Desert Regatta: Fast boats and salty air

Is it worth your time?

If you like old-school footage of things moving fast, you might get a kick out of this. If you need a plot or, like, an actual story, skip it. It's really for the people who enjoy watching dusty archival film where the audio crackles more than the dialogue.

It’s just boat racing on the Salton Sea. That’s it. You watch these dudes in these tiny, weird-looking wooden boats just absolutely gunning it across the water. It’s loud in a way that feels like it’s coming from inside your own skull because of the old audio mixing.

There’s this moment where a boat hits a wake and it looks like it’s going to disintegrate into toothpicks. The camera operator just keeps filming like it’s a normal Tuesday. I don’t know if that’s bravery or just having no other choice.

Watching this made me think of In the Last Stride, mostly because both movies seem obsessed with the mechanics of speed. But at least the horses had personalities. These boats are just hunks of wood and motor oil.

Cinematic perspective: Exploring the visual vocabulary of Desert Regatta (1932) through its definitive frames.

The Salton Sea has this eerie, shimmering look to it. It’s bright, it’s dry, and the water looks like it might be toxic or just really, really salty. There’s a weird vibe to the whole thing. It’s not exactly a day at the beach.

Pete Smith is doing his thing, narrating with that classic, booming mid-century voice. He sounds like he’s trying to sell you a toaster and a used car at the same time. Sometimes he says things that don’t quite make sense for the visuals, but you stop noticing after the third or fourth boat flip.

Random Observations:

• The outfits are incredible. Nobody is wearing a modern life vest, just loose shirts and hope.
• The way the water splashes against the lens makes you feel like you need to wipe your glasses.
• I’m pretty sure one of these boats is just a lawnmower engine strapped to a plank.
• The crowd shots look like they were filmed at a different event entirely.

It’s not a masterpiece, and honestly, it’s not trying to be. It’s just a weird little time capsule. Sometimes that’s enough to keep you watching for the ten minutes it lasts. 🚤

If you’re looking for something with the emotional weight of So Big!, well, you’re in the wrong place. This is just water and noise. And honestly? I kind of liked it.