Crack-Up (1936): A Fast-Paced Blur of Airplanes and Spies

Is it worth the watch?

If you have an hour to kill and want to see 1930s cinema move at light speed, Crack-Up is a total blast. It is for the folks who love snappy dialogue and don't mind when the plot holes start looking like craters. If you need your thrillers to have high-minded themes or logical consistency, you’ll probably find this thing annoying.

The whole thing feels like it was written on the back of a napkin during a lunch break. I mean that in a good way, mostly.

Peter Lorre is the main event

Honestly, I spent half the movie just waiting for Peter Lorre to show up on screen. He’s doing that thing he does—looking slightly haunted while wearing a suit that looks just a little bit too big for him. He elevates the scene just by standing there looking shifty.

There is a moment near the middle where he delivers a line that I had to rewind twice. Not because it was profound, but because he makes every syllable sound like a secret threat. It’s glorious.

Oddly specific observations

• The airplanes in this movie spend more time on the ground than in the air.
• The extras in the background of the hangar scenes are clearly just waiting for their turn to walk to the craft services table.
• Ace Martin’s flying cap seems to defy the laws of physics. It never moves, not even during a dive.

I caught myself thinking about The Agent halfway through. They share a similar frantic energy, though this one feels way more desperate to keep you from checking your watch. It doesn't quite have the polish of The American Venus, but it’s definitely grittier in a way that feels unintentional.

The Pacing

The movie is barely over an hour long. It doesn't waste time with character development or boring stuff like 'motivation.' It just throws everyone into a room, has them yell about blueprints, and then sends them to the next set. It’s like a train that forgot how to use the brakes.

Sometimes, characters just show up in locations with zero explanation. Oh, I guess we’re at the docks now? Sure, why not. It’s refreshing, actually. Nobody explains anything. They just keep running.

If you like movies that feel like a fever dream of mid-30s studio efficiency, this is it. It isn't a masterpiece, but it’s fun. ✈️