King Solomon of Broadway: A Night at the Club That You Might Want to Skip

Look, if you’re looking for a lost masterpiece of the 1930s, keep walking. King Solomon of Broadway is one of those movies that exists mostly because a studio had some sets standing and a few actors under contract who needed to look busy.

You should watch this if you have a weird obsession with pre-code era aesthetic or if you’re just bored on a rainy Tuesday. If you’re looking for actual pacing or characters who feel like they breathe, you will probably hate it. It’s got that stilted, stage-play energy that just refuses to let go.

The Card Game Setup

The whole thing kicks off with a poker game. It’s the kind of scene where you know exactly who’s going to win before the first card hits the table. Our lead, Edmund Lowe, gets stuck with a Broadway club. It’s supposed to be a big deal, but the club itself looks like it was decorated by someone who had never actually stepped foot in New York.

There’s this one guy in the background—I couldn't even catch his name—who spends the entire scene just leaning against a pillar. He doesn't move. He doesn't react. He’s just there, like a piece of structural furniture. It’s oddly distracting.

The Vibe

It’s not quite as punchy as The Kibitzer, which at least had some decent banter. Here, the dialogue feels like it’s being read off a cue card held just out of frame. The jokes land with a thud, and the romantic subplot? Let’s just say it’s about as spicy as room-temperature oatmeal.

I kept waiting for the movie to actually start. About forty minutes in, I realized it already had. That’s a tough realization.

• The lighting is mostly just "bright" or "dark." No middle ground.
• The nightclub scenes have about five people in them, which makes it look like the most exclusive—or least popular—spot in town.
• There’s a moment with a phone call that goes on for three full minutes. I timed it. It was agony.

It’s not as interesting as Night Life in Reno, which managed to make its sleazy setting feel at least a little bit lived-in. This one feels like a museum display of how people in 1935 thought gamblers talked.

Final Thoughts (or lack thereof)

The ending happens so fast it feels like someone tripped over the power cord. One second they’re in trouble, the next, everything is fine and the credits are rolling. I’m not saying I wanted more, but I definitely didn’t want that. 🤷‍♂️

If you watch it, pay attention to the guy in the hat during the second act. He keeps trying to hide a smirk, but he can’t quite pull it off. That was honestly the most human moment in the whole film.