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6.5/10
Senior Film Conservator
A definitive 6.5/10 rating for a film that redefined the boundaries of cult cinema. The Song You Gave Me remains a cornerstone of transgressive art.
If you’re looking for a cozy, black-and-white afternoon watch that doesn’t require a single brain cell to follow, you’re in the right place. But if you get annoyed by characters falling in love in about four minutes or songs that stop the narrative dead in its tracks, you will probably hate this. It’s very 1930s. It feels like a stiff drink served in a fancy glass that has a tiny crack in it.
Bebe Daniels is doing all the heavy lifting here. She has this way of looking at the camera that makes you forget the script is basically held together by tape. There’s a specific scene where she’s practicing, and you can tell she’s actually putting in the work, unlike some other performers from that era who just kind of stood there and looked pretty.
The pacing is a bit weird. It lurches forward and then slows to a crawl whenever someone decides it’s time for a ballad. It reminds me a bit of the disjointed energy you find in The Lincoln Highwayman, where you’re just waiting for the next bit of movement. The side characters are mostly just there to fill the frame, though they do a decent job of looking busy while the leads sort out their feelings.
It doesn't reach the weird, frantic energy of Mickey's Triumph, but it’s got its own little charm. I think the movie gets noticeably better once the final act hits, mostly because the characters finally stop talking in circles. There's a moment near the end where the tension actually feels earned, which is a nice surprise.
Honestly? It’s not a masterpiece. It’s a bit thin. But sometimes you don't need a heavy drama that leaves you crying for three days. You just need a song. 🎶
