Review of Lady Killer (1933) by Tom B — 20 Apr 2011
One of the funniest things I've seen in a long time. Cagney is wonderfully adept at everything and in this he shines, alternately witty, angry, and also sensitive. He moves with grace, the dancer in him, and his intelligence sparkles.
What's a real treat is that everyone else in the cast is in on the jokes and the apparatus of the film explodes into the story in hilarious and inventive ways. The decor is a treat, all thirties deco, and the characters are a double treat.
Is the story serious? Hell no, it's post-modern! In some ways it's a bit of Cohen-brothers light. Self-reflexive, funny, smart, lots of layers, fast-paced, and overall immensely satisfying for such a short quick ride.
The thirties produced some of the most insightful films about human relationships and the world we all still live in today. Many things are different between now and then, but human beings are still trying to find their way, make a buck, and cope with each other.
Sometimes the function of art is to encourage us to see all sides and still come out in hope and laughter. This movie does it in a grand style and looks beautiful to boot. The real stand-out in this for me was Mae Clarke.
She seems so aware of herself, and the camera really gave us a sense of her. She didn't quite steal the show from Cagney, but she kept up. This must have been a hilarious film to make.
This review of Lady Killer (1933) was written by Tom B on 20 Apr 2011.
Lady Killer has generally received positive reviews.
Was this review helpful?
