McFadden's Flats: A Bit Dated, But Heartfelt Enough

Is it worth the watch?

If you have a soft spot for 1930s social comedies where everyone learns a lesson by the final act, you’ll probably find something to enjoy here. If you prefer your dramas to have a bit more grit or actual tension, stay away. It’s a very specific kind of 1935 schmaltz.

I found myself kind of watching this one with one eye on the screen and one eye on my tea. The whole 'daughter gets fancy and forgets her dad' bit is as old as dirt, but there’s something genuinely sweet about the friendship between Dan and Jock. The scene where the barber accidentally shaves a bald patch on his best friend’s head is pure slapstick gold—it’s probably the most honest moment in the whole movie.

The parade scene is a real gut-punch. Watching the daughter pretend not to know her own father from a hotel balcony felt surprisingly mean-spirited for a film this light. It definitely gave the movie a bit of weight it didn't really earn, but it made me actually care if they sorted it out later.

I kept thinking about Squibs while watching this, mainly because both films lean so hard into the 'local flavor' of their settings. It’s funny how movies from this era feel like they need to solve every problem with a drunken party at the end. The book-stacking contest between the two fathers? A bit much. I think the director just wanted to see if the actors could actually stay upright.

The whole romance with that drunk guy Robert is just bizarre. He’s such a cartoon villain that you wonder why Molly even looked his way, but hey, maybe she was just tired of the East Side. The pacing gets a little wobbly when the movie tries to be a serious commentary on class, but it gets back on track whenever it stops taking itself so seriously.

• The barber shop dialogue is surprisingly fast and sharp.
• The transition from 'tomboy' to 'lady' happens so quickly it’s practically a magic trick.
• The ending is exactly what you expect, down to the last hug.

It’s not a masterpiece, but it’s an easy watch if you’re into the history of these sorts of studio stories. It feels a lot like The Tattlers in the way it handles gossip and neighborhood dynamics. Just don't expect it to change your life.