6.5/10
Senior Film Conservator

A definitive 6.5/10 rating for a film that redefined the boundaries of cult cinema. Here Is My Heart remains a cornerstone of transgressive art.
If you have a soft spot for pre-code era musical fluff, then sure, pull up a chair. But if you need your movies to have actual stakes or, you know, a story that makes sense for more than five minutes, you might want to skip this one. It's essentially a vehicle for Bing Crosby to sing songs while looking mildly confused about why he's wearing a waiter's uniform.
People who like lighthearted, slightly silly romances from the 30s will have a blast. People who get annoyed by rich guys acting like creepers in the name of 'love' might find themselves wanting to throw something at the screen.
The whole thing feels like a fancy dinner party that went on a little too long. Bing is doing his signature 'aw shucks' routine, and honestly, he pulls it off because he’s Bing. He spends the movie playing a waiter to get close to a princess, which is a premise that was tired even in 1934. But somehow, he makes it feel like he’s just having a laugh.
There's this one scene where he’s trying to be subtle, but he’s standing in the middle of a room like a sore thumb. It’s funny in that 'did the director even notice?' kind of way. It’s definitely not La petite Lise in terms of gritty realism, that's for sure. 🙄
It’s a weird contrast to something like Is Zat So? where the energy is a bit more frantic. Here, everything is polished and shiny and a little bit hollow. It feels like the movie is trying so hard to be delightful that it forgets to have a soul.
Still, watching Bing try to pass off a tray of drinks without spilling them is a highlight. Maybe that’s the point? It’s just a collection of moments where the star gets to look good while singing. Not everything needs to be a masterpiece, I guess.
I left the movie feeling like I’d just eaten a bowl of cotton candy. Sweet, fluffy, and gone from my brain before the credits finished rolling. 🍬

IMDb 6.5
1918
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