Rent You and Me (1938)

Musical Arthouse - You and Me review by Steve

This is a real oddball. It’s the last of Fritz Lang’s trilogy of depression era crime melodramas starring Sylvia Sidney. And another story of a young couple struggling to stay honest during the austerity of the ‘30s. But there is comedy too, plus a few musical numbers from Kurt Weill. This is arthouse.

George Raft is a reformed gangster who works on sales in a department store run by the sort of liberal (Harry Carey) who believes in second chances. The ex-con doesn’t know that Sylvia is on probation and breaking the terms of her release when they get married. They just can’t get a break…

This isn’t one of Lang’s best films, though it is interesting to see him attempt a more theatrical approach, with characters at times speaking in rhymes! There’s an expressionist look, and an impression that the director is reaching deep back into his Berlin heritage. And it was a flop.

But this is mainly worth seeing for Sylvia Sidney, the sad eyed girl of ‘30s melodrama as she goes all the way to hold on to her slim chance of happiness. Once again, she's much more intelligent than her man. And was never more beautiful. It’s a schematic political allegory which she miraculously takes straight to the heart.