Come Closer, Folks: A Salesman's Chaotic Climb

Is it worth your time?

If you like movies where everyone talks like they’ve had six espressos before breakfast, sure. If you get annoyed by characters who make zero sense but just keep moving forward, you’ll probably find this thing insufferable.

It’s a weird little relic from the thirties that feels like a long, loud radio play. You can basically ignore the plot after the first twenty minutes.

The Hustle

James Dunn plays Jim Keene with this manic energy that’s almost impressive. He starts off selling junk on the street and ends up wearing a suit in a fancy store. It’s the kind of logic only movies from this era seem to possess.

The whole thing feels like a fever dream of upward mobility. One minute he’s shouting at pedestrians, the next he’s discussing retail margins. Nobody seems to mind the sudden career jump.

I found myself wondering if he actually had a plan or if the script just decided he needed to be a boss now. The transition is so jarring you almost miss the jokes. Or maybe there weren't any jokes to begin with. 🤷‍♂️

Odd Observations

• The department store interior looks like it was built in a shed.
• Mae is the only one who seems to know what's going on, which makes me root for her.
• The dialogue is so fast I actually had to rewind twice.
• Peggy enters the scene and suddenly the movie forgets what it was doing.

It reminds me a bit of the frantic energy in Manhattan Parade, but with way less breathing room. There’s a scene near the middle where Jim is just yelling at people in an office, and I’m fairly sure the actor forgot his lines and just kept improvising until the director yelled cut.

It’s not a masterpiece. It’s barely a coherent film. But there’s something fascinating about watching a guy try to bluff his way through life for an hour and a half. Sometimes you just need to watch a guy fail upward, you know?

Also, don't look for deep meaning here. It’s just people in hats making bad decisions. 🎩