Riley of the Rainbow Division is a weirdly charming mess

If you have about an hour to kill and you like watching people trip over things in 1920s army uniforms, this is fine. It is definitely not for people who want a serious look at World War I.

It’s more for the crowd that finds bad disguises and frantic running around funny. I think I laughed twice, which is more than I expected for a movie this old. 🎬

Creighton Hale is the main guy here, and he’s doing that nervous, wide-eyed thing he always does. You might recognize him from The Monster where he’s also basically a human puddle of anxiety.

The plot starts out simple enough with these two buddies enlisting. They have these big plans to get married right before they ship out to France. 🇫🇷

But of course, they mess up and end up in the guardhouse. The guardhouse looks like it was built out of leftover wood from a barn and some very thin bars.

I noticed there’s a scene where they’re sitting on the floor and the dust is just swirling around them in the sunlight. It felt very real, like the set hadn't been cleaned in weeks. 🧹

Then the girls show up. Joan Standing and Pauline Garon decide the only way to get their weddings is to join the army too.

They put on these uniforms that are about three sizes too big. Nobody in the camp notices they are women, which is the most unbelievable part of the whole thing.

One of the girls has her hat pulled so low she can barely see. She keeps bumping into things and it’s clearly not scripted, but they kept it in anyway.

There is a specific moment where one of the girls tries to salute a sergeant. She almost pokes her own eye out with her thumb because the sleeve is so long. ✋

The movie takes a weird turn when enemy spies show up. It feels like the writers realized the wedding plot was too thin and just threw in some Germans to spice it up.

The spies are very obvious. They skulk around corners and look over their shoulders way too much. 🕵️‍♂️

There is a guy in the background of one camp scene who is just eating a giant piece of bread for like three minutes. I couldn't stop watching him instead of the main actors.

The pacing is a bit bumpy. One minute they are crying about leaving home, and the next they are doing a literal circus act with a bucket of water.

It reminds me a bit of the tone in Within the Law, where the legal stuff gets mixed with some really goofy character choices.

The cinematography isn't anything special. Most of the shots are just flat, wide angles so you can see everyone’s feet during the chases. 🏃‍♂️

There is a lot of shouting in the title cards. Everything feels very LOUD even though it’s a silent film.

I liked the dog that shows up for no reason in the middle of the training field. He just wanders across the frame and someone tries to kick him away but misses.

The whole thing with the spies gets resolved so fast you might miss it if you blink. They just kind of fall into a trap and that’s that.

It’s not as polished as some of the other stuff from that year, but it has a weird energy. It feels like a bunch of friends got together and decided to make a movie on a weekend. 🎥

If you’re looking for high art, you should probably watch Interference instead. That one actually feels like it has a budget.

But if you want to see Creighton Hale look confused while a girl in a fake moustache hides under a bed, this is your movie.

The ending is very abrupt. They get married, the war is still happening, and the screen just fades to black. 👰

I wonder if they actually went to France after the credits rolled. Probably not, they’d likely get lost on the way to the boat.

One thing that bugged me was the lighting in the barracks. It kept changing from dark to bright between shots, like someone was messing with a lamp off-screen. 💡

Also, the mustaches. Some of them look like they were drawn on with a piece of burnt toast.

It’s a harmless little flick. It’s not going to change your life, and it’s definitely not going to be anyone’s favorite movie.

But it’s a nice look at how people used to make fun of the army back then. It’s light, it’s silly, and it doesn't try to be anything else.

I’d give it a watch if it’s raining outside and you’ve already seen all the good stuff. Just don’t expect to remember much of it by tomorrow morning. 🌧️

The physical comedy is the best part. When they’re all tangled up in the guardhouse, it’s like watching a human knot try to untie itself.

There’s a guy who plays a corporal who has the most intense stare I’ve ever seen. He looks like he’s actually angry at the camera. 😠

Anyway, it’s a decent enough time. Just keep your expectations low and enjoy the oversized hats.