Hollywood Runaround is a weird, clunky 1930s relic

Is this worth watching today? Only if you are the kind of person who likes digging through the bargain bin of 1930s cinema history. If you want a masterpiece like The Wind, you are going to be very disappointed. But if you like weird little movies that feel like they were made by a group of friends over a long weekend, this might be your thing.

Monte Collins wrote this one himself. You can really tell because his character, also named Monte, is the center of everything. It’s a bit of a vanity project, but in a humble, low-budget way.

The plot is about Monte running for Mayor of Hollywood. Hollywood isn't even its own city with a mayor, but the movie just ignores that. He’s running against a gang, which is a pretty high-stakes political platform for a comedy.

Matthew Betz plays the mob leader. He has this very shiny forehead and a sneer that he probably practiced in a mirror for three hours before filming. He’s not exactly scary, just very intense about his personal space.

Then the mob kidnaps Monte. This is where the 'Hollywood Actors Club' comes in to save the day. It is honestly pretty funny to see a bunch of actors thinking they can out-punch professional criminals.

Fern Emmett is in this too. She has one of those faces that always looks like she just smelled a bad egg. I love her. She doesn't even have to do much to be the best part of a scene.

There is a moment during the kidnapping where a chair gets knocked over. It looks like a total accident. The actor almost trips, but they just kept filming anyway. I like that kind of messiness.

The sets look like they are made of thin plywood. Whenever someone closes a door, the whole wall shakes. It adds a certain fragility to the world that you don't see in big movies like The Son of the Sheik.

Gertrude Messinger is the lead girl. She spends most of her time looking worried and holding her hands near her face. She’s good at it, but the script doesn't give her much else to do.

The audio is pretty crunchy. There’s a constant hiss that sounds like someone is frying bacon in the next room. It’s actually kind of soothing after a while.

I noticed a guy in the background of the political rally scene. He is wearing a hat that is about three sizes too big. It keeps slipping down his forehead and he has to keep poking it back up with one finger. I spent five minutes just watching him instead of listening to Monte’s speech.

The pacing is all over the place. It starts fast, then it slows down for a long time while people talk in small rooms. Then the ending happens so fast you might miss it if you go to get a glass of water.

It’s definitely not as polished as Bella Donna. It’s more like a rough draft that accidentally got turned into a finished film.

The Hollywood Actors Club is a strange concept. They all treat acting like it's a sacred brotherhood. It’s very silly, but they seem to believe it.

Al Thompson has a small part. He’s one of those guys you see in a hundred movies and never remember his name. He does a good job of looking confused here.

If you are looking for something serious like The Living Corpse, keep moving. This is pure fluff. It’s light, it’s a bit dumb, and it doesn't overstay its welcome.

Things I jotted down:

• The mobster's hideout looks suspiciously like a regular office with the lights turned down.
• Monte’s tie is never straight. Not once.
• There is a dog in one scene that looks like it really wants to leave.
• The 'action' scenes are mostly just people shoving each other.

It’s a Hollywood Runaround for sure. It runs around and then just sort of stops. It doesn't really end, it just ceases to happen. 🎬

I think I liked it? I’m not sure. It’s better than Betty, the Vamp at least. It has more energy.

If you have an hour to kill and you like seeing how movies used to be made on a shoestring, give it a look. Just don't expect it to change your life.