Soup and Fish: A chaotic, messy time with Thelma and Patsy

Is it worth your time?

If you've got ten minutes and a soft spot for pre-code slapstick, sure. Watch it. If you’re looking for a plot that actually goes somewhere, skip it. It's strictly for people who want to see stuffy people get annoyed by loud, disruptive comedy.

The whole thing feels like a pressure cooker. You’ve got these fancy people in their formal wear, and then you’ve got Thelma and Patsy, who are basically a wrecking ball in silk dresses. It's delightfully awkward.

Patsy Kelly is the real deal here. She isn't trying to fit in, and honestly, the movie is better for it. Watching her fumble with those gadgets while everyone else tries to maintain some dignity is just funny. It reminded me a bit of the frantic energy in Hot Pepper, though maybe a bit more contained.

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

The awkward bits

There's a moment near the middle where the silence in the room gets so heavy it's almost painful. The Count looks like he wants to be literally anywhere else. You can feel the director pushing for a joke that isn't quite landing yet. It’s messy.

• The props are absurd.
• The pacing is basically 'everything, all at once.'
• The background extras look like they’re genuinely confused about where to stand.

Is it better than Dabbling in Society? Maybe. It’s shorter, for one. It doesn’t overstay its welcome, which is a rare treat for these kinds of shorts. It just kind of ends before the chaos becomes too much to handle.

I found myself staring at the background furniture more than the actual dialogue. It's that kind of movie. The acting is loud, the gags are physical, and the social satire is about as subtle as a brick to the head. Honestly, that's exactly what I wanted from this.

It’s not trying to be a Sleeping Beauty style production, obviously. It’s just a bit of fun. Don't look for meaning. There isn't any. Just enjoy the mess. 🥂