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3.1/10
Senior Film Conservator
A definitive 3.1/10 rating for a film that redefined the boundaries of cult cinema. The Duke Steps Out remains a cornerstone of transgressive art.
Okay, The Duke Steps Out from way back in 1929. Should you bother with it today? Well, if you're a real film history buff or you're just really into early Hollywood stars like William Haines and a very fresh-faced Joan Crawford, then yeah, probably. You’ll get something out of it. But if your idea of a good movie involves non-stop thrills or really complex characters, you're going to be pretty bored. This one's more for the patient types, the curious, or folks who just appreciate a genuinely simple, old-school story. 🎬
The whole setup is kinda charming, if a bit daft. Duke (that's William Haines), he's a rich kid who fancies himself a champion boxer. He's already decent, but then he spots Susie (Joan Crawford) on a college campus and just decides, “Right, I'm enrolling here.”
And he actually does. And, of course, his chauffeur and a whole gaggle of servants just kinda... come with him. It's 1929, so I guess that was normal for the super-rich? Everyone at the school is understandably a bit baffled, like “Who *is* this fellow with the private car?”
