Sports-Eye-View: A weird little time capsule

Is it worth your time?

Honestly, only if you’re into the history of sports cinematography or just have a soft spot for old, crackling black-and-white footage. If you’re looking for a narrative, keep walking. You’ll probably hate it if you need a story to keep you awake, but it’s a neat curiosity for anyone who likes watching how people used to film movement.

Grantland Rice is doing his signature rapid-fire narration here, and it moves fast. Like, really fast. One minute you’re watching a hockey player get flattened against the boards, and then—boom—we’re on a snowy hill watching a skier wipe out.

It feels a bit like a fever dream of seasonal change. You get that whiplash effect of going from freezing temperatures to a pool party in the span of a few minutes. ❄️➡️☀️

The rhythm is... something else.

There isn't a traditional structure here, just a constant stream of "look at this" and "now look at that." It reminded me a bit of the frantic energy in Taris, though obviously with way more parkas and way fewer underwater ballets. The editing doesn’t really care about your comfort zone.

The hockey footage is surprisingly violent for the era. I don't know what I expected, but seeing these guys pile up in the corner with no helmets and heavy wooden sticks is just chaotic. It feels less like a professional sport and more like a structured brawl.

Then the swimming section happens. It’s almost jarring how much the film changes pace when it hits the water. It’s brighter, calmer, and honestly a little bit hypnotic to watch them stroke through the frame.

• The sound of the ice scraping is weirdly loud.
• The skiers look like they’re having a terrible time.
• There’s a guy in the background of one shot just standing there looking confused for a solid five seconds.

It’s not trying to be a deep dive into the human condition or anything, thank god. It’s just sports. It’s people moving fast, falling down, and trying to win a game. Sometimes the most interesting things in these old shorts are the extras who don't know they're being filmed.

If you liked the vibe of The Big Diamond Robbery for its pure vintage energy, this might scratch that itch. It’s a scrappy, simple piece of filmmaking that doesn't overstay its welcome. Just don't expect it to explain why we love these sports; it’s too busy just showing them off.