The Unknown (1936) is a moody drama about a guy who really needs to go home

Is it worth the watch?

If you like 1930s movies where people stare intensely at each other while smoking, then yes. You should probably skip this if you want something with actual energy or a plot that moves faster than a snail.

I watched The Unknown (1936) on a rainy Tuesday, and honestly, it fit the mood. It’s a movie for people who appreciate Sybille Schmitz and her very tired, very beautiful face.

The story is about Madeleine. She’s a singer who treats men like disposable tissues. 💅

She meets this guy Thomas, who is an explorer. He’s supposed to be smart, I guess, but he’s pretty dumb when it comes to his fiancé, Evelyn.

Thomas falls for Madeleine immediately. It’s one of those movie romances where you wonder if they even had a conversation before deciding to ruin their lives.

Madeleine is distant. She lets him hang around, but she doesn't really let him in. It’s kind of relatable if you’ve ever dated someone who was clearly thinking about their ex the whole time.

The club scenes are the best part. The lighting is thick and the shadows are everywhere.

It reminded me a bit of the dark atmosphere in Variety. But this one feels smaller, like it’s happening in a basement.

There’s this one scene where Madeleine is just sitting at a table. She doesn't say anything for like thirty seconds. You can just feel the movie trying to be deep.

I noticed a guy in the background of the cafe who was eating soup very aggressively. It was distracting. 🥣

Thomas is played by Jean Galland. He has a very stiff way of walking. He looks like he’s wearing a corset that’s two sizes too small.

Poor Evelyn, the fiancé. She mostly just walks into rooms and looks disappointed. I felt bad for her, but also, she should probably just leave him.

The movie is way slower than Wild to Go. It doesn't have any of that zip.

Random observations I wrote down:

• The hats in this movie are huge. One lady has a hat that looks like a literal bird nest.
• Curd Jürgens is in this! He’s so young he looks like a baby. It’s weird seeing him without the older, gruff voice.
• The sound quality is a bit fuzzy, but it adds to the vibe.
• There is a lot of dramatic sighing.

The dialogue is very... 1930s. People say things like "I must go!" and then they don't actually leave for five minutes.

It’s not as sweet as Have a Heart. It’s much more cynical about how people treat each other.

I liked the way Madeleine looked in the mirror. There’s a shot where she’s just checking her lipstick and you can tell she hates her life. It’s a good bit of acting without any words.

The explorer stuff with Thomas feels totally tacked on. He could have been a plumber and the story would be exactly the same.

It’s a bit like Guile of Women in how it treats the 'dangerous female' trope. But Madeleine isn't really dangerous, she’s just bored.

The ending comes out of nowhere. It felt like the screenwriter had a bus to catch.

I wouldn't say this is a masterpiece. It's just a movie that exists. 🤷‍♂️

But Sybille Schmitz really does have a haunting screen presence. She makes the boring parts feel a little less empty.

If you're into German cinema from this era, you've seen better. But you've definitely seen worse.

It’s fine. Just fine. Don’t expect to remember much of it a week from now.