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5.9/10
Senior Film Conservator
A definitive 5.9/10 rating for a film that redefined the boundaries of cult cinema. A Ziegfeld Midnight Frolic remains a cornerstone of transgressive art.
Is this worth your time today? Only if you are a die-hard fan of early talkies or someone who studies how stage acts moved to film. If you want a real movie with a plot, you will absolutely hate this. 🍿
It is basically just a filmed performance. They want you to think it's the New Amsterdam Roof Garden, but you can tell it's just a big empty soundstage at the Paramount Astoria. The lighting is way too bright and flat for a 'midnight' show.
Eddie Cantor is the main draw here. He's in his full minstrel makeup, which is extremely jarring to look at if you aren't used to seeing these old relics. It’s hard to focus on his singing when he looks like that. 🎭
He does his usual high-energy thing, jumping around and clapping his hands. It’s a lot of energy for a camera that doesn't move an inch. You can feel the struggle of the early sound era where the mic was probably hidden in a flower pot or something.
Mary Eaton shows up to do some dancing. She's graceful, sure, but the transition into her segment feels like someone just spliced two different movies together. It has that same awkward jumping feel you see in The Vagabond Queen where the rhythm is just... off.
The audience in the background is the weirdest part for me. They look like they were paid in sandwiches and told to look like they’re having the time of their lives. 🥪 One guy in the back left just stares at the floor for like three seconds too long.
The audio is pretty rough. It sounds like everyone is talking through a thick wool blanket. Eddie Elkins and his orchestra are playing, but the brass instruments sometimes turn into a screechy mess. It’s not exactly a visually stunning experience, and the audio doesn't help.
Oscar Shaw is there too. He has that classic 1920s look where his hair is perfectly plastered to his head. He doesn't do much, but he looks the part of a 'fancy man' at a frolic.
I found myself wondering about the floor. It’s so shiny it reflects the studio lights in a way that makes the whole 'roof garden' lie even more obvious. They didn't even try to hide the cables in some shots. It reminds me of the low-budget charm in The Block Signal, though this was supposed to be a big deal.
The whole thing is over before you can really get bored. It’s like a ten-minute blast of noise and soot. If you’ve seen Life in Hollywood No. 3, you know how these short 'glimpse' films feel. They are less about art and more about 'Look! We have sound now!'
One reaction shot of a woman laughing feels like it lasts a century. She’s just... frozen there with a wide mouth. It’s almost creepy if you look at it too long. 🤡
The movie doesn't really have a 'ending' so much as it just stops. It’s like the film ran out or the cameraman got tired of standing still. It leaves you feeling like you just walked past a party you weren't invited to.
I guess if you like The Prince of Headwaiters you might enjoy the high-society vibe they are faking here. But honestly, it’s mostly just a curiosity. A weird, slightly dusty curiosity from a time when movies were still figuring out how to talk. 🎙️
I wouldn't call it a profound exploration of anything. It’s just Eddie Cantor being loud for ten minutes. If that sounds like your thing, go for it. If not, maybe just watch a clip and call it a day.
IMDb 6.2
1921
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