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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. Whispering Whoopee remains a cornerstone of transgressive art.
You should probably watch this if you have 20 minutes and enjoy seeing a man’s soul slowly leave his body while a dinner party falls apart. It is great for people who like slapstick that feels a little bit dangerous. If you hate loud, screechy 1930s sound recording, you will probably want to turn it off after five minutes.
Charley Chase has this face that just looks like he is constantly apologizing for existing. In this one, he’s trying to land a big deal with some investors who look like they haven't smiled since the 1800s.
To look like a 'family man,' he hires three girls to play his wife and friends. Thelma Todd is one of them, and honestly, she’s the only reason to watch half these old shorts. She has this energy that makes everyone else look like they are standing still. 💃
The girls show up and they are... well, they aren't exactly 'high society' material. They start drinking and getting loud almost immediately.
There is this one specific moment where Anita Garvin just looks at a plate of food with such pure confusion. It’s not even a big joke, but her face made me laugh harder than the actual stunts.
The movie gets way better once the apartment starts getting trashed. It reminds me a bit of the frantic energy in The Newlyweds' Christmas Party, but maybe a bit more mean-spirited.
One of the investors is this tall, grim guy who looks like he wandered off the set of The Unholy Night. He just stares at the mayhem with this judgmental silence that feels very real.
The sound is pretty rough in spots, which is typical for 1930. You can hear the actors hitting their marks and it feels very much like a filmed stage play, but with more broken furniture.
I noticed a weird shadow on the back wall during the big dance scene. It looks like a boom mic or maybe just a very confused stagehand.
It’s not a masterpiece like some of the stuff from Lulu, but it doesn't try to be. It’s just a guy sweating through his suit while women throw things.
The ending feels a bit rushed, like they realized they only had two minutes of film left and needed to stop. It just... ends.
But hey, watching Charley Chase realize his career is over because of a spilled drink is weirdly relatable. We’ve all been there, sort of. 🍸
IMDb —
1926
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