I Lived with You: Royal Charisma Meets London Boredom

Should you watch it?

If you like movies where people just sit around in living rooms talking about their problems while someone exotic stands in the corner looking sad, then sure. It's not exactly high-octane stuff. If you hate slow-burn character dramas from the thirties, you’ll probably want to fast-forward through the middle chunk where they argue about money. Honestly, I found it kind of cozy, like an old sweater that’s missing a button.

Cinematic perspective: Exploring the visual vocabulary of I Lived with You (1933) through its definitive frames.

The whole setup is pretty simple: a Russian prince, played by Ivor Novello with all the brooding intensity he can muster, crashes with a totally average London family. He’s got these diamonds, right? And the family just goes from being normal folks to acting like they’re suddenly royalty themselves. It’s funny because it’s so predictable, but the acting keeps it from feeling totally stale.

Cinematic perspective: Exploring the visual vocabulary of I Lived with You (1933) through its definitive frames.

Novello is the center of everything here. He carries this weird, tragic weight that feels a little bit like the vibe in My Man, where the atmosphere is just as important as the actual plot. He’s magnetic in a way that makes you believe why this family would put up with his mood swings. There’s this one scene where he’s just sitting there, looking at his ring, and you can tell he’s thinking about a life that’s completely gone. It’s quiet. Maybe a bit too quiet, actually.

Cinematic perspective: Exploring the visual vocabulary of I Lived with You (1933) through its definitive frames.

Odd little details

• The way the family’s decor changes is honestly the best part. It’s like a visual countdown to their downfall.
• The dialogue gets really snappy sometimes, then slows down to a crawl for no reason. It’s a rollercoaster of pacing.
• I really liked the background extras. Some of them look like they’re just waiting for their lunch break rather than being in the scene.
• There’s a specific look Ida Lupino gives in the background that tells you way more than the script ever does.

The family dynamic feels real, in a messy, annoying sort of way. They aren't saints. They’re just people who got a taste of the high life and forgot how to act normal. It reminds me of the chaotic energy you find in Are You Listening?, though this one definitely has more tea and less screaming.

Cinematic perspective: Exploring the visual vocabulary of I Lived with You (1933) through its definitive frames.

Is it a masterpiece? No. Is it charming? Yeah, in a dusty, black-and-white sort of way. Sometimes the camera just lingers on a face for a few seconds too long, and you start to notice the dust motes dancing in the light. It’s those tiny, imperfect moments that make it worth watching for me. Don't go in expecting a thriller. Just enjoy the ride for what it is. ☕

Cinematic perspective: Exploring the visual vocabulary of I Lived with You (1933) through its definitive frames.