Cheer Up and Smile (1930) - A very weird, squeaky time machine

You should probably watch this if you have a soft spot for movies that feel like they were made on a different planet. It is definitely not for you if you can't stand high-pitched singing or 1930s college humor that doesn't always land.

It’s a strange little movie. Arthur Lake plays Eddie, and let me tell you, his voice is... something else.

He sounds like he just inhaled a whole tank of helium. But that is the whole point, I guess.

The story starts at a college where everyone seems way too old to be in school. Eddie is the guy nobody takes seriously, especially his girlfriend.

Then we get this robbery scene. It feels way more intense than the rest of the movie, which is mostly just people smiling and singing.

A famous radio singer named 'Whispering' Jack Smith gets knocked out. The show must go on, right? 🎤

Eddie fills in and his squeaky little voice turns him into a star overnight. It makes no sense, but it’s 1930, so we just go with it.

I found myself staring at the background actors a lot. Some of them look like they aren't sure where the camera is.

There is a guy in the crowd who looks exactly like a young John Wayne. Oh wait, it is John Wayne in a tiny, tiny role.

He doesn't do much, but it’s like finding an Easter egg in a very old carton. 🥚

Cinematic perspective: Exploring the visual vocabulary of Cheer Up and Smile (1930) through its definitive frames.

The pacing is kind of all over the place. One minute they are at a dance, and the next, there's a bunch of drama about a robbery that feels like it belongs in The Last Trail or something.

I actually liked the radio station scenes. They have all these big, clunky microphones that look like they could crush a man.

The movie tries really hard to be happy. The title literally tells you to Cheer Up and Smile, which feels a bit bossy if you ask me.

Arthur Lake is very bouncy. He moves his arms like he’s trying to fly away from the plot.

Some of the jokes are so old they’ve actually become funny again. Not because the joke is good, but because the timing is so awkward.

There’s a bit with a dog that goes on way too long. I think they just liked the dog and didn't want to stop filming it.

The songs are catchy in a way that will annoy you three hours later. You’ll be doing dishes and suddenly hum a tune from a movie made before your grandma was born.

It’s much lighter than something like The Hard Guy. It doesn't want to teach you a lesson; it just wants you to look at Arthur Lake's face.

I noticed a couple of times where the sound doesn't quite match the lips. It’s that early talkie struggle where everyone had to stand near the hidden microphones.

If you look at the floor, you can almost see where the actors were told to stand. It gives the whole thing a very staged and cozy feeling.

Cinematic perspective: Exploring the visual vocabulary of Cheer Up and Smile (1930) through its definitive frames.

The girlfriend character, Margie, is mostly there to look surprised. She does a great job of looking surprised when Eddie becomes famous.

I wonder if people back then actually thought his singing was good? Or was it always supposed to be a joke? I can't really tell.

Whispering Jack Smith is actually pretty cool though. He has this very soft way of singing that was huge back then.

It’s a bit like watching a time capsule that someone accidentally dropped in the mud. It’s messy and weird but you can’t stop looking at it.

The ending is exactly what you think it will be. No spoilers, but nobody is going home sad in a movie called Cheer Up and Smile.

If you’ve seen Andy's Dancing Lesson, you kind of know the vibe of these early comedies. They are just trying to figure out what works with sound.

Is it a great film? No, definitely not.

But it’s a fun one if you like seeing how movies used to be made when everything was new. It’s short enough that it doesn't overstay its welcome.

Just be prepared for that voice. It’s like a whistle that won't stop.

Random things I noticed:

• The hats. Everyone has such serious hats for such a silly movie.
• The way the robbery happens is so fast you might blink and miss it.
• John Wayne really does have that walk even back then.
• The sound of the crowd is just a low hum that sounds like a beehive.

I’d say give it a shot if it’s raining outside and you want something that feels like a warm, slightly dusty blanket. 🍿

It’s not as polished as The City of Beautiful Nonsense, but it has more energy. Even if that energy is mostly just Arthur Lake vibrating.

Anyway, I'm glad I watched it, even if my ears are still ringing a little bit. It’s a piece of history that doesn't take itself too seriously.