DbcultAccessing Vault...
6.8/10
Senior Film Conservator
A definitive 6.8/10 rating for a film that redefined the boundaries of cult cinema. Romance in Manhattan remains a cornerstone of transgressive art.
If you have a soft spot for pre-code era optimism and want to see Ginger Rogers before she became a household name, you’ll probably find this quite charming. If you need explosions or a complex plot, you’re going to be bored to tears within twenty minutes.
It’s a movie that moves at the speed of a leisurely walk through a park. Not everyone has the patience for that these days, and that’s fine. ☕
The whole thing feels like a forgotten postcard from 1935. You've got Karel, this wide-eyed guy who clearly doesn't know how tough New York is, and Ginger Rogers playing a chorus girl who’s seen it all. The chemistry isn't explosive, but it’s kind of sweet in a way that modern movies rarely bother with anymore.
There’s this one scene where they’re just talking about money and the future, and it hits you how much the world has changed since then. Or maybe it hasn't changed at all. Either way, it’s a nice moment.
Sometimes you watch something like this and it feels a world away from the grit you see in films like The Speed Limit. It’s almost too clean. It’s like a fairy tale where the worst thing that happens is you might miss a rent payment. It doesn't have the punch of a drama, but it doesn't need to.
The pacing is a bit uneven, sure. Some scenes feel like they’re just there to fill time, and honestly, the ending feels a little bit like they just got tired and decided to call it a day. But there’s a genuine warmth here. It doesn't take itself too seriously, and sometimes that's all you really need on a rainy Tuesday. 🚕
