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6.7/10
Senior Film Conservator
A definitive 6.7/10 rating for a film that redefined the boundaries of cult cinema. A Preferred List remains a cornerstone of transgressive art.
If you have a soft spot for 1930s shorts that feel like they were filmed in someone's living room, absolutely. If you need high-stakes drama or modern pacing, skip this. It's built for people who want to see Dorothy Lee do her thing while everything goes sideways around her.
It’s weird how these old shorts just sort of drop you into the middle of a screaming match. There’s no setup. Just people being loud and confused.
I found myself staring at the background props more than the actual dialogue. The wallpaper in the main parlor is something else. It looks like it’s vibrating every time someone slams a door.
The pacing is frantic. Maybe a little too much so. It’s like the director was trying to squeeze a feature film’s worth of energy into a tiny container.
It’s nowhere near the scope of Le Cirque de la Mort, but then again, it’s not trying to be. It’s just trying to be loud and mildly amusing.
There is this one moment where Bud Jamison just stands there for a beat too long. He’s supposed to be reacting to a punchline, but his eyes look completely blank. It’s the most honest part of the whole movie.
It’s honestly refreshing how small this is. No big sets, no fake stakes, just a list and a bunch of people trying to get on it. It reminds me a bit of the vibe in The Fast Worker, where the chaos feels almost accidental.
Is it a masterpiece? No. Does it feel like an old, dusty photograph you found in an attic? Yes. 🎞️
The ending is so abrupt it’s almost funny. The screen just goes black right as they’re hitting their stride. Maybe they ran out of film. Or maybe they just got tired of the script.
Don't overthink it. It’s a relic of a different kind of entertainment. You watch it, you giggle at the hats, and then you move on with your life.