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Cult Review
Archivist John
Senior Editor
If you have an hour to kill and like seeing silent stars run around with big wooden cameras, Hot News is actually pretty fun.
It’s for anyone who likes 1920s flapper energy or wants to see how news was 'made' before the internet ruined everything.
If you hate silent movies where people make really big faces to show they are angry, maybe skip it. 🎞️
Bebe Daniels plays Pat Clancy.
Her dad owns the newsreel company and she wants to be a camera 'man' which obviously causes a lot of huffing and puffing from the men.
The whole thing feels like a proto-feminist rom-com, but without the boring parts.
She has this rivalry with Scoop Morgan, played by Neil Hamilton.
He’s the kind of guy who looks like he spends four hours a day brushing his eyebrows.
There is this one bit where she hides in a basket or something to get a shot of a visiting prince.
It reminded me a bit of the pacing in Daring Deeds, just a bit more polished since it’s Paramount.
The way Bebe lugs that camera around... man, those things looked heavy.
You can tell she’s actually struggling with the weight in a few shots.
I liked the part where they are on the boat and everything starts going wrong.
The special effects are basically just people falling over, but it works.
Its way better than She Couldn't Help It which felt like it dragged on forever.
Some of the intertitles are actually funny, not just plot stuff.
One gag about a 'maharajah' went on a bit too long though.
I almost checked my phone during the middle part when they were just talking in an office.
But then Bebe does something wild with her eyes and you're back in it.
It’s weirdly similar to The Last Hour in how it handles the 'ticking clock' vibe.
The ending is predictable, they fall in love or whatever, big surprise.
But the journey there is fast.
I wish modern comedies had this much visual energy instead of just people standing in rooms talking.
Also, Paul Lukas shows up as a villainous sort of guy.
He has a very punchable face in this one. 🥊
The film isn't a masterpiece like some of the big Keaton stuff, but it's got charm.
If you're looking for something deep, go watch a German expressionist film.
This is just popcorn cinema from nearly a hundred years ago.
I wonder if the camera she used was actually a working model or just a prop.
It looks real enough when she's cranking it.
Anyway, give it a look if you find a good print.
IMDb 5.7
1923
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