Filming the Great: A Strange Trip Into The Past

Is this even a movie?

Honestly, if you go into Filming the Great expecting a plot or even a cohesive documentary, you are going to be bored to tears. This is basically just a reel of fancy people in fancy hats walking around, waving at cameras, and looking uncomfortable in their own skin. If you love history or just weird, static footage, you might get a kick out of it. If you need a story, skip it.

There is this one shot of a Duke—or maybe he's a Prince, who can tell—where he just stands there for an eternity. He’s adjusting his gloves. Over and over. It’s so painfully human that it becomes the most interesting thing in the entire film.

The pacing is… well, it doesn't really have any. It just stops and starts whenever the cameraman felt like it. It reminds me a bit of the awkward rhythm in Newman Laugh-O-Grams, where things just sort of happen because they were being recorded.

Some odd observations

• The silence is deafening. You really start to hear your own radiator clicking after ten minutes.
• The way these people look at the camera! It’s like they’ve never seen a lens before and aren't sure if it’s a bomb.
• The lighting is either pitch black or blindingly bright. No middle ground.

It’s not as energetic as With Love and Hisses, that’s for sure. It feels way more stiff. Almost like everyone involved was terrified of dropping their tea.

I found myself wondering if they knew we’d be watching this now. They look so self-important, yet they’re all just ghosts trapped in a frame. It’s a bit sad, actually. One moment a guy is trying to look regal, the next he’s just a blur of old film grain.

Is it worth watching? Maybe if you’re doing a deep dive into early archival footage. Otherwise, it’s just a curiosity. It’s not exactly the kind of thing you put on to impress your friends on a Friday night. 🎞️

I think the director just wanted to see if they could get the nobility to stand still. They mostly managed it. It’s a weird, dusty little window into a world that doesn't exist anymore. Just don't go in expecting anything great, despite the title.