Reviewing The Grand Dame: A loud, messy, and weirdly fun short film

Is it worth your time?

If you have twenty minutes and you like watching stuffy rich people get their feathers ruffled by a woman who sounds like she grew up in a boxing ring, then yes. If you hate loud 1930s comedies where everyone screams their lines and the plot is thinner than a piece of paper, you should probably go watch something else.

It’s a short film, so it doesn't overstay its welcome. It reminds me a bit of Mary Ellen Comes to Town but with more guns and way less actual charm.

The Setup

The plot is pretty basic. A gangster’s moll—played with a lot of volume—wants to be classy and joins high society, but her manners are... well, they aren't there.

I love how the movie doesn't even try to be subtle. From the very first scene, you can tell exactly where this is going and it doesn't disappoint if you like chaos.

Winifred Harris is there, looking very tall and very annoyed at everyone. But the real energy comes from the supporting cast who all seem like they are in a different movie than the rich people.

Specific Moments That Stuck With Me

There is this one moment at a party where everything just falls apart. You can see the extras in the background looking genuinely confused, like they weren't told what was happening in the scene.

The hats in this movie are massive. Seriously, one of them looks like a small boat is docked on a woman's head and it kept distracting me from the dialogue.

I kept thinking about A Bird in the Hand while watching this. It has that same shoved-into-a-room feeling where you know a fight is going to break out eventually.

The dialogue is fast. It's that typical 30s fast where you miss half the jokes because they're already onto the next insult about someone's mother or their shoes.

Matt McHugh plays the brother, I think? He’s great at looking like he just stepped out of a damp alleyway and has no idea which fork to use for salad.

Why it Works (Sort Of)

The ending is a bit abrupt. It just... stops, which is a bit of a letdown if you were hoping for a big payoff.

But that's okay. It’s a short film, it doesn't need to be some big masterpiece like the stuff they show at festivals now.

I noticed that the lighting in the ballroom scenes is actually pretty decent. It's noticeably better than you'd expect for a throwaway comedy from this era.

Austin Fairman plays the 'refined' guy. He has this way of looking down his nose that makes you want to throw a pie at him immediately.

Anyway, it's a fun little distraction. Not deep, not 'art,' just people yelling and being rude to people who deserve it.

I'd say it's better than Ice Cold Cocos by a long shot. At least the jokes here land more often than they miss, even if they are a bit predictable.

Random Notes from my Notepad

• The way she says 'dainty' sounds like she's chewing on gravel.
• The editing is a bit choppy near the ten-minute mark.
• I wish there was more Patsy Kelly, honestly. She’s always the best part.
• The gangster guys look like they were hired off the street and told to look 'tough.'
• Wait, was that a real vase they broke? It looked expensive.

Check it out if you’re bored on a Sunday. Don't expect it to change your life or anything, just enjoy the noise. 🥂