6/10
Senior Film Conservator

A definitive 6/10 rating for a film that redefined the boundaries of cult cinema. She Had to Say Yes remains a cornerstone of transgressive art.
If you like movies that make you feel slightly grossed out by the characters but fascinated by the writing, go for it. People who want a sweet, uncomplicated romance from the 1930s should probably stay away, because this isn't that. It’s cynical, a bit mean, and honestly kind of a headache, but in a way that’s hard to look away from.
Loretta Young is doing a lot of heavy lifting here. She has to play a character who is constantly being pushed around by men who think they own her time. There’s a scene where she’s just staring at her fiancé, and you can see the exact moment she realizes he’s a total fraud. It’s a great bit of acting that doesn't need a single word.
The whole premise of using women as office-sponsored party favors is just... wild. It makes The Little Giant look like a Sunday school picnic. It doesn't sugarcoat the desperation of the Depression era, even if it tries to dress it up as a light drama.
The pacing is a bit of a mess. Sometimes it’s snappy, and other times it just stalls while characters stare at each other. It’s not quite as smooth as Ship Ahoy, which had a better handle on its own tone. This one just hits you with the cynicism and expects you to keep up.
I found myself wondering if anyone in this office actually did any typing. Everyone is too busy managing their double-lives and getting into arguments. It’s a classic case of people making the worst possible choices at every single turn. Classic.
Is it a masterpiece? No. Is it interesting? Yeah, in a kind of dirty, chaotic way. It’s not a movie I’d recommend for a date night unless you want to spend the whole drive home arguing about workplace ethics. 🙃

IMDb 7.8
1918
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