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Cult Review
Senior Film Conservator
I sat down to watch Lucky Stars thinking maybe it was some lost musical or a hidden comedy gem. Instead, I got something way more clinical. It’s basically a long, slow demonstration of how the big bosses at the studios decided who was 'camera ready' in 1935.
It feels less like a movie and more like someone raided a dusty office filing cabinet. You just watch person after person stand in front of a lens, hoping to get a contract. It's odd to see the raw mechanics of the star system right there on the screen. No frills, just nerves and bright lights.
Betty Jane Rhodes is in here, and she’s clearly trying her best to impress the suits watching from the dark. Gladys Swarthout pops up too, and the contrast is wild. You can see why they were considered 'stars' compared to some of the other folks who just look plain terrified.
There's a rhythm to it that feels very dated, like waiting in a lobby for an appointment that never happens. Some scenes drag on long enough that you start noticing the wallpaper in the background more than the people singing.
It makes me think of other oddities I've dug up, like The Dancers, where the focus is just as narrow. It’s not a narrative experience. It’s archival. Sometimes I think we romanticize these eras too much, but watching this makes me realize it was just a job for these people. A stressful, weird job.
It’s not as energetic as something like The Count of Ten, which had a bit more punch to its delivery. This is just... documentation. But in a weird way, that’s why I couldn't look away. It’s the closest thing to time travel I’ve had all week. 🎥
If you're a completionist for old Hollywood stuff, give it a whirl. If not? You aren't missing a plot, because there isn't one. It’s just a snapshot of a business that doesn't exist anymore.
Year
1935
IMDb Rating
—
Editorial
Deciphering the legacy of transgressive cult cinema.
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