drake, The (1933) *** (out of 4) Notorious pre-code tells the story of Temple Drake (Miriam Hopkins), a Southern Belle who uses her beauty to turn men on only to quickly throw water on them. To Temple turning men on is just a joke but when a date takes her to a dangerous bar, she's quickly held hostage by a bootlegger named Trigger (Jack LaRue) who will stop at nothing to feed his lust. THE STORY OF TEMPLE DRAKE was highly controversial when it was first released and in large part it was one of the main reasons that the Hayes Office would have to finally stand up and keep on eye out for the "products" being released by Hollywood. Seen today the film is certainly less shocking but there's no doubt that the subject matter is still rather touchy and especially the "wannabe" bad girl who finally gets broken down when sexually, physically and mentally abused by an evil man. I think the best thing going for the film is the performance by Hopkins who was clearly born to play this role. Even though the film runs a very short 70-minutes and a lot of the material from the William Faulkner novel has been left out, the character of Temple Drake still goes through quite a bit of developments. Hopkins nails all of them and I really loved the early scenes where she was just playing the men to get them worked up so that she could just dump them and then move onto the next. These scenes with the actress are perfectly done but she also handles the later moments when she's terrified of what's going to happen to her and then of course at the end when she's broken down. I was also impressed with LaRue who gets to shine even if the screenplay doesn't do too much justice to him. William Gargan plays the lawyer who also just happens to be in love with Drake and he too is pretty good. Flrence Eldridge really stands out in her role and those with a quick eye can spot John Carradine in the courtroom. The pre-code elements are somewhat strong with a rape and several sexual moments with Hopkins either stripping down or showing off her legs. The most notorious scene happens when she strips down to her bra and panties only to have one of the thugs rip off a coat that she's wearing and the viewer gets even more of a glimpse of her. At 70-minutes the film moves extremely fast and there's no question that film buffs will want to search this one out.