The House of the Spaniard: A bit dusty, but worth a look

Is it worth the watch?

Honestly, only if you have a massive soft spot for black-and-white thrillers that feel like they were pulled out of a bargain bin in 1936. If you want high-octane pacing, run away. If you enjoy watching a confused Englishman stumble through a Spanish smuggling ring while looking perpetually worried, pull up a chair.

The whole thing has this weird, frantic energy. It’s not exactly polished, but it’s certainly not boring in a standard way. It feels less like a movie and more like someone reading a pulp novel to you while they’re slightly distracted.

The vibe check

Our lead, the poor British fellow, seems to have been dropped into the movie by accident. He’s just wandering around trying to be polite while everyone else is doing crimes. It’s like watching a polite golden retriever try to navigate a knife fight.

There is this moment where he meets the señorita and the chemistry is just… barely there. It’s hilarious because they seem more focused on where the nearest door is than anything else. You can almost see the actors wondering if they left the stove on back home.

• The smuggling scenes are very theatrical.
• The shadows are doing a lot of the heavy lifting.
• Someone definitely spent way too much time arranging the hats.

It’s not quite as punchy as Mary Burns, Fugitive, which had a bit more grit to its heels. This one feels like it’s playing dress-up with danger. It reminded me a little bit of the lighter moments in The Washington Masquerade, though without the political bite.

Final thoughts (or lack thereof)

The pacing is a total disaster, frankly. Sometimes scenes drag on like a Tuesday afternoon meeting that won't end, and then—bam—the plot jumps three steps ahead without telling you. It’s disorienting. I think I missed half the counterfeiting subplot because I was too busy looking at the weird wallpaper in the background of the tavern scenes.

Is it a masterpiece? No. Is it a fun way to kill an hour if you like old stuff? Sure. Just don't expect it to change your life. 🎞️