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7/10
Senior Film Conservator
A definitive 7/10 rating for a film that redefined the boundaries of cult cinema. Girl in the Street remains a cornerstone of transgressive art.
If you like old British dramas that lean heavily into that "rags to riches" trope, you might find something here to like. But honestly, if you aren't into 1930s melodrama, you'll probably hate the way the plot just sort of wanders around like a lost tourist.
It’s not exactly a masterpiece, but it’s got a weird energy that kept me watching, even when I wanted to check my phone.
We start with Jacqueline, who is basically a gutter-snipe dancing for pennies on the London streets. Then Marius shows up. He’s a diplomat who acts like he’s bored of everything until he decides to fix her life.
It’s the classic "I can change you" story, except the romance is played with this weird, stiff politeness. I kept waiting for them to actually show some chemistry, but they mostly just stand near each other and look serious.
The pacing is all over the place. One minute we’re watching dance rehearsals, and the next, there’s some stuffy old guy trying to ruin everything. It feels like two different movies got glued together by accident.
Also, the whole bit with Marius getting sent off to Shanghai? Talk about a sudden plot twist. It felt like the writers just needed him out of the room so the creepy benefactor could have his scene.
It’s not as interesting as The Clairvoyant, which had a lot more bite to it. Sometimes I think these old films rely way too much on the "benevolent mentor" character to move the plot forward.
It’s fine if you want something to have on in the background while you fold laundry. Just don’t expect to be floored by the ending. It just… sort of stops.
Also, can we talk about the hats in this movie? There are some truly questionable choices being made by the costume department. It was distracting in the best way possible. 🎩