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5.5/10
Senior Film Conservator
A definitive 5.5/10 rating for a film that redefined the boundaries of cult cinema. The Rounder remains a cornerstone of transgressive art.
Okay, so, The Rounder. If you're someone who loves digging into the *really* old stuff, seeing how cinema used to tick, then yeah, this is probably worth a look. Especially if you’re a fan of early comedic performances or a budding Jack Benny completist. But if you're after a laugh-out-loud, fast-paced modern comedy? Or anything with a deep, intricate plot? You're gonna have a bad time. 😬 This one is definitely for the patient film historians or the *very* curious.
The whole thing kicks off with a gentleman, a bit too fond of his drinks, trying to get home. He’s got this ladder, right? And he’s trying to climb it up to what he *thinks* is his own bedroom window. You know how it is. We've all been there, maybe not with a ladder, but the sentiment's relatable. Except, uh oh, it's not his house. It's some poor woman's place. And this is where the movie finds its footing, such as it is.
Paul Kruger plays our tipsy protagonist, and he commits to the physical comedy. There’s a certain charm to his wobbling, his earnest but misguided efforts. You can almost feel the director saying, "Just *be* drunker!" And he tries! He really does.
Then there's Dorothy Sebastian as the woman whose night gets unexpectedly invaded. Her reaction, initially, is this wonderful blend of confusion and a tiny bit of fear. But it quickly shifts into something like amused exasperation. She doesn't scream or freak out too much, which is refreshing for the era. It's more of a "*Oh, for heaven's sake*" kind of vibe. You see her trying to figure out if she should be mad or just pour him some coffee.
The romantic element that sprouts from this whole mistaken-identity, ladder-climbing fiasco is… well, it’s a bit sudden. Like, one minute she's shooing him, the next they're kinda sweet on each other. You gotta just roll with it. It's the kind of "love at first sight after a breaking and entering" that only happens in old movies. ✨
George K. Arthur pops up too, and he's got this brief, almost slapstick sequence that feels a little detached from the main story but adds to the general chaos. It’s like they had some extra film and thought, "Let's just throw this bit in!"
And Jack Benny! He’s in this. It's early Benny, so don't expect the smooth, dry wit he became famous for. Here, he's more of a supporting player, doing his part in the background. It's cool to see him before he *became* Jack Benny, you know? Just a young guy in an early movie. You can almost see the gears turning, the potential.
The pacing is… deliberate. It’s not slow in a boring way, necessarily, but it takes its sweet time setting up each gag. One reaction shot, particularly from Dorothy Sebastian when she first sees him, lingers just a touch too long. It makes you wonder if they were waiting for something to happen off-camera, or just wanted to emphasize her inner monologue.
The sets are pretty basic. You get a sense of a cozy bedroom, a slightly less cozy street outside. Nothing fancy. It’s all about the performances, really. The charm comes from the actors trying to sell this silly situation.
Overall, The Rounder is a curious little snapshot. It’s a bit rough around the edges, maybe a little too simple for modern tastes, but it has a heart. It’s a testament to how far comedy has come, but also a reminder that some basic human silliness never really changes. If you’ve got 15 minutes and a soft spot for film history, give it a whirl. Just don't expect too much from the ladder safety instructions. 😉
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