The Duke of Dublin: A dusty silent comedy that's actually okay

You should probably only watch this if you are really into silent films or if you have a weird obsession with early Irish caricatures in cinema. Most people today would find it way too slow, but if you like seeing how actors used their faces before they could use their voices, it's a neat little time capsule.

I wouldn't say it's a 'must-watch' or anything, but it has a certain charm that's hard to find in modern stuff. It’s definitely not for you if you need explosions or fast talking to stay awake.

Charles Murray plays the lead and honestly, his face is just built for this kind of comedy. He has these big, expressive eyes that do about 90% of the acting work for him.

There is this one scene early on where he’s trying to fix his tie in a reflection, but the glass is all warped. He makes this series of frustrated grunts—you can’t hear them, obviously—but you can totally feel his annoyance through the screen.

It’s a very small moment, but it felt real. It’s better than some of the more staged jokes later on.

The Mary Gordon Factor

Mary Gordon is in this, and she is basically playing the same kind of dependable woman she played her whole career. She has this way of standing with her hands on her hips that just says 'I am disappointed in you' without needing a title card.

The chemistry between her and Murray is what keeps the movie from falling apart when the plot gets thin. Which happens alot.

I noticed that the sets look incredibly flimsy. In one shot, someone closes a door and the entire wall literally wobbles for a second.

It’s kind of funny to see. It reminds you that these movies were often made on a shoestring budget in big drafty warehouses.

The writing by Vernon Smith is... fine, I guess. It’s mostly just a series of 'guy gets into trouble, guy gets out of trouble' sequences.

It doesn't have the weird energy of something like The Extraordinary Adventures of Mr. West in the Land of the Bolsheviks. It feels much more safe and traditional.

Cinematic perspective: Exploring the visual vocabulary of The Duke of Dublin (1930) through its definitive frames.

• The title cards are actually pretty funny sometimes.
• There is a dog in the background of one street scene that looks very confused.
• The costumes are surprisingly detailed compared to the shaky sets.

I found myself wondering if they actually filmed any of this in Dublin. Probably not. It looks like a backlot in California with some fake moss stuck to the walls.

The lighting is also a bit of a mess. Some scenes are so bright you can barely see the actors' features, and then the next shot is super dark for no reason.

It’s not as polished as The Empress or even The Actress. It feels a bit more hurried, like they had to finish it in a weekend.

There’s a bit in the middle where a character played by Monte Carter enters the room. He does this weird little hat tip that goes on for way too long. It was probably supposed to be a gag, but it just felt awkward.

Still, there's a sweetness to it. It doesn't try to be anything other than a light distraction.

If you've seen things like High Heels or The Clue, you know what to expect from this era of filmmaking. It’s about the vibe more than the logic.

I did get a bit bored during the long sequence at the dinner table. They spent way too much time showing people eating soup.

But then Charles Murray does a double-take at a butler and it pulled me back in. He really was a master of the reaction shot.

Is it better than Bunkered? Maybe. It depends on how much you like Irish accents being acted out through silence.

The ending is pretty predictable, but it leaves you feeling okay. It’s like a warm cup of tea that’s gone a little bit cold but you drink it anyway because you’re already halfway through.

One last thing—the print I saw was a bit scratched up. It actually added to the experience, making it feel like I was watching something forbidden or lost to time.

Anyway, it's a decent watch if you've got an hour and want to see Mary Gordon before she became the world's most famous cinematic housekeeper. Just don't expect a masterpiece.