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4.8/10
Senior Film Conservator
A definitive 4.8/10 rating for a film that redefined the boundaries of cult cinema. Movie Memories #1 remains a cornerstone of transgressive art.
Should you watch Movie Memories #1? If you’re the kind of person who enjoys clicking on random, grainy black-and-white clips at 2:00 AM, then absolutely. If you want a structured documentary or a serious look at film history, skip it. You’ll probably hate it if you need a cohesive plot to stay awake.
It’s a bizarre experiment. The whole thing is just a pile of silent film scraps and newsreel fluff, but with this narration slapped on top that tries to make it all mean something else. Sometimes it works brilliantly.
There’s this one bit with a horse galloping that lasts about three seconds too long. You can almost hear the narrator struggling to find something witty to say before the clip cuts away. It’s charming in a clunky, amateur way. 📽️
It’s nowhere near as polished as A Sailor-Made Man, but it isn't trying to be. It’s just a weird mood piece. Sometimes the voiceover hits perfectly, like when it mocks the stiff posture of some Victorian-era dandy. Other times, it feels like someone just making it up as they go along.
It’s a bit like watching The Haunted Manor but without any of the actual suspense. It’s just… people walking around in hats. A lot of hats. Why were there so many hats in the 1920s?
One reaction shot in the middle of a newsreel lingers so long it becomes genuinely uncomfortable. I laughed, but I felt bad about it. Maybe that was the point? Probably not. It’s just an imperfect edit that happens to land on something funny.
It reminded me a bit of the frantic energy in The Milky Way, but compressed into a much smaller, weirder package. Don't go looking for a masterpiece. Just watch it for the weird juxtaposition of old people doing old things while someone makes fun of them from the future.
It’s not perfect. The pacing is a total disaster. But it’s got heart. Or maybe it’s just got a lot of old film reels. Either way, it’s a quick watch.