Flirtation Walk (1934)
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Flirtation Walk Movie Review
Flirtation Walk is a 1934 musical romance directed by Frank Borzage and starring Dick Powell and Ruby Keeler. It’s a rather odd, dated flick.
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“Great plays aren’t written,
they’re rewritten“
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It follows a soldier who falls in love with a general’s daughter during the general’s brief stop in Hawaii, but she leaves with her father for the Philippines before their relationship can blossom. They are re-united several years later when the soldier is about to graduate from West Point and the general becomes the Academy’s Commandant.
That’s the storyline here and needless to say, it’s rather slight. There is nothing sophisticated nor particularly entertaining in this movie as it felt very much of its time in its mix of romantic and musical elements. And what is it with the military and the year of 1934 as ‘Here Comes the Navy’ also focused on it and both did it with very mediocre results.
I did like the actors though as everyone did a nice job and I particularly found Ruby Keeler charming in her role. Both Pat O’Brien and Dick Powell are also very good here. The characters themselves are okay, if nothing to write home about.
The major problem Flirtation Walk has is its odd approach in structure. The entire first half is almost devoid of music whereas in the second half the movie suddenly turns into a musical leading to jarring results and a very odd watching experience.
Admittedly, I really did enjoy a couple of numbers here and there, but none of the songs are particularly memorable nor great, but they are solid and fun nonetheless. Actually, the movie itself really became entertaining in that second half with amusing character interactions and some solid plot points, but it was too late in the game to change the sour taste that the dull first half left in my mouth.
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Flirtation Walk was nominated for Best Picture for some unbeknownst reason to me. It was also nominated for sound and that I could see as an outcome having in mind that the movie does sound great. The dialogue can be playful, but overall this is a major disappointment from usually terrific Frank Borzage.
Flirtation Walk admittedly is amusing in its second half with some solid character interactions and musical numbers, but it came too late in the game as the first half was way too dull and uneventful. The structure is odd as the first half is devoid of music and then suddenly the movie turns into a musical. It’s a well acted, okay flick, but at the end of the day it’s a big disappointment from usually great Frank Borzage.
