Best Films of the 30's

I think the most conspicuous omissions are Chaplin's City Lights, Van Dyke's The Thin Man Renoir's The Grand Illusion, Hawks' Only Angels Have Wings and Ozu's I Was Born... But. I'd also give the nod to Lewis Milestone's The Front Page, but I can see it not being for everyone.

It's almost nice not to see the Marx Brothers. I never got their brand of comedy, far too dated. The Renoir, Bunuel and Vigo are all lower than I would place them, but they're included so I can't complain.

A good animated short form the 30s I can suggest is Len Lye's "A Colour Box" (and also "Kaleidoscope" which is virtually the same and just as good) from 1935.
It's sort of like Stan Brakhage's work, what with the painting-on-film stuff. Although it's a bit of a "controversial" thing to say, I'd say Lye is far more expressive and better at painting-on-film than Brakhage (with all due respect to Mothlight and The Dante Quartet). Lye's animations are so fluid and joyous and free. Occasionally quite tongue-in-cheek too (often if not always set to Swing or Calypso music), but always amazing little feats (Free Radicals is also a marvel from the 1950s (scratches on black leader made to look like 3D moving shapes))

Might I suggest you check out Lewis Milestone's "All Quiet On The Western Front", great film from 1930.