Sex. Scandal. Drinking. These are just a few of the titillating things that made pre-Code Hollywood movies so good. But eventually those behind the code made sure that films didn’t have immoral or objectionable scenes in them. But really, what fun is that? Who doesn’t want sex, scandal, and of course, a good cocktail? And André Darlington and TCM are here to help you with well, that last part with the new book, Forbidden Cocktails: Libations Inspired by the World of Pre-Code Hollywood.
Buy Forbidden Cocktails Libations Inspired by the World of Pre-Code HollywoodWith a foreword by Mark A. Vieira, Forbidden Cocktails gives you a brief history of the cultural context that is important in thinking about pre-Code Hollywood as well as the important part that alcohol played in these films. As Vieira points out, “Drink drove stories and provided plot points.”
Darlington then takes over as mixologist and carefully walks readers through the menu of the 50 cocktails he crafted for this book, tying each one into a pre-Code film. He begins with The Divorcee and its cocktail “Balanced Account” through pre-Code Hollywood to one the era’s final films The Thin Man, and its cocktail, “Asta”.
After the more than 200 pages of film information, beautiful design and photos, and delicious recipes, Darlington then finishes off his cocktails with a few garnishes including “The Sideboard: A Manual for Making Mixed Drinks,” some common ratios for creating drinks, some recommendations for stocking your bar, and a list of pre-Code era cocktails that are some of his favorites.
And like other TCM books, the cover and interior design of the book (by Amanda Richmond) and photo styling (by Kelsi Windmiller) are just stunning. Forbidden Cocktails looks like an Art Deco design masterpiece and is a joy simply just to look and read through.
Forbidden Cocktails: Libations Inspired by the World of Pre-Code Hollywood is new from the TCM Library and available now wherever you get your books.
