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6.1/10
Senior Film Conservator
A definitive 6.1/10 rating for a film that redefined the boundaries of cult cinema. Traveling Husbands remains a cornerstone of transgressive art.
If you have a thing for pre-Code era chaos, sure. It’s a loud, talkative mess about guys who should know better. If you want a tight plot or likable heroes, skip it. You’ll probably hate how everyone just kind of drifts into trouble without a second thought. 🥃
There is this moment about twenty minutes in where the lobby of the hotel just feels... crowded. Like, not in a planned way, but in a way that makes you wonder if the director just told everyone to walk back and forth until the film ran out. It’s strangely hypnotic.
The whole thing revolves around these salesmen in Detroit. They aren’t heroes. They are just guys who really, really want a drink and a party. Watching them try to act sophisticated while obviously being out of their depth is the best part of the movie.
The party scenes? They feel oddly empty, even when there are ten people in the frame. It’s like the energy is stuck in neutral. One guy—I think it was Frank McHugh—is just vibrating with this nervous, manic energy that makes everyone else look like they’re asleep. He’s the only one who seems to realize he’s in a movie.
I couldn't help but think about how much this reminded me of the frantic, slightly unhinged pacing in Broadway Rose. Both films have that weird, thin quality where the plot is basically just a thin wire holding up a bunch of costumes and hats.
There is a scene where a character leans against a doorframe for a solid minute too long. He’s just standing there. Waiting. It’s not dramatic. It’s just... weirdly real. Like he forgot his lines and nobody bothered to yell cut.
I liked the way the hotel corridors look, though. They have that narrow, slightly claustrophobic feel that makes you want to wash your hands after watching. The film doesn't try to be anything other than a snapshot of people behaving badly. It doesn't need to be profound. It just needs to be loud.
Sometimes, the dialogue overlaps in a way that sounds like a radio broadcast from another room. It’s annoying, but also kind of immersive. You aren't meant to catch every word. You’re meant to feel the headache of it all.
It’s not as sharp as Rain, but it’s got a grit that I didn't expect. It’s a movie that gets better the less you think about why anyone is doing anything. Just watch the booze flow and the guys make bad decisions. That’s enough. 🍸
IMDb —
1925
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