DbcultAccessing Vault...
5.2/10
Senior Film Conservator
A definitive 5.2/10 rating for a film that redefined the boundaries of cult cinema. Henry Santry and His Soldiers of Fortune remains a cornerstone of transgressive art.
Look, if you are looking for a deep narrative, you are in the wrong place. Henry Santry and His Soldiers of Fortune is basically a filmed stage act, and honestly, it shows. If you like vintage musical theater vibes, you might get a kick out of this. If you get bored by static camera work and people singing about wanting a girl, you will probably hate every single second of it.
The whole thing kicks off with this weird declaration that they are 'soldiers of fortune,' which sounds way more intense than what actually happens on screen. It is basically just a band doing their thing, but they really commit to the bit. It reminded me a little bit of the energy you see in The Big Party, just with less plot and more trumpets.
There is this one moment where Private Bell starts singing about looking for love tonight, and the camera just... stays there. It lingers for a long time. It feels like the director forgot to yell cut, or maybe they just really wanted us to soak in the awkwardness. It reminded me of some of the pacing issues I had with The Barber's Daughter.
The staging is incredibly flat. It is like they set the camera on a tripod and said 'go for it.' If you are the kind of person who needs fancy editing, stay away. But if you like seeing how people entertained themselves way back when, it is a decent enough curio.
It is not exactly a masterpiece, but it is not trying to be. It is just a bunch of guys in uniform pretending they are soldiers when they are really just musicians with a gimmick. Sometimes the simplicity is fine. Other times, you just want the thing to end so you can go get a snack. 🍿
I cannot say I would recommend this to anyone other than a die-hard fan of early talkies. It is just... there. It exists, it plays, it ends. Not much more to say about it, really.
