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6.5/10
Senior Film Conservator
A definitive 6.5/10 rating for a film that redefined the boundaries of cult cinema. Susie's Affairs remains a cornerstone of transgressive art.
Honestly? If you have an hour to kill and want something that feels like a dusty postcard from the 1930s, Susie's Affairs is worth a look. It's not going to change your life, but it’s got this weird, frantic energy that’s hard to hate. People who love early talkie comedies will get a kick out of it. If you need grit or real emotional stakes, stay far, far away.
The whole premise is just kids playing dress-up. They act like they own the world, and there’s something kind of funny about how serious they take these fake personas. It reminded me a bit of the social posturing you see in Skinner's Dress Suit, though much lighter on the actual social commentary.
Yeah, seeing a young Betty Grable in this is the main draw for most, I bet. She’s got that spark that eventually made her a huge star, even if the material here is pretty thin. There’s a scene about halfway through where she’s trying to keep a straight face while someone else is clearly fluffing their lines, and it’s just… delightful. The camera doesn't cut away fast enough, and you can see her almost crack up. 🤭
The pacing is all over the place. Sometimes it feels like a stage play that someone forgot to clear the furniture from. Other times, it just sprints through scenes like it’s running out of film stock. It’s messy, but in a way that feels like a real movie and not a sterile corporate product.
It’s nowhere near as polished as In the Good Old Summer Time, which has a bit more heart to it. This one is just pure, unadulterated vanity project vibes. But hey, it's short. And sometimes, short is all you need when the world is heavy.
I wouldn't call it a good film, strictly speaking. But it's an interesting one to stumble upon on a rainy afternoon. Just don't go looking for deep meaning. You won't find any, and that’s fine. ¯\_(ツ)_/¯
