The Man in the Mirror (1936) - A goofy little comedy about a literal alter ego

If you love old, dusty comedies where people say "golly" and look constantly panicked, you'll probably have a decent time with The Man in the Mirror. But if you need fast pacing or actual logic, you will probably hate it. 🌧️

It's a very specific kind of rainy-day movie.

The whole thing hinges on Edward Everett Horton, who plays Jeremy, a man who is basically a human doormat. He can't stand up to his boss, his wife, or even the dog, probably.

Then one morning, his reflection in the dressing room mirror decides it has had enough of his moping. The reflection literally steps out of the glass, looking much happier and wearing a slightly better suit.

I love how Horton plays nervous. His little hand gestures and the way his voice cracks when he gets flustered is basically the whole appeal of the movie.

The "wild and crazy" things his reflection does are hilariously mild by today's standards. He does things like... ordering a fancy lunch and actually telling his boss to shut up. Oh, the absolute horror! 😂

While other films from 1936 like Ceiling Zero were dealing with high-stakes drama and intense action, this one is just about a guy whose mirror self steals his checkbook and goes to a fancy hotel.

The special effects are actually pretty neat for the era. You can occasionally spot the line on the screen where they stitched the two shots together, but it honestly just adds to the charm.

Also, Alastair Sim shows up!

He doesn't have a massive role, but every time he is on screen, he does this weird thing with his eyes that makes him look like he's in a much creepier movie. He is always a treat to watch, even when the script doesn't give him much to do.

The movie does get a bit slow in the middle. There is a scene at a bank that goes on for about three minutes too long, and I actually found myself checking my phone.

Also, the wife's reaction to her husband's sudden personality shift is weirdly chill. Your husband is suddenly acting like a completely different human being and you just think he's "lively" today?

But hey, it's a 1930s comedy, so you can't expect deep psychological realism.

It is just a light, slightly silly story about a guy learning to stand up for himself. It won't change your life, but it's a cozy watch if you like this sort of thing.

Some random thoughts I scribbled down:

• That mirror frame looks incredibly heavy, how did he not knock it over?
• Edward Everett Horton's mustache deserves its own billing.
• The music gets incredibly loud whenever the reflection does something "mischievous."