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5.9/10
Archivist John
Senior Editor
A definitive 5.9/10 rating for a film that redefined the boundaries of cult cinema. Loose Change remains a cornerstone of transgressive art.
Alright, so 'Loose Change' from 1928, it’s a silent film short, obviously. Is it worth tracking down today? Well, if you like watching old-timey shenanigans and seeing how folks made people laugh without a single spoken word, then yeah, definitely check it out. But if you need big drama or perfectly polished, modern storytelling, this one might feel a bit too simple, almost like a forgotten home movie someone got a budget for. 🤷♀️
The whole thing centers on this young woman, Winnie Law, who decides an old rich Scot (Glen Cavender) is her ticket to some quick cash. Her idea? A classic trick, pretending to be ill to gain sympathy and, well, loose change. It’s a pretty straightforward setup.
What really pops out here is Buddy the Dog. Seriously, Buddy! He’s in a fair few scenes and manages to steal them just by being, you know, a dog. There's this one bit where he's just kinda chilling, totally oblivious to the human drama unfolding, and it’s just naturally funny. Makes you wonder how many takes that took.
Neal Burns is also in this, playing a character who gets mixed up in the whole scheme. He has this way of looking exasperated that really comes through, even without sound. You can almost feel his eye-rolls. George Rowe, too, has some great physical comedy moments, the kind that don't need dialogue to land.
The pacing, for a short, feels right. It gets to the point. We see the plan hatch, then we see it unfold, and then, naturally, it all starts to go a bit sideways. There’s a distinct moment when Winnie Law’s character realizes her clever little scheme isn't quite as clever as she thought. It’s not a huge dramatic reveal, just a subtle shift in her expression.
Some of the gags, though, they feel a bit drawn out. Like, the scene goes on about 20 seconds too long at one point, and the silence starts to feel awkward rather than building up to anything. It’s a common thing with some of these older shorts, they really leaned into the visual bits until they were almost past their comedic prime. Sometimes it works, sometimes it’s just a little… much. 😂
You can almost feel the movie trying to convince you this moment matters, even when it’s just someone tripping over a rug. But hey, it's 1928, and a good rug-trip was probably prime entertainment.
The Best People or Seven Sinners this is not, in terms of complexity, but it has its own simple charm. It’s a glimpse into what passed for light entertainment nearly a century ago. You won’t find any deep themes here, just some folks trying to make you chuckle with exaggerated expressions and a very good boy named Buddy.
It’s
IMDb —
1916
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