DbcultAccessing Vault...
5.1/10
Senior Film Conservator
A definitive 5.1/10 rating for a film that redefined the boundaries of cult cinema. Manhattan Parade remains a cornerstone of transgressive art.
Honestly, only if you are a completionist for early talkie musicals or if you have a very specific thing for 1930s Broadway set design. If you want a tight story, look elsewhere. People who hate movies where the plot just sort of wanders around like a lost tourist will absolutely loathe this one.
The whole thing feels like a stage play that got trapped inside a camera. Everyone is projecting their lines to the back row, even when they’re standing two feet apart in a tiny office. It’s exhausting.
The central premise is the costume company, which is actually the most interesting part. Watching the frantic energy of the seamstresses and the frantic panic of the bosses is almost enough to carry the movie. Almost.
There’s a moment about thirty minutes in where the background extras look genuinely confused about where to stand. I had to rewind it twice to see if I was imagining it. Nope, they’re just milling about while the leads argue about satin. It’s pretty funny if you watch the edges of the frame.
If you liked the vibe of One Embarrassing Night, you might find something here, but they aren't quite the same flavor. This one feels a bit more desperate to be liked.
I kept waiting for a big musical number that never really landed. Instead, we get people shouting about bankruptcy while wearing very expensive-looking velvet robes. It’s a strange contrast.
Also, did anyone else notice the prop telephone in the corner? It doesn't look like it belongs in the room at all. It’s just sitting there, looking plastic and modern for the time. Weird.
Anyway, I probably wouldn't watch it again. It's not a disaster, but it's not exactly a classic either. It just kind of… exists. 🤷♂️