Beware of Ladies: A dusty, scrappy little political relic

Is it worth the time?

Honestly, only if you have a soft spot for pre-code era newspaper dramas or political soap operas. If you need tight, modern pacing, stay away. This thing moves like a car with a flat tire. But if you like watching people argue in dimly lit offices and reporters who are way too invested in their own lives, you’ll probably have a decent time.

The whole thing feels like it was put together on a shoestring budget, but that’s kind of the charm. It’s got that 1930s urgency where everyone talks fast and assumes you already know who the bad guy is.

The Vibe

Our main character is a reporter dealing with marital drama, which is a classic trope that feels both exhausting and strangely grounding here. She gets shoved into the campaign of some young guy who thinks he can clean up the city. We all know how that usually goes.

The local political boss is played with that classic, oily charm you see in movies like The Stranger's Return. You just know he’s going to be a problem, and he doesn’t disappoint. He’s got that specific kind of 1930s villainy where they barely have to raise their voice to be threatening.

Odd Moments

There’s a scene where they’re in a campaign office and I swear the wallpaper is peeling in the background. Nobody bothered to fix it. It makes the whole office feel real in a way that big, glossy sets never do.

Also, the political speeches. They go on for about two minutes too long, and you can see the extras in the back just waiting for the director to yell cut. One guy in the third row is clearly checking his watch. I think I’d be checking my watch too.

• The lighting in the final act is weirdly moody for no reason.
• The dialogue is sharp, but sometimes it just stops mid-sentence.
• The political machine stuff is surprisingly cynical for its time.

It’s not as slick as something like Paramount on Parade, but it has a pulse. It’s scrappy. It’s a bit messy. It’s the kind of movie that feels like it was made on a Tuesday afternoon by people who just wanted to get it in the can. That’s not a bad thing, necessarily. It’s just... human.

Don't expect a deep dive into the political landscape of the 30s. Just enjoy the ride and the constant, rapid-fire banter. And maybe ignore the plot holes. There are plenty of them, especially in the third act when they seem to give up on explaining why the reporter is even still there.