As the Earth Turns (1937): A Glimpse into a Forgotten Future

Okay, so 'As the Earth Turns' from 1937? Look, if you're not a serious film buff or really into *really* early sci-fi, you can probably skip this one. It's a curiosity, for sure. But if you appreciate experimental filmmaking, or just want to see what people thought 'the future' looked like almost 90 years ago, then maybe, just maybe, give it a shot. Otherwise, you'll likely be quite bored.

Richard Lyford, the writer here, really went for it. He clearly had some big ideas about the end of the world, even if the budget was more like 'end of the week.'

The Look and Feel

The visuals are... something else. Lots of *shadows* and weird angles. You get this feeling they were trying hard to make things look big and scary, but with like, no money.

There's this one shot, just a quick thing, where a light kinda pulses on a wall. _Really_ simple, but it sticks with you.

They talk about this big war, right? But you don't really *see* it. Just these folks looking really worried. And then a shot of... I think it was a globe? Spinning _really_ fast. It felt a little silly, almost. Like, 'the world is turning, get it?'

The whole thing moves at a pace that could make a snail feel rushed. There's this one scene where someone just walks across a room. _Slowly_. It just keeps going. You really feel every second of it.

The People in It

Charles Hoffman, who plays... well, I'm not even sure his character has a name that sticks, he spends a lot of time just staring. Like, *a lot*. His eyes get this _wide_ look. You almost expect him to blink and snap out of it.

James Leipper has some lines that are just delivered with this intense seriousness, even when what he's saying sounds a bit like poetry class. It’s kinda endearing in a strange way.

The acting overall is very much of its time, sometimes a little over-the-top, sometimes just... earnest. You can tell they believed in what they were doing, even if it feels a little stiff to us now.

There's a lot of talking in hushed, dramatic tones. They're always discussing the *gravity* of the situation. It almost makes you want to whisper along with them.

Bits and Pieces

The way they built the 'future' sets. It's all very... minimalist. Like they found some cool shapes and just put them together. Not much furniture. I guess in the future, everyone just stands around thinking heavy thoughts.

The film has this _odd_ silence sometimes. It’s not just quiet; it’s like the sound person took a nap. Then suddenly, some dramatic music swells up. No in-between.

You can tell this was a passion project. It’s got a heart, even if the execution is a bit clunky. It reminds me a little of other independent, ambitious works like The Christian, which also felt very personal.

It’s not trying to be a big action flick; it’s more like a visual poem about fear and humanity. A very long, slow poem.

If you're looking for something that just *feels* different, a real relic from early cinema’s attempt at sci-fi, then this is it. Don't expect explosions or laser guns. Expect ideas, mostly.

Didja notice?

• That one character, Alfred Clake, just kind of disappears for a while, then pops back up.
• The close-ups on people's faces when they're thinking really hard. _So many_ close-ups.
• A lot of the 'future tech' looks suspiciously like everyday objects covered in aluminum foil.
• The way the light shifts in a few scenes is genuinely beautiful. Not gonna lie.
• There's a strange scene where someone just rearranges a stack of papers _very_ carefully.
• The dramatic voiceover that sounds like it was recorded in a closet. 🎙️