Follow Your Heart (1936) review - A weirdly loud musical that is mostly saved by a goat

If you have a high tolerance for 1930s operatic shrieking and families that won't stop shouting over each other, you might actually find Follow Your Heart kind of charming. But if you hate movies where people randomly burst into high-pitched trills while holding a pitchfork, stay far, far away. 🌽

It is basically about the Merrill family, who are all musical geniuses but also totally broke and incredibly annoying. The only normal one is Marian (played by real-life opera star Marion Talley), who has to keep them from spending their last dime on theatrical costumes.

The Nathanael West Connection (Wait, What?)

Okay, the weirdest thing about this movie is the writing credits. Nathanael West—yes, the guy who wrote that super depressing Hollywood book The Day of the Locust—co-wrote this sugary thing. You can't really find his cynical voice in here, unless you count how deeply stupid the theatrical family is. 🎭

Maybe he was just paying his rent. Honestly, I would too if I had to write dialogue for Michael Bartlett, who plays the romantic lead with the most punchable grin I've seen in a 1930s film.

Some Specific Stuff I Noticed

Marion Talley can sing, sure, but her acting is so wooden you could carve a chair out of her. When she’s supposed to be mad at her boyfriend, she just sort of blinks slowly like a confused owl. 🦉

And the way she holds her hands when she hits those high C's. Its so awkward. It looks like she is trying to catch an invisible basketball.

On the other hand, Nigel Bruce is here being his usual bumbling self. He is always a treat, even when he has literally nothing to do but look confused in the background, much like his work in Grumpy.

Also, Clarence Muse shows up and basically steals the movie for five minutes with his singing group. His segment feels like it belongs in a much better, more soulful movie, unlike some of the stuffy dramas from this era like Ex-Flame.

There is a scene where the family tries to rehearse in the barn and a goat keeps chewing on the sheet music. It is a dumb gag but it made me laugh out loud. Sometimes simple is better than those high-concept comedies like Roaming Romeo.

Stray Thoughts While Watching

• Why does the romantic lead look like he's constantly smelling sour milk?
• The goat in the barn is definitely the best actor in this entire production. 🐐
• Ben Blue's weird rubber-legged dancing is deeply unsettling but I couldn't look away.
• That one extra in the back of the chorus who keeps looking directly at the camera. I see you, buddy.

The Final Squeak

The whole thing wraps up with a massive show that somehow solves all their financial problems. Classic 1930s logic.

It is not a masterpiece, and the musical numbers go on for about two minutes too long. Still, if you want something light while you wash the dishes, it does the trick. 🧼