By the Beautiful Sea: A Trip Through Dusty Memories

So, should you watch it?

Honestly, you probably shouldn't, unless you’re one of those people who spends their Saturday nights digging through the bottom shelves of a library archive. If you want a tight, punchy script, look elsewhere. If you want to watch a movie that wanders around like it lost its keys, pull up a chair.

Billy Murray is in this, which is the main reason anyone remembers it exists. He’s got that look in his eyes even back then—like he’s already thinking about lunch. It’s not his best work, but it’s interesting to see the gears turning.

The vibe

The pacing is… well, it’s not really there. It feels like the director just let the camera roll until they ran out of film. There’s a scene near the middle where they’re just walking by the water for what feels like ten minutes. I checked my phone twice. Then I looked back up and realized I was actually enjoying the sound of the waves.

Cinematic perspective: Exploring the visual vocabulary of By the Beautiful Sea (1931) through its definitive frames.

It’s strange, right? It doesn't do anything, but it feels like something.

Small observations

• There is a background extra in the boardwalk scene who is clearly trying way too hard to look busy. He keeps adjusting the same hat. It’s hilarious once you spot him.
• The lighting in the cafe scene is a bit of a disaster. Half of Billy's face is in shadow, and the other half looks like he’s staring into a lighthouse.
• I kept thinking about The Road to Ruin while watching this, mainly because both movies seem to have absolutely no idea how to end a conversation.

There’s a moment where the music swells, and you think, 'Okay, here comes the big dramatic reveal.' And then nothing happens. It’s just a bird flying away. It’s such an oddly specific choice to just ignore the tension you spent five minutes building. I kind of respect it, in a weird way.

It’s not as polished as Fireman Save My Child, which felt like it had a destination. This movie just has a general direction and hopes for the best. 🌊

If you’re looking for something to challenge you, skip it. If you’re looking for something to have on in the background while you fold laundry, you could do worse. Just don’t expect to remember the ending. I’m still not sure if it actually finished, or if my player just died.