Melodía de arrabal: A bit dusty, but worth the listen

Is it worth a watch?

If you're a fan of old-school musical charisma, you'll probably enjoy Melodía de arrabal. It’s got that specific, slightly creaky charm of early sound cinema. If you need tight pacing or don't care for tango, you'll likely hate it. It moves at the speed of a dusty Sunday afternoon.

Cinematic perspective: Exploring the visual vocabulary of Melodía de arrabal (1933) through its definitive frames.

Carlos Gardel is the whole show here. You can tell he knows he’s the coolest guy in the room, even when he’s just sitting there. He brings a gravitas to the role of Roberto that makes the whole 'reformed gambler' trope feel... almost believable? Well, mostly just catchy.

Cinematic perspective: Exploring the visual vocabulary of Melodía de arrabal (1933) through its definitive frames.

There's a scene near the middle where the dialogue just drops away for a bit too long. It’s not necessarily bad, but it feels like the director just wanted to let the air out of the room. It’s a strange, quiet moment that made me wonder if they forgot to cut the film.

Cinematic perspective: Exploring the visual vocabulary of Melodía de arrabal (1933) through its definitive frames.

Speaking of things that feel slightly off, the transition between the grittier street scenes and the musical numbers is jarring. One minute we're in the thick of a gambling argument, and the next, everyone is performing like they’re on a stage in Paris. It’s delightfully messy.

Some quick notes from the sidelines:

• Gardel's voice sounds like it's being piped in from another dimension. It’s so much crisper than everything else in the movie.
• The lighting in the cafe scenes is surprisingly moody. It makes the whole place feel like it’s floating in a void.
• I kept thinking about Forever Yours. There's a similar, desperate need for the lead to be liked by the audience, though Gardel does it with way more ease.
• There’s a background extra in one of the card games who looks like he’s trying so hard not to laugh. I couldn't stop looking at him.

The movie doesn't really try to be high art, and that’s its saving grace. It’s just a vehicle for a guy with a great voice to charm the audience. Sometimes, that’s actually enough. 🎶

It’s not a masterpiece. But then again, a lot of films from this era feel like they're trying to prove something. This one just feels like it wants to sing you a song and head home. That’s alright by me.