Prestige (1932) Review - A very sweaty Melvyn Douglas

You should probably watch Prestige if you enjoy those old movies where the tropical heat makes everyone lose their minds. It is perfect for a rainy afternoon when you feel like watching someone else have a much worse day than you.

If you are looking for a fast-paced action movie, you will likely hate this. It moves about as fast as a person walking through thick mud.

Ann Harding plays Therese. She arrives in Indochina looking very clean and hopeful, which you know immediately is a mistake.

She is there to marry Andre, played by Melvyn Douglas. He is the commander of a penal colony, which sounds like a tough job even if you aren't a drunk.

But Andre is a total wreck. He’s drinking constantly and looks like he hasn't slept since the 1920s.

I was surprised by how much the movie focuses on the drinking. It’s not glamorous at all; he just looks pathetic and shaky.

Adolphe Menjou is also there as Captain Verlaine. He spends most of the movie looking at everyone with this expression of pure boredom and cynicism.

Menjou is easily the best part. He has this tiny mustache that stays perfectly groomed while everyone else is covered in sweat and dirt.

The Vibes

The set design is actually pretty good for a movie this old. You can almost feel the humidity coming off the screen.

There are these long shots of the prison camp that feel very lonely. It makes you understand why Andre started hitting the bottle so hard.

One scene that stuck with me is when a prisoner gets whipped. It feels very mean and gritty for 1932, even if the camera cuts away eventually.

The movie is way more depressing than something like One Exciting Day. It’s definitely not a comedy.

Sometimes the dialogue is a bit much. They talk about "white man's burdens" and "honor" in a way that feels very dated and awkward now.

I found myself wondering why Therese didn't just get back on the boat. She stays with him even when he’s being a complete jerk, which is hard to watch.

The pacing is a bit weird. Some scenes go on forever, and then the ending happens so fast you might blink and miss it.

• The sound of the jungle birds is way too loud in some scenes.
• Ann Harding’s hats are remarkably sturdy.
• Melvyn Douglas does a great job of looking like he’s about to faint.

It reminds me a little of the atmosphere in The Destroying Angel, but with more mosquitoes. It isn't as charming as By the Light of the Silvery Moon, obviously.

There is a moment where a rebellion starts among the prisoners. It feels like the movie finally remembered it needed some excitement, but it’s over pretty quickly.

The way the extras stand in the background is kind of funny. They just look like they are waiting for their paycheck so they can go home.

I wouldn't call this a masterpiece. It’s more like a strange artifact from a time when movies were still figuring out how to be gritty.

If you like Adolphe Menjou being a jerk, it's a must-see. Otherwise, it’s just a decent way to spend eighty minutes. 🥃

I think I liked it more than Her Moment, but mostly because of the hats. It’s a messy film, but it has a certain mood that sticks with you after it’s over.