Convention Girl: A Tiny Slice of Old-School Heartbreak

Is this worth your time?

If you're the type who digs 1930s aesthetic and doesn't mind a story that feels like it was written on a napkin during lunch, sure, give it a shot. It's a short, breezy affair that probably won't change your life, but it has a certain snap to it. If you need tight plotting or modern pacing, stay far away. You'll just get annoyed.

The whole thing centers on a cabaret girl who is totally head-over-heels for a gambler. We’ve seen this story a million times before—the guy is bad news, the girl is blinded by the lights, and the inevitable sad realization is just around the corner. It reminded me a bit of the vibe in A Song, a Kiss, a Girl, where everything feels a little bit fragile and doomed.

There's this moment where the camera just lingers on the dancers, and you can tell they were trying to fill space. The Ned Wayburn Dancing Girls are doing their best, but the editing feels like it was done with a pair of rusty scissors. It’s charming in a 'we’re running out of film' kind of way.

Also, Shemp Howard shows up, which is always a weird little treat. Seeing him in this context—not quite the slapstick chaos he's famous for—is a bit jarring. He pops in and out like he wandered onto the wrong set, and honestly? He’s the most interesting thing on screen for his two minutes.

Small observations from the back row:

• The lighting in the cabaret scenes is surprisingly moody, even if the sets look like they’re made of cardboard.
• The dialogue is punchy, but some of the actors sound like they're reading the lines off a chalkboard just off-camera.
• Isham Jones' Orchestra brings a nice, swingy energy that keeps the movie from completely stalling out.
• There’s a scene in the dressing room that goes on way too long, just watching people put on makeup. It’s oddly hypnotic.

It’s not as polished as The Mask of Fu Manchu, obviously. It doesn't have that kind of budget or ambition. It’s just a little story about people being messy in the city. Some of the acting is stiff, and the emotional stakes feel about as deep as a saucer, but there’s a certain sincerity there.

Don't look for deep meaning. Just enjoy the costumes and the fact that it ends before you can get bored. Sometimes that's enough. 🍸