The Man and the Moment (1929) - A bit of a mess but kind of charming

If you're looking for a lost masterpiece from the end of the silent era, this probably isn't the one. But it is worth a look if you have a soft spot for Rod La Rocque and his very intense mustache.

It’s a movie for people who like watching rich people solve problems in the most complicated ways possible. If you hate stories where a simple conversation could end the movie in five minutes, you will probably hate this.

The whole thing starts because Michel (Rod La Rocque) is being chased by Viola, played by Gwen Lee. Viola is what they used to call a 'gold digger,' and she isn't even subtle about it. 💅

She follows him everywhere. It’s almost impressive how much energy she puts into being annoying.

To escape her, Michel decides the most logical thing to do is to find a random woman and get married for 'convenience.' He picks Joan, and they have this weirdly fast wedding that feels like it was planned in about thirty seconds. ✈️

There is this one scene in an airplane that is just... strange. It’s supposed to be romantic or maybe dramatic, but the way the plane wobbles makes it look like they are filming inside a giant tin can.

The wind is blowing Billie Dove’s hair all over the place. She looks like she’s just trying to keep her eyes open while Rod leans in for a very stiff kiss.

I noticed a small detail in the background during one of the party scenes. There is an extra who is clearly just staring at the camera for a solid three seconds before realizing they should be 'mingling.'

It’s those little mistakes that make these 1920s movies feel real to me. It’s not polished like a modern Marvel movie, and thank god for that.

The plot is based on an Elinor Glyn story. She’s the one who came up with the idea of 'It,' but this movie doesn't have quite that much spark. It feels a bit more like Men or maybe Her Social Value in how it handles the 'poor girl meets rich guy' thing.

Rod La Rocque is an interesting actor to watch. He has this way of standing where he looks like he's posing for a statue even when he's just supposed to be walking across a room. 🗿

Sometimes he feels like he’s in a different movie than everyone else. While Gwen Lee is chewing the scenery and being all dramatic, Rod is just... standing there looking handsome.

The pacing gets a bit slow in the middle. There’s a lot of sitting around and talking—or rather, title cards showing us what they would be saying if we could hear them.

I found myself wondering why Joan went along with the marriage plan so easily. The movie doesn't really explain her motivation well, she just kind of says 'okay' and hops on the plane.

It’s a bit like Dizzy Daddies in the sense that the logic is totally sideways. But it’s less funny and more of a 'society drama.'

One reaction shot of Viola after she finds out about the marriage lingers for way too long. She just stares into the distance with this look that says 'I think I left the stove on' rather than 'I am heartbroken.'

The costumes are the real stars here, honestly. Billie Dove wears these hats that look like they could double as satellite dishes. 👒

It’s a 1929 film, so it’s right on that edge where movies were starting to change forever. You can feel it trying to be modern for its time, but it still has all those big, sweeping silent movie gestures.

I wouldn't say this is as fun as something like The Americano. It takes itself a little too seriously for a story that is basically a soap opera with better lighting.

Is it a great film? No, not really. But it’s a comfortable one to watch on a Sunday afternoon when you don't want to think too hard.

The ending is exactly what you think it will be. No surprises there, but that’s okay. Sometimes you just want to see the rich guy realize he’s actually in love with the girl he 'hired.'

Anyway, if you like seeing how people in the 20s imagined high-society problems, give it a go. Just don't expect it to change your life or anything. 🤷‍♂️