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6.6/10
Senior Film Conservator
A definitive 6.6/10 rating for a film that redefined the boundaries of cult cinema. Roman Scandals remains a cornerstone of transgressive art.
If you have any patience for 1930s musical comedy, you might get a kick out of Roman Scandals. If you prefer your movies to make sense or stick to one tone, stay far away. This thing is basically a variety show that someone forgot to edit down.
The plot starts in some dusty town called West Rome, Oklahoma. It’s supposed to be sad, I think? But then Eddie Cantor starts singing, and suddenly we are in a dream sequence that takes up about 80% of the runtime. The transition is so abrupt it almost gave me whiplash.
The production design is wild. It’s like they raided a costume shop and decided that ancient Rome needed more Art Deco elements. The Goldwyn Girls are everywhere, appearing in these massive, synchronized dance numbers that feel like they belong in a different movie entirely. It’s almost hypnotic how they just materialize in the background of a serious-ish murder plot.
Speaking of, there is a murder plot. Or maybe it’s a political satire? It’s hard to tell when Eddie Cantor is doing blackface or cracking jokes about modern banking in the middle of a gladiator arena. It’s incredibly dated, and frankly, some of it is just uncomfortable to sit through today.
I kept waiting for the story to settle, but it just drifts. At one point, you’re watching a dramatic moment involving the Emperor, and the next, there’s a slapstick chase that feels like a silent comedy short. It’s uneven as all hell. Roman Scandals isn't really a movie so much as a collection of ideas that the studio just threw at the screen to see what stuck.
It reminded me a bit of the frantic energy in O Que Foi O Carnaval de 1920!, but with a way bigger budget and way more confusion. There’s a specific moment where Cantor is hiding behind a statue that goes on for way too long. The silence in the theater—or my living room—started to feel really heavy. I think the director just liked the set and didn't want to cut away.
Lucille Ball shows up in a tiny role, and she’s already doing that thing with her eyes that makes you realize she’s going to be a star. She’s the only thing that feels grounded in the whole mess. Everything else is just people shouting in tunics.
Is it worth watching? Maybe if you’re a fan of musical history. Or if you like seeing how weirdly weird Hollywood was back when they could just smash genres together without a script supervisor stopping them. Just don't expect a cohesive experience.
Some highlights from my notes:
IMDb 6.6
1923
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