Le vainqueur: A strange, musical trip through the 1930s

Is it worth the time?

Honestly, only if you have a serious itch for 1930s European musical fluff. If you want a tight story, look elsewhere. If you want to see people stand around singing in formal wear while looking vaguely confused about the plot, you're in the right place.

People who hate pacing issues or characters that make zero sense will probably want to turn this off after twenty minutes. It’s not exactly The Man Who Won in terms of gripping stakes.

Notes from the couch

The whole thing feels like it’s vibrating at a frequency meant for a different century. There’s a scene about halfway through—I think it’s the third musical number—where the background extras look like they’re trying to remember if they left the stove on at home. It’s incredibly distracting once you notice it.

Cinematic perspective: Exploring the visual vocabulary of Le vainqueur (1932) through its definitive frames.

The singing parts are... well, they're there. It’s not quite By the Light of the Silvery Moon levels of charm, that's for sure. It feels a bit like watching a radio broadcast that someone accidentally pointed a camera at.

Odd bits and pieces

• The lead actor looks like he’s perpetually waiting for someone to hand him a sandwich.
• The lighting in the cafe scene is so bright I almost had to squint at my laptop screen.
• The car racing footage? It lasts about four seconds and looks like a toy set.
• The dialogue is mostly just people being polite to each other until they aren't.

I found myself wondering if anyone actually directed the transitions or if they just cut the film whenever someone ran out of things to say. It’s messy. It’s a bit silly. But there is something weirdly hypnotic about how little the movie cares if you understand what’s happening.

It’s not a masterpiece. It’s not even really a good movie by modern standards. But it’s definitely a movie, and in this day and age, that’s almost a relief. Don't go in expecting a deep dive into human nature. Go in expecting a weird, musical time capsule that probably should have stayed buried. 🏎️🎶