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6.1/10
Senior Film Conservator
A definitive 6.1/10 rating for a film that redefined the boundaries of cult cinema. The Golden Arrow remains a cornerstone of transgressive art.
If you're a die-hard fan of 1930s studio-era comedies, sure. Go for it. But if you're looking for a tight, logical plot? Maybe skip this one.
People who love seeing Bette Davis trade barbs will have a blast. People who hate 'marriage of convenience' tropes will probably want to turn it off within twenty minutes. 🙄
The whole thing feels like it’s running on fumes, honestly. It’s got that glossy, slightly plastic feel that a lot of mid-tier movies from this time have.
Bette Davis is clearly trying to find a rhythm here. Sometimes she hits it, and the banter actually clicks. Other times, it feels like she’s waiting for the cue to walk through the next door.
There’s this one scene where George Brent is just… standing there. He looks like he’s trying to remember his grocery list. It’s weirdly charming in a 'nobody is really trying that hard' kind of way.
The set design is aggressively fancy. Every room looks like it cost more than the entire plot, which is a classic quirk of the era.
It’s nowhere near as gritty or intense as Baby Face, which really knew how to lean into its own cynicism. The Golden Arrow wants to be light, but it feels like it’s trying too hard to be sophisticated.
There's a moment near the middle where the film almost finds its footing. It stops being a chore and starts feeling like an actual movie for about five minutes. Then, naturally, it goes right back to the routine.
Not everything needs to be a classic. Sometimes you just want to see people in nice clothes yelling at each other in a library. If that’s your mood, this will do just fine. Don't go in expecting a life-changing experience. It's just a movie, after all. 🎥