I have always like films directed by Raoul Walsh, famously unlucky to lose his right eye after a rabbit jumped through his car's windshield. He has a no-nonsense approach combinbed with dry humor, and his camera work consistently reflects high competence and professionalism.
ME AND MY GAL stands as an excellent example of the 1930s screwball comedy at its best. It has the advantage of a talented cast in top form, notably the wonderful Spencer Tracy (my all-time favorite American actor) and the lovable Joan Bennett, then all of 22 years old, and her sister played by the similarly stunning Marion Burns. George Walsh (Raoul's younger brother) convincingly plays the villain Duke Castenega, who has won Burns' heart, even though she is now married to another man, which poses interesting problems. Still, although affected by the bad egg hiding in the attic, the Tracy-Bennett relation overcomes all those obstacles with good grace - their conversation on the sofa, each of them speaking different from their actual thoughts - is memorable and absolutely remarkable for a 1932 film, especially in light of the fact that talkies had only started four years earlier.
The sole jarring note comes from over the top slapstick acting by some unknown actor portraying a drunk hobo who nearly gets drowned and throws a fish around. Tracy and Bennett are flawlessly comic enough that the drunk hobo's part becomes annoyingly long and embarrassingly repetitive. The good news is that he suddenly disappears and thankfully never returns.
ME AND MY GAL is 79 minutes long and definitely worth watching. 8/10.
ME AND MY GAL stands as an excellent example of the 1930s screwball comedy at its best. It has the advantage of a talented cast in top form, notably the wonderful Spencer Tracy (my all-time favorite American actor) and the lovable Joan Bennett, then all of 22 years old, and her sister played by the similarly stunning Marion Burns. George Walsh (Raoul's younger brother) convincingly plays the villain Duke Castenega, who has won Burns' heart, even though she is now married to another man, which poses interesting problems. Still, although affected by the bad egg hiding in the attic, the Tracy-Bennett relation overcomes all those obstacles with good grace - their conversation on the sofa, each of them speaking different from their actual thoughts - is memorable and absolutely remarkable for a 1932 film, especially in light of the fact that talkies had only started four years earlier.
The sole jarring note comes from over the top slapstick acting by some unknown actor portraying a drunk hobo who nearly gets drowned and throws a fish around. Tracy and Bennett are flawlessly comic enough that the drunk hobo's part becomes annoyingly long and embarrassingly repetitive. The good news is that he suddenly disappears and thankfully never returns.
ME AND MY GAL is 79 minutes long and definitely worth watching. 8/10.