Torrid Toreadors: A Quaint, Clumsy Comedy Worth a Look

So, 'Torrid Toreadors.' Is it worth digging up today? Absolutely, if you're into those really obscure, kinda wonky comedies from way back when. This one is for folks who love seeing what oddball stuff got made, the kind of movie where you can tell everyone was just trying something out. If you need slick production or a tight plot, though, you'll probably find it a bit of a head-scratcher. It’s definitely not for everyone, maybe even a bit of a chore for some. 🤷‍♀️

The whole thing kicks off with Pedro (Manny Gould) and Miguel (Ben Harrison) just… existing. They're these two pals, clearly not the sharpest tools, who somehow decide impressing a local woman means becoming bullfighters. You kinda wonder how they even tied their shoes sometimes. It’s that level of competence.

Manny Gould, as Pedro, spends about 70% of his screen time either tripping or looking bewildered. There's this one scene where he tries to gracefully twirl his cape, and it just gets tangled around his head. It’s not a quick gag, it just… keeps going. You almost feel his embarrassment. Then it becomes funny again. His expressions are pure gold, though, you can see him thinking, 'Oh no, what now?'

Ben Harrison’s Miguel is the slightly more grounded one, if you can call it that. He has this wonderful, stoic confusion that plays off Pedro’s frantic energy really well. He mostly just stares, wide-eyed, as chaos unfolds. It’s a very different kind of performance than what you’d see in, say, The Man Who Could Not Lose, where the lead is all about sharp wits. Here, it’s all about the opposite.

The bullfighting scenes are… something else. The bulls look suspiciously small, or maybe the arena is just enormous? Either way, they don't exactly inspire terror. It’s less 'danger' and more 'mild inconvenience.' One bull actually just stands there, looking bored, while Pedro tries to coax it with a flower. It’s oddly sweet, really.

There's a moment, after one of the more disastrous attempts in the ring, where the camera just lingers on a single, dusty tumbleweed rolling across the deserted town square. It’s like the movie itself took a deep breath. A bit melodramatic for a comedy, but it totally worked on me. It felt like a small, quiet sigh.

Cinematic perspective: Exploring the visual vocabulary of Torrid Toreadors (1929) through its definitive frames.

And the costumes! The matador outfits are hilariously over-the-top, with these bright, garish colors. Pedro’s suit has a fake rose pinned to it, and you can clearly see it fall off, then it's back on in the next shot, then falls off again. Like, three times. They didn't even try to hide it. I almost wonder if it was intentional, a subtle gag for the keen-eyed viewer.

The pacing is a bit all over the place. Sometimes a gag is stretched out to an almost uncomfortable length, like the running bit with the endlessly spilling picnic basket – honestly, how many times can one basket be knocked over? Other times, a scene just zips by, leaving you wondering if you missed something crucial. It feels like someone was just figuring out how long a joke should last.

The crowd noise is super distinct. You can almost pick out individual voices yelling 'Olé!' It sounds like a really enthusiastic group of maybe twenty people, not a packed stadium. It gives the whole thing a charming, small-town feel, even if it’s probably just a budget constraint. 📣

The ending felt a bit abrupt. Like, one minute they’re in another messy situation, and the next, credits. It doesn't quite resolve everything, but then again, these kinds of comedies sometimes just… stop. You're left with a smile, and a bit of a shrug. It's not a grand finale, but it fits the film’s overall low-key charm.

Overall, 'Torrid Toreadors' isn't going to redefine comedy, but it’s a quirky, earnest little film. It’s got a heart, even if that heart is often tripping over its own feet. If you've got an afternoon to kill and a soft spot for the slightly clumsy, give it a shot. You might just find yourself chuckling at the sheer, good-natured absurdity of it all. Plus, you get to see Manny Gould make a face that just screams 'I give up!'

Bits and Pieces I Noticed 🧐

• The bull’s horn tips looked suspiciously rounded. Safety first, I guess!
• There’s a cat that wanders through a shot in the background during a *very* serious conversation. It doesn’t do anything. Just walks.
• The tavern set, it has this one painting of a really sad-looking donkey. It’s quite haunting.
• Ben Harrison’s hat never seems to stay on quite right. It's always a little crooked.
• Did anyone else notice the sun glinting off the camera lens in one of the outdoor shots? Adds a certain vintage charm.