Gypsy Sweetheart: A Weird Little Lawn Party

Should you watch this?

Honestly, only if you have a very specific craving for 1930s musical fluff or if you're a die-hard fan of Margaret Dumont. If you want a tight script or anything resembling real human logic, stay far away. This is for people who like movies that feel like a disorganized theater skit caught on film.

The whole premise is just an excuse to get a group of dancers onto a rich person's lawn. Tom invites Tina and her entire caravan over, and they just... show up? It’s a bold move, honestly. Most people would just bring a bottle of wine, not a whole roving band of musicians.

Margaret Dumont is doing her usual thing, which is being the only person in the room who understands that the situation is completely insane. She’s got that specific look of confusion that I think she perfected in those Marx Brothers movies. Here, she’s just trying to deal with a butler who can't keep his hands to himself.

The Butler Problem

Eddie Shubert plays Bellingham, the kleptomaniac butler. He’s stealing silver, trinkets, everything. It’s supposed to be funny, I guess? But it mostly just makes you wonder how he hasn't been fired five minutes into the movie. It’s the kind of "good help is hard to find" humor that feels dusty and weird today.

There’s a weird rhythm to how they film the musical numbers. One minute they’re talking about a party, then suddenly everyone is dancing like their life depends on it. It’s jarring, but also kind of charming in its own stupid way. It reminded me a bit of the frantic pacing in The Hard Hombre, where things just happen because the clock is ticking.

• The lawn party never actually ends. It just kind of blurs into the next scene.
• I’m pretty sure the butler steals a clock at one point and nobody notices.
• The music is fine, if you like that sort of thing.

I found myself zoning out during the dialogue and just staring at the background extras. There’s one guy in a straw hat who looks like he’s having the worst day of his life. He’s just standing there, holding a drink, staring at the camera for way too long. It’s funnier than the actual jokes.

Is it better than Gretchen the Greenhorn? Hard to say. It’s certainly less ambitious, which might actually be its saving grace. It doesn’t try to be anything other than a silly diversion.

Anyway, don't overthink it. If you catch this on a rainy afternoon, it might just keep you awake. Or it might not. Either way, at least the costumes are bright. 💃