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6.2/10
Senior Film Conservator
A definitive 6.2/10 rating for a film that redefined the boundaries of cult cinema. Our Blushing Brides remains a cornerstone of transgressive art.
If you like watching old movies where people talk fast and wear clothes that look heavy, then yes. This is perfect for a rainy Sunday when you want to feel a little bit fancy but also a little bit sad.
You’ll probably hate it if you can't stand old-fashioned moralizing or if you want a plot that moves like a bullet. It’s a slow burn about girls making bad choices.
I sat down to watch this because I wanted to see Joan Crawford before she became the scary 'Mommie Dearest' version of herself. She's actually really soft here, even when she's being the 'responsible' one of the group. 👗
The movie starts in this department store where everyone looks exhausted but also weirdly perfect. You have Jerry (Joan), Connie, and Franky living together in a place that looks way too nice for shopgirls, but hey, that’s Hollywood.
There is this one scene where they are all getting ready for bed and the dialogue is just... fast. Like they’ve lived together for ten years and know exactly how to annoy each other. 💅
It’s a 'Pre-Code' movie, which means they can say and do things that got banned a few years later. You can feel the grit under the glamour.
Robert Montgomery plays Tony, the rich son of the store owner. He spends most of his time trying to convince Jerry to go to his 'lodge' in the mountains. We all know what that means, Tony.
He has this way of leaning against doors that makes him look like he’s made of noodles. It’s supposed to be charming, I guess? 🤨
The middle of the movie has this insanely long fashion show. I think it lasts about ten minutes? Maybe more. It feels like the director just forgot they were making a drama and decided to film a runway walk instead.
I actually stopped taking notes during the fashion show because the hats were getting too distracting. One looked like a giant pancake with feathers. 🥞
Jerry is the only one who sees through the nonsense. Her roommates, Connie and Franky, are much more interested in the sparkle of high society.
Franky gets involved with this guy who is clearly a loser, but he has a tuxedo, so she’s sold. It’s kind of painful to watch because you know it’s going to end badly. 💔
There’s a moment where Jerry is just staring out a window, and the lighting is so dramatic it looks like a painting. This movie loves Joan's face. Like, it really loves her face.
One of the roommates eventually has a total breakdown. It happens in this big, empty mansion that feels cold and spooky. The shift from the bright store to this dark house is actually pretty smart.
I noticed that the extras in the party scenes look like they are having a terrible time. If you look at the background, half of them are just standing there looking at the floor. It’s funny once you see it. 😂
The ending gets a bit 'preachy' for my taste. It tries to tell you that being poor and honest is better than being rich and 'loose.' But it’s 1930, so what do you expect?
It’s not as wild as Forbidden, which really pushed the limits of what you could show. But it still has a bit of that 'anything goes' energy before the censors ruined everything.
I wish they had spent more time on the friendship between the three girls. By the end, they feel like they are in three different movies. 🎞️
The movie is a bit like a fancy cake that’s been sitting out for a day. Still tastes good, looks great, but the edges are a little dry.
Wait, I forgot to mention the scene with the tree. Jerry basically gives a speech to a tree at one point. It’s supposed to be poetic, but it’s just weird. 🌳
If you want to see how people in the Great Depression imagined the 'high life' looked, this is a gold mine. Just don't expect a happy ending for everyone.
It’s better than The Wife He Bought, mostly because the acting doesn't feel like people reading from a grocery list. Joan really carries the whole thing on her back.
I’m glad I watched it, but I don’t think I need to see it again for a long time. It’s heavy. 🥀
Anyway, watch it for the clothes and the way Joan Crawford can win an argument just by blinking. It’s a mood.
IMDb —
1921
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