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7.8/10
Senior Film Conservator
A definitive 7.8/10 rating for a film that redefined the boundaries of cult cinema. How to Catch Men remains a cornerstone of transgressive art.
If you're looking for something that makes sense, look elsewhere. How to Catch Men is the kind of movie you put on when you’ve already folded all your laundry and just want to watch people make terrible life choices in fancy 1930s interiors. If you hate old-school romantic mix-ups, you will probably want to turn this off in the first ten minutes.
The whole premise is just absurd, but that's part of the charm, I guess? Ilona decides that becoming a servant is the most logical step to romance. It reminds me a bit of the frantic energy in Vamping Venus, where the stakes are low but the shouting is high.
There's a scene where the kitchen work gets so clumsy it’s honestly impressive. Franciska Gaal is doing a lot of heavy lifting here with just her facial expressions. She’s constantly looking like she’s about to be caught, which is basically the entire movie.
Paul Hörbiger is fine, I suppose. He mostly just stands there looking confused while everyone else runs around his house. Sometimes the pacing hits a weird wall where nothing happens for five minutes except for someone staring at a door. It’s a bit jarring.
I found myself zoning out during the middle act. It’s not that it’s boring, exactly, but it just loops the same joke about the fake identity too many times. You get it, she’s a fake maid, he’s a oblivious guy, we get it. 🙄
It’s nowhere near as sharp as The Public Enemy, obviously, but comparing them is like comparing a cupcake to a brick. This is fluff. Pure, sugary, slightly stale fluff. Still, there’s a sweet moment near the end where things finally click into place. It’s almost earned, if you ignore the previous hour of nonsense.
Overall, it’s a light watch. Don't think about the logic. Just let the black and white footage wash over you. Sometimes, that’s enough.