Why Carne de cabaret is a weirdly fun time capsule

Is it worth your time?

If you like old movies that feel like they were filmed in a basement during a party, then yes. It is definitely for people who enjoy pre-code grit and seeing how Hollywood used to make the same movie twice for different audiences.

You will probably hate this if you can't stand crackly audio or actors who sometimes look like they forgot their next line for a split second. It’s not a polished masterpiece like some other stuff from 1931.

I found myself staring at the background extras more than the main actors sometimes. There is this one guy in the dance hall scene who looks like he is genuinely bored out of his mind. 🥱

The movie is basically about a girl named Barbara who dances for money at a hall. She meets a guy, tries to be nice, and of course, it all goes south because men in these movies are usually trouble.

René Cardona is in this, and he is actually pretty charming. It’s funny to see him here before he became a huge director later on. 🎥

The lighting in the dance hall is actually kind of moody. It feels sticky and loud even though it is a silent-era talkie.

I noticed that the camera lingers on the floor a lot. Maybe they were proud of the rug? I don't know.

There is a moment where Carmen Guerrero looks directly at the camera. It felt like she was asking me for a break. It’s honestly kind of haunting.

The director is Christy Cabanne, but they spelled his name 'Wiliam Cabana' in the credits. That is the kind of sloppy detail I love about these old productions. Nobody cared!

It reminded me a bit of the energy in Pay Day, just with more talking and less slapstick. Both have that 'working for the weekend' vibe.

Some of the dialogue feels like it was translated a bit too literally from English. People don't really talk like that in Spanish, but it adds to the weird charm.

The pacing is all over the place. One scene is just people standing around talking about money for ten minutes, and then suddenly someone is crying. 😭

I wish there was more dancing, actually. For a movie with 'Cabaret' in the title, there is a lot of sitting in small rooms.

Lupita Tovar shows up too. She’s great, as always. Even when she has nothing to do, she just has that screen presence.

It’s a bit like The She Wolf in how it treats its lead woman. She’s tough, but the world is just trying to grind her down.

The sets look a bit flimsy. You can almost see the walls shaking when a door slams too hard. 🚪

One reaction shot of a guy at a table goes on for way too long. I think the editor might have fallen asleep for a second there.

It’s much more interesting than something like Ashamed of Parents, which feels way too preachy. This one just lets the characters be kind of messy.

I liked the music, even when it was way too loud for the dialogue. It felt like being in a real crowded club where you can't hear your friends.

There is a scene with a telephone that feels very high-tech for 1931. The way they handle the prop is so careful, like it’s made of gold.

If you’ve seen Hitchin' Posts, you know how these old dramas can get a bit theatrical. This one is no different.

I keep thinking about the ending. It doesn't feel like a real ending. It just sort of... stops. 🛑

But that’s okay. Real life doesn't always have a big finale either. It’s just a slice of a very specific time.

The whole 'taxi dancer' thing is such a strange bit of history. Getting paid ten cents to shuffle around a floor with a stranger. It’s depressing but also kind of fascinating.

You can tell they were rushing to finish this. Some of the cuts are so abrupt they make your head spin.

I'd watch it again just for the outfits. The hats alone are worth the price of admission. 🎩

It isn't a 'good' movie in the way people talk about Oscars. But it is a real movie. It feels like people actually worked on it and had a coffee break together.

Maybe it’s not as intense as Quello che non muore, but it has its own little spark. It’s worth a look if you're bored on a Tuesday night.