Why Working Girls (1931) feels more real than most modern rom-coms

If you have an hour to spare and want to see what New York actually felt like before everything got all shiny and fake, you should watch Working Girls. It is perfect for anyone who likes stories about roommates, bad jobs, and that weird feeling of being completely lost in a big city.

If you hate old movies where people talk fast and the sets look a bit wobbly, you might want to skip it. But honestly, you'd be missing out on something pretty special.

The movie follows May and June. They are sisters, but they couldn't be more different if they tried. 🚕

May is the older one, and she is just... so naive. It’s almost painful to watch her walk into situations where you know she’s going to get her feelings hurt.

Then there is June. She’s the younger one, but she’s already seen it all. Or she thinks she has.

They move into this boarding house run by a lady named Mrs. Terwilliger. The whole place feels cramped. You can practically smell the cheap perfume and the burnt toast through the screen. 🍞

I love the scenes where all the girls are just hanging out in their slips, talking about guys and how much they hate their bosses. It feels like a real conversation you’d overhear today, just with more 1930s slang.

There’s this one part where May is trying to get a job as a stenographer. She is so nervous her hands are shaking, and the guy interviewing her is just creepy.

It reminded me a bit of the tension in Pursued, even though that’s a totally different kind of movie. Just that feeling of being trapped in a room with someone you don't trust.

The movie doesn't try to make everything look perfect. The lighting is sometimes a bit flat, and the sound has that scratchy quality that makes you lean in closer.

June is definitely the star here. She has this way of looking at men like she’s already figured out exactly how much money they have in their pockets.

She meets this guy played by Buddy Rogers. He’s charming, I guess? But in that way that makes you think he probably has three other girlfriends in different neighborhoods.

May falls for this architect guy, Boyd. He’s played by Paul Lukas. He’s okay, but he’s a bit of a stick in the mud. 🙄

I kept waiting for them to do something big and dramatic, but the movie stays small. It stays focused on the rent and the gossip.

It’s a lot more grounded than something like More Pay - Less Work which is way more of a typical comedy. This has teeth.

There is a scene in the park that goes on for a while. The wind is blowing the leaves around and you can tell it was actually cold that day. 🍂

I like that the movie doesn't judge June for being "worldly." In a lot of movies from this time, the fun sister has to be punished, but here, she’s just surviving.

One thing that bothered me was how fast the ending happens. It’s like the director realized they only had five minutes left and had to marry everyone off real quick.

It felt a bit rushed, like they just wanted to go home. 🏃‍♀️

Still, there’s a lot of heart in it. The way the sisters look out for each other is sweet without being too mushy.

I noticed a weird extra in the background of the office scene who just kept staring at the camera. It’s funny how those little mistakes stay in the final cut forever.

If you’ve seen Disraeli, you know how those prestige movies can feel a bit stuffy. Working Girls is the opposite of that. It’s messy and loud and a little bit sad.

The costumes are great, too. Not the fancy gowns, but the plain wool coats and the hats that look like they’ve been sat on once or twice.

I think people forget that 1931 was a tough year. This movie doesn't let you forget it, but it doesn't make you feel miserable either.

It just shows you how it was. Or how it felt. Which is better, really. 🏢

Anyway, give it a watch if you find it. It’s a short one. You won't regret it if you like a bit of real life with your black and white cinema.

It’s got that raw energy that disappeared once the censors got really strict a few years later. Enjoy the chaos while it lasts.