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6.7/10
Senior Film Conservator
A definitive 6.7/10 rating for a film that redefined the boundaries of cult cinema. Maid in Hollywood remains a cornerstone of transgressive art.
If you have twenty minutes to spare and love loud, chaotic women screaming at each other in vintage hats, yes, Maid in Hollywood is absolutely worth your time today.
But if you hate physical comedy or can't stand characters who make everything worse by just existing, you will probably hate this with a passion.
The plot is basically about two roommates, Thelma and Patsy, who are ready to give up on their acting dreams and head back to Joplin. But then Patsy—who is basically a walking disaster zone—tricks a studio into giving Thelma an audition for a fancy costume drama.
I love how Patsy Kelly plays this character with absolutely zero shame. She just barges into offices and lies through her teeth, and somehow it actually works.
Thelma Todd is the "straight woman" here, but she gets to do some great physical comedy too. That scene where she is trying to put on her stockings while Patsy is frantically packing is just pure chaos. 🧦
Honestly, Patsy's face when she's trying to look innocent is the best part of the whole short. She has this squinty, mischievous look that makes you want to shake her and hug her at the same time.
Once they get to the studio, the movie gets way faster and dumber in the best way. The director is this incredibly stressed-out guy with a tiny mustache who looks like he is about to have a stroke.
He is trying to film a serious period piece, which is already funny because the sets look like they are made of cheap cardboard. If you want something polished and romantic from this era like It Happened One Night, you are definitely in the wrong room.
And then Patsy shows up where she shouldn't be. She isn't even supposed to be on the set, but she wanders in anyway and starts touching things.
The way she accidentally destroys a massive chandelier is so beautifully timed. You can see the crash coming a mile away, but it still makes you laugh when it happens.
"I didn't mean to do it, mister!"
Actually, there is a weird moment during the crowd scene where a random guy in the background just stares directly at the camera for like three seconds. I don't think he was supposed to do that, but they kept it in anyway.
That is what I love about these old short films. They didn't have the time or money to do fifty takes, so you get these weird little mistakes left in the final cut.
Like, the audio gets super muffled for a second when Patsy falls over a chair. You can barely hear what she is yelling, but her flailing arms tell you everything you need to know.
Is the ending satisfying? Not really, they just kind of run out of time and the movie ends abruptly.
But it is a great, messy ride while it lasts. If you are feeling down, just watch Patsy ruin a movie set and you'll feel a lot better. 🎬
IMDb —
1912
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