She's My Weakness (1930) Review - Arthur Lake being Arthur Lake

Is this worth watching today? Only if you have a real soft spot for early talkies that feel like they were filmed in a single weekend. If you like Arthur Lake and his whole 'nervous guy' shtick, you’ll probably find it charming enough. If you hate movies where the plot depends on people being slightly dim-witted about real estate, you should probably skip it. 🛑

Arthur Lake plays Tommy Mills. He’s got that high-pitched, frantic energy he always has. It’s the kind of performance that makes you want to give the guy a glass of water and tell him to breathe. He’s trying to marry Marie, played by Sue Carol, but he has zero dollars in his pocket.

Then comes the inheritance. It is always a dead relative in these movies, isn't it? He gets some property, but there are complications. Usually, that means someone else wants it or the land is actually a swamp. 🏠

There is a scene in the middle where they are arguing about the deed and the camera just... stays there. It lingers for about ten seconds too long after the dialogue ends. You can almost hear the actors waiting for someone to tell them they can stop acting now.

The pacing is a bit weird. It feels like the movie starts three times. It reminds me a bit of the messy energy in Henpecked, where everyone is just talking over each other.

I noticed the background sets look remarkably flimsy. Like, if someone leaned too hard on a wall, the whole 'house' would probably tip over into the next studio. It adds a bit of accidental humor to the whole thing.

Sue Carol is fine as Marie, but she doesn't have much to do besides look worried. She spends a lot of time waiting for Tommy to stop being a disaster. It is a very typical role for the time, unfortunately. 👗

One thing that really stood out was the sound quality. It has that early 1930s hiss that makes everyone sound like they are speaking through a tin can. It’s actually kind of cozy if you’re in the right mood.

Cinematic perspective: Exploring the visual vocabulary of She's My Weakness (1930) through its definitive frames.

The comedy is very physical, which is Lake's bread and butter. There is a bit with a fountain that is clearly supposed to be a 'big laugh' moment. It’s mostly just... okay? I smiled, but I didn't laugh out loud. ⛲

If you have seen The Crash, you know how these movies handle money troubles. They make it feel like the end of the world, but you know it’ll all be fixed by a lucky break in the last five minutes.

The writers, Howard Lindsay and Bertrand Robinson, clearly knew how to write a stage play. But as a movie, it feels a bit boxed in. There isn't much 'cinema' happening here, just people in rooms talking loudly at each other.

I did love the hats, though. The women in this movie wear hats that look like architectural experiments. One of them is so big I’m surprised the actress could keep her neck straight. 👒

It’s a short movie, which is its biggest strength. It doesn't try to be a 'profound exploration' of anything. It just wants to show a guy tripping over his own feet for an hour.

Unlike Strange Cargo, which feels like it has a bit more weight to it, this one is light as air. Maybe too light. It’s like eating a giant piece of cotton candy—it’s sweet for a second, then it’s just gone.

Is it a classic? Not really. Is it a fun way to spend an hour if you’re a film nerd who wants to see Arthur Lake before he became Dagwood? Sure. Just don't expect it to change your life or anything. 🎬

The ending feels a bit rushed, like they realized they were running out of film. But hey, at least everyone looks happy. It’s a harmless little flick that doesn't demand much from you.