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6.3/10
Senior Film Conservator
A definitive 6.3/10 rating for a film that redefined the boundaries of cult cinema. Harnessed Rhythm remains a cornerstone of transgressive art.
If you have ten minutes to spare and love old black-and-white horse footage, Harnessed Rhythm is worth a quick look. Movie nerds who want to see everything Jacques Tourneur ever touched will also find it pretty interesting. But if you hate loud, sarcastic 1940s narrators, you should probably steer clear of this one.
It is basically a short documentary about a horse named Dixie Dan. We see him get born, wobble around on his long legs, and eventually learn how to do that very specific trot for harness racing.
Yes, the same guy who made creepy masterpieces like Cat People was apparently hired to shoot a MGM Sports Parade short. You can actually see some of his style in the way the light hits the stables. Or maybe I am just looking too hard because his name is on the credits. 🐴
Some of the shots of the horses running in slow motion are actually quite beautiful. It has a much better rhythm than something like Horseman of the Plains, which feels way more basic in how it is filmed.
"The way the dust kicks up behind the wooden carts looks like smoke. It is almost too pretty for a silly short about sports."
The worst part is definitely the narrator guy. He cannot stop making cheesy jokes about what the horse is thinking. It is that classic, fast-talking studio voice that gets real grating after about three minutes.
It reminds me a bit of the old-timey country vibes in True Heart Susie, but with way less heart and much more loud talking. I ended up muting the TV for the last couple minutes just to watch the horses run in peace.
Anyway, it is a decent way to waste ten minutes if you like vintage animals. Just be ready to turn the volume down a bit.