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7/10
Senior Film Conservator
A definitive 7/10 rating for a film that redefined the boundaries of cult cinema. Christopher Bean remains a cornerstone of transgressive art.
If you like old movies where people just sit around in a living room and bicker about money, you’ll dig this. If you need explosions or even a single camera movement that isn't totally static, you’re gonna hate it. It’s basically a stage play captured on film, for better or worse.
Marie Dressler is the only reason this thing stays afloat. She plays the housemaid, and honestly, every time she isn't on screen, the movie feels like it’s holding its breath waiting for her to come back and fix the vibe.
The plot is simple enough: the family is poor, the painters are dead, and the vultures are circling. It’s funny how these art dealers act like they’re doing the family a favor by paying them pennies for sketches that are worth thousands. The audacity is almost impressive.
There’s this one scene where they’re going through a pile of canvases, and the way they try to hide their excitement is just… gross. It reminded me a bit of the frantic energy in The Price, where everybody’s got an angle and nobody is telling the truth.
I wouldn't call this a masterpiece or anything. It’s not exactly The Moonstone when it comes to keeping you on the edge of your seat. But there’s a genuine warmth to the way Dressler handles the family’s ignorance. She’s the heart of it, even when the rest of the cast is busy chewing the scenery.
It’s a dusty little movie, sure. But sometimes you just want to watch people be greedy and get their comeuppance. 🎨