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5.2/10
Senior Film Conservator
A definitive 5.2/10 rating for a film that redefined the boundaries of cult cinema. Gypsy Melody remains a cornerstone of transgressive art.
If you have a soft spot for 1930s musical fluff, maybe. If you are looking for anything remotely grounded or logical, skip it.
Fans of Lupe Velez will have a blast watching her sprint through scenes like she's late for a train. Everyone else? Probably not.
The whole thing feels like it was put together in an afternoon at Elstree Studios. It’s got that specific 'we needed to make a movie by Friday' energy that you only see in these mid-30s British productions.
Lupe Velez is everywhere in this. She’s shouting, she’s dancing, she’s looking at the camera like she’s trying to communicate with someone in the back row of the theater.
It’s a remake of that French film Juanita, but honestly, you wouldn't know it unless someone told you. It lacks that certain French flair, replacing it with 1930s British studio stuffiness.
There is a moment where Alfred Rode tries to be a leading man, but he mostly just looks confused, like he wandered onto the wrong set while looking for the bathroom. It’s awkward to watch.
It’s not as chaotic as Them Thar Hills, and it certainly lacks the charm of Pygmalion, but it occupies this weird, dusty corner of 1930s cinema that's kind of fascinating if you're bored enough.
The pacing is all over the place. One second they are singing a ballad, the next they are bickering in a way that feels like it’s going to turn into a brawl. I kind of wished it had.
Don’t go in expecting a masterpiece. It’s a artifact. A loud, musical, slightly messy artifact.