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6.5/10
Senior Film Conservator
A definitive 6.5/10 rating for a film that redefined the boundaries of cult cinema. A Warm Corner remains a cornerstone of transgressive art.
For sure, A Warm Corner isn't for everyone today. If you're into those old-school British farces, the kind where everyone's politely flustered, you might find a certain charm. But if you need sharp wit and snappy pacing, you'll probably just wonder what the fuss was about. 🤷♀️
It’s all about these British folks on holiday in Venice. They're at the Lido, you know, doing touristy things and getting into scrapes.
Our main guy, Mr. Corner, he's a bit of a scamp. He's pretending to be “Mr. Pickles” to chase after this woman, Mimi.
Bless his heart, he thinks he’s clearing the way for his friend’s son to marry his own daughter. Very convoluted, even for a farce.
The funny thing is, Mimi is already married to that very same friend’s son. So Mr. Corner’s whole plan is built on sand. A delightful bit of dramatic irony, that.
Leslie Henson as Mr. Corner, he's got that classic British stage presence. All huff and puff, a lot of bluster.
Sometimes it’s a bit much, but then he nails a look that just makes you grin. 😄
Merle Oberon pops up, and she's just radiant. Even in this slightly silly setting, she brings a real elegance.
You just watch her whenever she's on screen. Her presence feels almost too grand for the low-stakes silliness happening.
The dialogue, it's very much of its time. Lots of polite exclamations. “Oh dear!” and “Good heavens!” are sprinkled throughout.
The whole thing moves at a leisurely pace, like a gentle stroll through a garden. You can almost feel the gentle breeze. 🌬️
There’s this one bit where Mr. Corner tries to impress Mimi with a very clumsy dance move. It goes on a tad too long, and you can almost feel the other actors trying not to break character.
It felt pretty real, that moment. Like a blooper reel that made it into the final cut. 😂
The Venetian setting is nice enough, though it feels like they didn't really use it much beyond a few establishing shots. A bit of a missed opportunity for more physical comedy, maybe.
The big payoff, everyone ending up at Braystead Castle. You just know it's going to be chaos. And it is!
Doors slamming, people hiding, it's all very… predictably delightful. You can see it coming a mile away, but it’s still kinda sweet.
I did get a little confused about who was related to whom at one point. All those names, Mr. Corner, Mr. Pickles, the friend’s son, the daughter… it’s a lot to keep track of if you're not paying close attention.
It’s not trying to be groundbreaking. It's just a little peek into a bygone era of comedy. A film that just wants to make you mildly chuckle, and on that front, it mostly succeeds. 👍
The costumes are quite lovely, though. Especially the ladies' outfits. Very chic for the 30s. ✨
So, if you're looking for something breezy and charmingly old-fashioned, give it a shot. Otherwise, maybe just watch Blackmail again, for some real drama. 😉
IMDb 7.1
1924
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