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4.9/10
Senior Film Conservator
A definitive 4.9/10 rating for a film that redefined the boundaries of cult cinema. Under the Cock-Eyed Moon remains a cornerstone of transgressive art.
Honestly, if you have an hour to kill and you like seeing how people in the old days imagined 'high tech' stuff, then yes. It’s a fun little time capsule.
People who love old-school desert adventures will dig it, but if you can't stand loud, over-the-top acting, you might want to steer clear. 🌵
The weirdest thing about Under the Cock-Eyed Moon is the car. They call her Lizzie, and she’s supposed to be a self-driving car.
I mean, it’s 1930. The way they filmed the car 'driving itself' is basically just someone hiding on the floorboards or pulling it with a string, but it’s charming in a clunky way.
The movie starts with these city slickers who look way too dressed up for the sand. They meet this prospector who looks like he hasn't seen a bathtub since the previous decade.
Si Wills and Bob Carney are the ones who wrote this, and you can tell they were probably laughing at their own jokes while typing. Some of the dialogue is actually pretty snappy, even if it’s a bit silly.
There is this one scene where they first enter the mining town. The way the 'scoundrels' just lean against the buildings and stare is actually kinda creepy.
It reminded me a bit of the tension in The Man Hunt, though this movie is way more interested in being a comedy than a thriller.
Richard Cramer plays one of the tough guys, and he has a face that just looks like it was carved out of a grumpy potato. He’s great at being the guy you want to see get punched.
The town is supposedly full of gold and 'attractive women,' which is basically the plot of every third movie from this era. It’s a bit like The Cardboard Lover in how it tries to force a romance into the middle of a chaotic situation.
I noticed that the extras in the background of the town scenes don't really know what to do with their hands. One guy just keeps adjusting his hat over and over again until it’s almost covering his eyes.
Bobby Dunn shows up, and he’s always good for a laugh. He has this way of falling down that feels actually painful, but he just bounces back up.
There’s a part where they talk about the gold, and the lighting gets really dramatic for no reason. Like, suddenly it’s a horror movie for three seconds, then it goes back to being a goofy car comedy.
The pacing is a bit of a mess. It feels like they had enough ideas for 20 minutes but had to stretch it out to fill the time. ⏱️
Lizzie the car gets more character development than some of the human actors. I’m not even kidding. By the end, I was more worried about the car's tires than the main characters' safety.
If you've seen In Mizzoura, you know that desert setting can be a bit boring if nothing happens, but this movie keeps throwing weird characters at the screen to keep you awake.
The 'cock-eyed moon' from the title doesn't really mean much, I think. It just sounds cool. It’s one of those titles that promises a bit more magic than the movie actually delivers.
One reaction shot of Dorothy Knapp lingers for about five seconds too long. She’s just staring at the prospector like she’s forgotten her next line, or maybe she’s just confused by his beard.
I liked the music, though. It’s that typical tinny, early-sound-era stuff that makes everything feel like a circus is about to start.
It’s not a masterpiece. It’s not even 'good' in a traditional sense. But it’s interesting.
It’s the kind of movie you find on a dusty shelf and wonder why nobody talks about it anymore. Then you watch it and you realize why, but you’re still glad you saw it anyway.
The whole 'self-driving' Lizzie thing is the real hook. It’s like a 1930s version of a Tesla joke. 🚗
Anyway, if you like Richard Cramer being a big meanie and a car that has a mind of its own, give it a look. It’s better than sitting in silence.
IMDb —
1919
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