Out of the Blue: Jessie Matthews Just Trying Her Best

Is it worth your time?

Look, if you’re into the kind of musical comedy that feels like a warm, slightly dusty blanket, you’ll dig this. It’s light, it’s fluffy, and it doesn't try to solve the world's problems. If you need something gritty or logical, steer clear. You’ll probably hate it if you get annoyed by people breaking into song for absolutely no reason at all.

Cinematic perspective: Exploring the visual vocabulary of Out of the Blue (1931) through its definitive frames.

Jessie Matthews is really the whole engine here. She plays Tommy with this desperate, wide-eyed energy that makes you root for her even when the plot goes completely off the rails. She’s got a way of moving that makes the rest of the cast look like they’re walking through wet cement. 💃

Cinematic perspective: Exploring the visual vocabulary of Out of the Blue (1931) through its definitive frames.

The Vibes

The whole situation with her sister, Angela, is just plain exhausting. It’s the classic 'glamorous sister gets the guy' setup, and you can tell from the first five minutes that Bill, the radio guy, is a total drip. Why Tommy wants him is a mystery, but hey, love is blind, right? Or maybe just stubborn.

Cinematic perspective: Exploring the visual vocabulary of Out of the Blue (1931) through its definitive frames.

There’s this one sequence in the nightclub that goes on forever. It’s charming, sure, but I caught myself checking the runtime because the camera just sits there. It’s like the director forgot to yell 'cut' and just decided to let the band play until they got tired.

• The costumes are surprisingly sharp for the budget.
• That one background extra in the café scene definitely has no idea what he's doing.
• The script feels like it was written on the back of a napkin during lunch.

Honestly, it reminds me a bit of the frantic, messy energy found in Radio Riot, where everything is loud and everyone is slightly confused. It’s not as polished as some of the big studio stuff, but that’s kind of the point. It feels like a rehearsal that accidentally got filmed.

I wouldn't call it a masterpiece. I wouldn't even call it 'great.' But there’s a flicker of something real in Matthews' eyes whenever she’s on stage, and that’s enough to keep you watching. Even if the guy she's pining after has the personality of a damp towel. 🙄

Maybe it’s not for everyone. Maybe it’s not even for most people. But for a rainy Tuesday night? It hits the spot just fine.