First a Girl: Jessie Matthews is having way too much fun

If you like your movies light, fast, and full of people wearing fancy suits that don't quite fit, First a Girl is a total blast. It’s definitely worth a watch if you want to see some top-tier physical comedy from the 1930s. If you hate musicals or get annoyed by plot threads that rely entirely on 'nobody notices the obvious,' you’ll probably want to skip this one.

Jessie Matthews is the whole show here. She’s got this elastic energy that makes you forget the script is basically just one big excuse for a costume change. When she’s on stage, the movie actually has a pulse. When she isn’t, it feels a bit like a waiting room.

The premise is classic, maybe even a little tired, but they sell it with such enthusiasm you stop caring. The way she has to navigate the whole 'guy playing a girl' routine is honestly handled with more wit than I expected. There’s a moment in the second act where she’s trying to keep up the charade at a party, and it’s genuinely funny watching her stumble through the social etiquette of it all.

I found myself thinking about The Redeeming Sin while watching this, mostly because the shift in tone between serious drama and this kind of lighthearted musical fluff is just wild. It’s like jumping from a cold shower into a warm bath.

The music-hall sequences are shot with this weird, glossy sheen that feels almost like a fever dream. Sometimes the camera stays on her face just a second too long, and you can see she’s trying not to crack a smile. It’s a nice little detail that makes it feel human.

There are definitely bits that drag. Some of the supporting cast are just kind of there, standing around in the background like cardboard cutouts. I caught myself checking my watch during the middle stretch, but then a dance number would kick in and pull me right back.

It’s not trying to change the world. It’s just trying to make you tap your toes and laugh at a guy losing his voice. Mission accomplished, I guess? 💃

Random Notes:

• The lighting in the theater scenes is super moody. Like, way moodier than it needed to be for a musical.
• The hats in this movie deserve their own credit. They are massive.
• I’m still not convinced anyone would fall for the disguise, but that’s the magic of movies, right?
• Is it just me, or does the ending come out of nowhere? It’s like they just ran out of film stock and decided, 'yep, that's it.'