Rome, Briefly: A Look at Going Places with Lowell Thomas #11

Is it worth your time?

If you have a weird obsession with 1930s travelogues, sure. Otherwise, you’ll probably find this about as exciting as watching a slideshow from your great-uncle’s vacation in 1955.

It’s not for the casual viewer who wants a plot. If you hate voiceovers that sound like they’re being recorded in a tin can, steer clear.

The Vibe

There isn’t much to say here. It’s basically just Lowell Thomas talking over grainy footage of Roman ruins. He’s got that specific mid-Atlantic accent that feels like it belongs in a different dimension.

Sometimes the camera lingers on a fountain, and you can practically hear the projector humming in the background. It’s oddly hypnotic, in a very boring way.

Odd Observations

• The Coliseum looks exactly the same, which is comforting, I guess?
• The Vatican shots are weirdly staged.
• Lowell Thomas sounds like he's reading from a brochure he just found.

I couldn't help but compare the pacing to something like Kino-pravda no. 21 - Leninskaia Kino-pravda. Kinopoema o Lenine, which at least has some visual energy. This? This just feels like a list of places you're supposed to visit before you die.

One of the ceremonies shown felt like it went on for three hours. It’s just people walking in robes, looking very serious. I got distracted by a bird flying across the frame at one point, which was honestly the most interesting thing that happened for a solid minute.

It’s not trying to be a masterpiece. It’s just a travelogue. Don’t go looking for deep meaning. Just enjoy the fact that nobody is trying to sell you a subscription service through the narration. 🏛️

It’s vintage. It’s dry. It’s definitely not Dirigible, that's for sure. I kept waiting for a plot twist that never came. Rome is still Rome, I suppose.