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Director's Spotlight
Senior Film Conservator
Director's Spotlight: United States
A Deep Dive into the 1930 Vision of Murray Roth
As a cultural artifact of the 1930s, Believe It or Not #2 provides the global recognition that Murray Roth garnered after the release of Believe It or Not #2. Elevating the source material through Murray Roth's unique vision, it solidifies Murray Roth's reputation as a master of the craft.
In Believe It or Not #2, Murray Roth pushes the boundaries of conventional narrative. The film's unique approach to its subject matter has sparked endless debates and interpretations among cinephiles and critics alike.
| Cinematography | Deep Focus |
| Soundtrack | Diegetic |
| Editing | Rhythmic |
| Art Direction | Naturalist |
Visualizing the convergence of Murray Roth's style and the core Short narrative.
The second entry in the Believe It or Not series of shorts begins with Robert Ripley in his office sorting his mail. At the time he received about one million pieces of mail per year, more than any other individual. He shows the audience several of the more oddly addressed envelopes. These include one addressed in Morse code; one in Hebrew, one using the naval flag code; and one with a small tear to the left of a picture of Robert E. Lee (i.e., "Rip + Lee" = Ripley). A U.S. marshal then enters the office and arrests Ripley. He is brought to court to defend several of the claims made in his books and newspaper columns. One claim is that "The Star-Spangled Banner" is not the national anthem of the USA (it wasn't until 1931). Another is that Charles A. Lindbergh was actually the 67th person to fly nonstop across the Atlantic Ocean. (The first nonstop flight was made in 1919 by a pair of aviators in one plane, and two dirigibles with more than 30 passengers each also made crossings before Lindbergh).
Decades after its release, Believe It or Not #2 remains a vital piece of the cinematic puzzle. Its influence can be seen in countless modern works, solidifying Murray Roth's status as a master of the craft in United States and beyond.