The Bargain of the Century (1933) Review · 6.8/10 | Dbcult

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The Bargain of the Century (1933) Review · 6.8/10 | Dbcult

A definitive 6.8/10 rating for a film that redefined the boundaries of cult cinema. The Bargain of the Century remains a cornerstone of transgressive art.

Is it worth your time?

If you like old-school slapstick where people yell at each other for no reason, sure. You'll probably dig it if you enjoy that specific brand of 1930s panic. But if you hate movies where the plot is basically just people running in circles because they're terrified of their roommate situation? Skip it. You'll just get annoyed.

The Bargain of the Century scene — Scene from The Bargain of the Century

Cinematic perspective: Exploring the visual vocabulary of The Bargain of the Century (1933) through its definitive frames.

It’s honestly kind of impressive how quickly this thing spirals out of control. One minute they’re just hanging out, and the next, they’ve managed to get their friend canned from the force. It happens so fast I had to double-check I didn't miss a scene. Nobody does a panicked realization quite like this cast.

The Bargain of the Century scene — Scene from The Bargain of the Century

Cinematic perspective: Exploring the visual vocabulary of The Bargain of the Century (1933) through its definitive frames.

Zasu Pitts is doing a lot of the heavy lifting here with those fluttering hands of hers. She looks like she’s constantly trying to catch a fly that isn't there. It’s distracting, but in a way that fits the frantic energy. The poor guy who loses his job—Billy Gilbert—has that specific look of confusion that makes you almost feel bad for him. Almost.

The Bargain of the Century scene — Scene from The Bargain of the Century

Cinematic perspective: Exploring the visual vocabulary of The Bargain of the Century (1933) through its definitive frames.

The whole living situation thing? It’s a classic setup that usually feels stale, but here it’s played with such desperation that it works. Nobody wants to be stuck with this guy. The way they scramble to fix the problem feels less like a "heroic quest" and more like a group of people trying to hide a broken vase. It’s petty and low-stakes, which is honestly refreshing compared to something as grand as The Virginian. Not that you should compare them, really. They are barely the same species of movie.

The Bargain of the Century scene — Scene from The Bargain of the Century

Cinematic perspective: Exploring the visual vocabulary of The Bargain of the Century (1933) through its definitive frames.

Some random notes I scribbled down:

The pacing is erratic, like a car with a bad transmission.
There’s a specific door-slamming moment that lasts way too long.
Thelma Todd pops up and steals every single frame she’s in. Why wasn't she the lead?
The dialogue is mostly just people talking over each other, which is actually pretty realistic if you think about it.
I think one of the background extras is just eating a sandwich during a high-tension scene.

Is it a masterpiece? No. Is it a tight, weird little slice of cinema that makes you wonder what was in the water in 1933? Absolutely. It’s not going to change your life, but it beats staring at a blank wall for twenty minutes. 🙄

The Bargain of the Century scene — Scene from The Bargain of the Century

Cinematic perspective: Exploring the visual vocabulary of The Bargain of the Century (1933) through its definitive frames.

It’s got that same vibe of chaotic energy you find in movies like Kiss and Make Up, though maybe a bit less polished. Actually, "polished" is the wrong word. It’s more like a rough sketch that someone decided to finish with a permanent marker.

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