The Outcast (1934): A weird little trip through the mud

Is it worth your time?

Honestly, only if you have a soft spot for pre-war British scrappiness. If you’re looking for high-stakes drama that makes sense, look elsewhere. People who love the specific rhythm of 1930s poverty-comedies will probably get a kick out of it. Everyone else might find the plot a bit of a headache.

The whole thing kicks off with a theater troupe losing everything. It’s the kind of premise that moves fast because it has to. Before you know it, we are in Newcastle, then London, then back to the dogs. It’s a bit of a whirlwind, really.

The Greyhound Factor

The transition from theater to bookmaking is abrupt, almost jarring. But that’s the charm. We spend a good chunk of time watching these guys try to survive the track. It feels like the movie is just as tired as the characters. It doesn't have the sheen of some other films from that era, like The Girl in the Taxi, which feels much more put-together.

And then there’s the puppy. Of course there’s a puppy. It’s the only thing that keeps Bill from losing his mind. The scenes involving the dog are genuinely sweet, even if the training montage feels like it was filmed in about five minutes.

The Garbage Lorry Moment

• Bill escapes prison by hiding in a garbage truck.
• The staging is… well, it’s certainly a choice.
• I think I saw a guy in the background just standing there watching the cameras.

The prison escape is peak absurdity. It happens so quickly that you’re left wondering if you missed a scene. It’s not graceful, but it’s memorable in a "did I really just see that?" kind of way. It reminds me a bit of the frantic energy in The Fugitive, though obviously on a much smaller scale.

It’s not a film that cares about being "good" in the traditional sense. It’s a film that just wants to get to the next punchline or the next disaster. The acting is loud and sometimes messy, especially when the bookie stooges show up. You can practically hear the script writers saying, "Okay, now he runs! Now he falls!"

There’s a weird, dusty feeling to the whole production. It doesn't feel like a studio set; it feels like a damp room in 1934. That grit is probably its best feature. It’s not trying to be a The Man from Utah type of spectacle. It’s just people trying to make a buck and failing miserably.

If you watch it, pay attention to the lighting in the bookie scenes. It’s so uneven. Sometimes it’s bright enough to blind you, and other times the actors are just shadows in suits. 🐕