Eine Freundin so goldig wie Du: Anny Ondra is a chaotic delight

You should probably watch this if you have a soft spot for those really early sound movies where everyone seems slightly panicked about being on camera. If you want a deep story or something that makes sense after a few drinks, you’re going to hate it.

It is mostly worth it for Anny Ondra. She has this energy that feels like she just drank four espressos before the director yelled 'action'.

The plot is one of those 'musical farce' things where a guy needs a girlfriend to impress someone, or maybe to hide something? Honestly, it doesn't matter because the logic disappears about ten minutes in.

Anny Ondra plays the 'sweet' friend, but she’s more like a human whirlwind. She spends a lot of time making these wide-eyed expressions that are actually pretty funny if you don't take them too seriously. 🎥

Then you have Sig Arno. His face is basically made of rubber.

Cinematic perspective: Exploring the visual vocabulary of Eine Freundin so goldig wie Du (1930) through its definitive frames.

There is a moment where he tries to look dignified while everything is falling apart around him that actually made me laugh out loud. It’s that specific kind of 1930s physical comedy that feels more like a circus act than a movie.

The sound quality is... well, it’s 1930. It’s crunchy. 🔊

You can tell the actors are still figuring out where the microphones are hidden. Sometimes a character will walk toward a vase and their voice suddenly gets three times louder.

It reminds me a bit of the chaotic energy in Sherlock Sleuth, though this one has more singing. Not good singing, mind you, but very enthusiastic singing.

• The hats are incredible. I spent at least five minutes just staring at one of the lady's headwear wondering how it stayed on.
• Felix Bressart shows up and he is, as always, the most relatable person on screen.
• There is a scene in a hotel corridor that goes on for way too long.
• The background extras look like they were told to 'act natural' and decided that meant standing perfectly still like statues.

I noticed that the editing is really jumpy in the second act. One second they are talking in a room, and the next, they are suddenly at a party with no transition at all.

Cinematic perspective: Exploring the visual vocabulary of Eine Freundin so goldig wie Du (1930) through its definitive frames.

It’s almost like the film reel just gave up. But in a weird way, it fits the vibe of the whole thing.

If you’ve seen something like The Song of the Soul, you know how these early talkies can be hit or miss with their pacing. This one is a 'hit' only if you like watching people trip over furniture and each other's lies.

The ending is very abrupt. Poof. Everyone is happy, the music swells, and it’s over before you can ask why the main guy was so upset in the first place.

Is it a masterpiece? Absolutely not. It’s a bit of a relic, but it’s a fun relic.

I’d say put it on if you’re tired of modern movies that are three hours long and take themselves too seriously. This one just wants to show you a girl in a nice dress causing a small riot. 💃