Love Manoeuvres: A Dusty, Delightful Relic

Is this for you?

If you have zero patience for films where people break into song because they’re feeling a bit sentimental, stay far away. But if you dig the kind of breezy, black-and-white fluff that feels like a warm cup of tea on a rainy Tuesday, you might actually like this.

Don't expect a masterpiece. Expect a lot of posturing and guys in tall hats looking very serious about nothing.

The pacing here is, well, it’s a bit of a mess. Sometimes the scenes just sort of end before anything really happens, leaving you staring at the screen wondering if you missed a transition. It’s almost charming in how clumsy it is.

There's this one moment where the lead actor just stands there looking at a lady, and the silence hangs for about six seconds too long. It’s not dramatic. It’s just awkward. I think I laughed, but maybe I was just tired.

The vibe is undeniably weird

The whole thing has this stagey feel that makes you realize movies weren't always trying to be 'cinematic' in the way we think of now. It’s basically filmed theater with a few more camera angles.

The musical numbers? They come out of nowhere. One second you're watching a conversation about army regulations, and the next, everyone is harmonizing like they’ve been rehearsing for weeks in the barracks.

• The uniforms look like they’re made of cardboard.
• The extras in the background have no idea what to do with their hands.
• There’s a specific shadow on the wall in the cafe scene that moves even when the actors aren't.

Comparing this to something like The Denver Dude is a bit unfair, but both movies share that 'we have a set and a script, let's just go' energy. It’s a scrappy feeling that modern stuff just doesn't have anymore. It makes me miss the days when a production could be this unpolished and still get shipped to theaters.

Honestly, I stopped caring about the actual plot halfway through. I just started watching the furniture. Some of those lamps are incredible, even if the acting around them is... well, let's call it enthusiastic.

If you watch this, do it with a friend who also likes old, weird stuff. Don't go in looking for a deep analysis of pre-war cinema. Just watch the hats. The hats are the best part. 🎩