DbcultAccessing Vault...
6.1/10
Senior Film Conservator
A definitive 6.1/10 rating for a film that redefined the boundaries of cult cinema. Rough Seas remains a cornerstone of transgressive art.
Honestly, only if you're a die-hard fan of early talkie comedies or Charley Chase specifically. If you're looking for a tight, well-oiled narrative, you’re in the wrong place. But if you want to see a guy try to hide a woman in a cargo hold while everyone around him acts like a cartoon, then sure. It's a rough ride.
The whole thing feels like it was put together on a lunch break. It's not as smooth as The Last of Mrs. Cheyney, but that’s kind of the charm, I guess? Or maybe it's just frustration.
Charley is trying to be sneaky, but he’s basically a walking disaster zone. There's this one bit where he’s trying to navigate a narrow corridor that goes on for way too long. The timing is a bit off—like the editor fell asleep at the wheel for a few seconds.
Thelma Todd is in here, and she’s doing a lot of heavy lifting to keep the energy up. You can tell she’s the only one who actually read the script before showing up on set.
It’s not as manic as A Jungle Romeo, which I caught last week. This one is more of a slow-burn disaster.
The boat scenes look suspiciously like a set built in a basement somewhere in Hollywood. You can see the light reflecting off the backdrop if you squint. I don’t know why that bugs me, but it does.
Maybe it’s because the movie is so eager to distract you with falling plates and shouting. It’s loud. And not the good kind of loud.
Still, watching Charley try to act cool while his secret is about to spill is... well, it’s fine. It’s perfectly fine. It doesn't need to be anything else. Sometimes you just want to watch a guy fail at being clever for twenty minutes. 🚢