Cult Review
Senior Film Conservator

Honestly? Only if you’re in the mood for something that feels like an old, dusty photograph you found in an attic. If you like fast-paced stories or actual stakes, you’ll probably hate this. It’s for people who want to watch actors in nice clothes talk in rooms for a long time.
It’s not exactly a thrill ride. It feels more like a slow afternoon tea that someone forgot to end. ☕
There’s this weird, airy quality to the whole thing. People are constantly walking into rooms, saying something mildly cutting, and then walking back out. It’s all very polite and very, very tired.
You can tell the cast is trying hard to make 'boredom' look interesting. That’s a tough gig. Sometimes it works, like when someone stares out a window for just a second too long. Other times, I found myself checking my own watch to see if I was also trapped in the movie.
I couldn't help but compare the aimless wandering here to the frantic energy found in Make a Million. It’s like two different species of cinema entirely. One is screaming for your attention; the other is barely whispering.
There’s a scene about halfway through where a tea cup rattles on a saucer. It’s a tiny, clinking sound. It stayed in the mix for way too long. I think the editor might have fallen asleep at the desk? It’s kind of funny if you look at it that way.
Also, notice the way the characters avoid eye contact. It’s not subtle. It’s like they’re all allergic to looking at each other for more than three seconds. It’s awkward, but in a way that feels intentional.
It isn't a masterpiece. It isn't even a particularly good movie by modern standards. But there’s a strange, dusty charm to it. It’s a relic of a time when 'social drama' just meant people being slightly rude to one another in parlors. 🙄
If you've seen The Betrothed, you might appreciate the shift in tone here. This is much less about destiny and much more about the tragedy of having nothing better to do than gossip.
I probably won't watch it again. I might think about that rattling tea cup, though. That stayed with me for some reason.

IMDb 6.8
1931