Penthouse (1933): A Fast-Talking Mess You Might Actually Like

Is this for you?

If you like old movies where people talk at double-speed and wear tuxedoes in every single scene, you'll probably have a good time with Penthouse. If you’re looking for a tight, logical mystery where the clues actually matter, you’re going to be annoyed by how fast they hand-wave the plot.

Warner Baxter plays this lawyer guy, Jackson Durant, who spends half the movie looking like he’s trying to solve a puzzle he isn't quite bright enough for. Myrna Loy shows up looking elegant as ever, but the movie feels like it’s constantly pulling her in two different directions.

The Pacing is All Over the Place

One minute we’re in a high-stakes courtroom, and the next we’re in some weirdly lit apartment having a conversation that feels like it’s happening in a vacuum. The scenes don't really breathe. They just sort of happen.

There’s a specific bit where a character gets accused of murder and nobody seems all that bothered by it. It’s like they were in a rush to get to lunch. You can practically see the actors checking their watches off-camera.

Some Notes from the Couch

• The dialogue is sharp, but sometimes it’s just too much. It’s like the writers were trying to win a bet on how many wisecracks they could cram into ten minutes.
• The mobster stuff feels a bit thin. Like, they watched Her Man and thought, 'yeah, let's do that, but with more cocktails.'
• I swear some of the background extras in the party scene aren't even pretending to talk. They're just standing there holding champagne glasses like they're waiting for a bus.
• Myrna Loy saves almost every scene she's in just by arching an eyebrow. She’s the only one who seems to know what movie she’s in.

It’s not as polished as the big studio hits from that year. It’s got this weird, scrappy energy that feels almost accidental. At one point, the lighting in the penthouse shifts from moody to flat-out bright, and nobody seems to care that the room suddenly looks like a dentist’s office.

I kept thinking about Girls Don't Gamble while watching this. There's a similar vibe of 'let's just get to the twist and hope nobody asks questions.' But honestly? It works okay for a rainy afternoon.

It’s a flawed little thing. But it’s got personality. That counts for more than a perfect script sometimes. 🍸