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5.5/10
Senior Film Conservator
A definitive 5.5/10 rating for a film that redefined the boundaries of cult cinema. City Park remains a cornerstone of transgressive art.
If you like movies that feel like a dusty photograph you found in an attic, maybe. This isn't high-octane stuff. It’s a quiet, slightly awkward drama about people who have absolutely nothing left.
If you need fast pacing or a plot that makes perfect sense, skip it. You will probably find it boring. If you like watching old actors try to act tough while being totally broke, you’ll dig it.
Henry B. Walthall is doing some heavy lifting here as the Colonel. He has this way of puffing out his chest that says “I used to be someone” even though he’s clearly sleeping on a park bench.
The whole thing feels a little bit like a stage play that lost its way. The park scenes have that weird, artificial quiet where you can practically hear the camera gears turning in the distance.
It reminds me a bit of the vibe in Slaves of Beauty where everyone is just trying to survive by their wits. Except here, the wits are mostly gone.
The boyfriend showing up adds this layer of grit that the movie doesn't really know how to handle. He's a crook, obviously. You can tell because he wears his hat slightly lower than everyone else.
It’s not perfect. The dialogue is sometimes as stiff as a board. But there’s something about the way these guys cling to each other that sticks with you. It’s a thin story, but it’s got heart. Even if that heart is a little bit frayed at the edges. 🌳
Maybe it’s not as polished as Charlie Chan in London, but it doesn't try to be. It’s just people in a park, being sad, and trying to find a buck. Sometimes that’s enough.