Smarty (1934) Review - A deeply weird Pre-Code comedy

If you want to see how wild movies got right before the censors ruined the fun, Smarty is a trip.

Anyone who loves fast-talking 1930s comedies will have a blast, but if you get easily upset by couples hitting each other for laughs, skip this one immediately. 😬

It is a pre-code film from 1934 that feels incredibly wrong today, yet you cannot look away.

Joan Blondell plays Vicki, a woman who basically begs her husband Tony to smack her.

She does this by making this weird face and teasing him constantly.

Cinematic perspective: Exploring the visual vocabulary of Smarty (1934) through its definitive frames.

Tony is played by Warren William, who looks like he wants to laugh half the time.

He finally cracks and gives her a slap.

Then they divorce, and she marries Edward Everett Horton.

Yes, the fussy guy from every great comedy of this era!

Horton is hilarious here, doing his usual nervous fluster.

Cinematic perspective: Exploring the visual vocabulary of Smarty (1934) through its definitive frames.

You might remember him from other old talkies, but here he gets pushed to his limit.

What is crazy is that Vicki wants the new husband to hit her too.

She actually gets disappointed when he is too polite.

Joan Blondell, who also popped up in Show of Shows, is the only reason this works.

Her energy is just off the charts.

Cinematic perspective: Exploring the visual vocabulary of Smarty (1934) through its definitive frames.

She has this big, expressive eyes that make even the dumbest scenes watchable.

Without her, this movie would be totally forgotten.

The dialogue is super snappy, like they are all on some kind of sugar rush.

But some scenes just drag on.

The weird stuff I noticed:

• The courtroom scene is absolutely ridiculous. The judge seems more interested in Vicki's legs than the actual law. 🙄
• There is a dog in one scene that looks extremely confused about what is happening.
• Edward Everett Horton's pajamas are incredibly silk and look way too comfortable.

There is a part where Vicki goes back to Tony's place and his new date, Bonnie, is there.

Cinematic perspective: Exploring the visual vocabulary of Smarty (1934) through its definitive frames.

Claire Dodd plays Bonnie, and she has this amazing cold stare.

The tension in the room is so thick, you could cut it with a butter knife.

But then the movie just kinda... shifts gears.

It does not really have a normal ending.

It just sort of stops when everyone gets tired of yelling.

Cinematic perspective: Exploring the visual vocabulary of Smarty (1934) through its definitive frames.

I still think about that one scene where Frank McHugh shows up.

He plays a friend and just laughs like a hyena the whole time.

Is it a masterpiece? No way.

But if you want a quick 60 minutes of pure, unhinged 1930s behavior, you could do a lot worse.

Just do not try these marriage tips at home.