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7-9-13 (1934) Review · 5/10 | Dbcult

5/10

7-9-13: A strange, dusty comedy about giving up

Author

Senior Film Conservator

2 June 2026

2 min read

A definitive 5/10 rating for a film that redefined the boundaries of cult cinema. 7-9-13 remains a cornerstone of transgressive art.

Is this worth the watch?

If you like movies that feel like they were pulled from a dusty attic, maybe. It’s definitely for people who dig old-school, theater-style acting where every gesture is three times bigger than it needs to be. If you’re looking for a tight, modern script, you’re gonna hate this. It moves like molasses in winter.

7-9-13 scene — Scene from 7-9-13

Cinematic perspective: Exploring the visual vocabulary of 7-9-13 (1934) through its definitive frames.

The whole setup starts with Peter, who is just dramatically sad. Like, "I’m going to throw my life away because my play sucked" kind of sad. It’s almost funny how quickly he goes from failed artist to looking for a rope. It reminds me a bit of the frantic energy in Tati: Brute Wanted, but with way less charm.

7-9-13 scene — Scene from 7-9-13

Cinematic perspective: Exploring the visual vocabulary of 7-9-13 (1934) through its definitive frames.

The business of failure

Once he meets those two bankrupt guys, the movie shifts gears. It stops being a sad sack story and starts being this weird heist-lite comedy. The chemistry between them is... well, it’s mostly just them shouting over each other. It’s not quite as sharp as the wit you'd find in Cats at Law, but it works in a goofy, vintage way.

7-9-13 scene — Scene from 7-9-13

Cinematic perspective: Exploring the visual vocabulary of 7-9-13 (1934) through its definitive frames.

There is this one shot where they’re plotting in the corner of a room, and the background extras are just standing there, looking totally confused. I spent five minutes just watching a guy in the back try to figure out if he was supposed to be drinking his coffee or just staring at the wall. Classic.

7-9-13 scene — Scene from 7-9-13

Cinematic perspective: Exploring the visual vocabulary of 7-9-13 (1934) through its definitive frames.

The rope scene is way too long. I checked my watch twice.
The lighting is very "candlelight dinner in a basement."
Some of the dialogue sounds like it was written by someone who had never actually spoken to a human before.

It’s not a masterpiece. It’s not even a particularly good movie by modern standards. But there’s something honest about how messy it is. It’s got that specific 1930s vibe where they just hoped the audience wouldn't notice the plot holes if they talked fast enough. It’s nowhere near as polished as Jesse James, but I didn't hate the time I spent with it. 📽️

7-9-13 scene — Scene from 7-9-13

Cinematic perspective: Exploring the visual vocabulary of 7-9-13 (1934) through its definitive frames.

Maybe skip it if you're tired, because you will definitely drift off during the middle act. But if you want something odd to put on while you're cleaning the kitchen? Sure. Why not.