Vergiss mein nicht (1935) review: Sweet, dusty, and worth it for the singing

If you have eighty minutes to spare and love the sound of old operatic voices, Vergiss mein nicht is absolutely worth your time. But if you can't stand old-fashioned melodrama where people make life-changing decisions based on a single song, you will probably hate this.

The whole thing takes place mostly on a ship. It has those same breezy, slightly lonely ocean vibes you get in Havets melodi, though this one is much more focused on making you cry.

The plot is basically just a thin excuse to let Beniamino Gigli sing. And honestly? I am totally fine with that.

He plays a widower with a very cute little boy. The kid, played by Peter Bosse, is surprisingly not annoying. Usually, kids in these 1930s movies make me want to mute the TV, but this little guy is actually charming.

There is this one scene where Gigli starts singing on the deck. The way the other passengers just freeze and look at him is so goofy. It is like they are NPCs in a video game waiting for the song to finish.

But then his voice hits those high notes, and you kind of get why they are staring. It's beautiful.

The romance side of things feels a bit half-baked. Our main lady hears him sing and her whole life plan just evaporates.

We do not get much buildup. One minute they are strangers, the next she is deeply moved and everything is high-stakes drama.

I noticed the camera holding on Gigli's face for a few seconds too long after he stops singing. He just stands there with this intense, wet-eyed look. It made me laugh a little. 😅

The print I watched had some scratchy sound, which actually made the music feel more authentic. Like listening to an old record your grandad kept in the attic.

If you are looking for a complex plot, look elsewhere. This is pure, simple comfort food for people who like sad songs and big ocean views.