The Big Chance: A weird little musical from 1934

Is this thing worth your time?

If you have a soft spot for 1930s German musicals and don't mind a story that feels like it was written on a cocktail napkin, maybe. If you hate operettas or get annoyed by people singing about their feelings while standing in an airplane hangar, skip it. Honestly, it’s a bit of a relic.

It’s a classic class-clash setup. Poor guy, rich girl, some planes involved. The whole thing feels like it’s trying to be very charming, but it mostly just feels tired. Camilla Horn is doing a lot of heavy lifting here.

There's this one scene where they're talking about aviation, and the dialogue is so stiff you could use it to build a wing. It’s not exactly When My Ship Comes In in terms of flow. The pacing is weirdly stop-and-start. One minute they're arguing about social status, the next someone is breaking into a song that has absolutely nothing to do with the plot.

I found myself staring at the background extras more than the leads. There’s a guy in the back of the party scene who clearly forgot his cues. He’s just standing there, holding a drink, looking like he’s waiting for a bus. It’s the best part of the movie.

Bits and pieces

• The music is… fine? A bit repetitive.
• The airplane sets are hilariously small.
• I’m pretty sure someone trips in the background during the third musical number.

It’s not as polished as Men in White, but it has this weird, frantic energy. Like everyone on set knew they were making something disposable. They just kept going anyway. Sometimes that’s enough to keep me watching.

It’s not a masterpiece. It’s barely even a solid movie. But if you're like me and you dig through the archives for these oddball 1934 productions, you’ll find a few moments that aren't total garbage. Just don't go in expecting to be moved. It’s a lightweight affair that blows away the second it ends. ✈️