Watching Old Hollywood Pretend They Aren't Being Watched

Is it worth your time?

Honestly, unless you are a complete sucker for pre-Code Hollywood history, you’re probably going to find this pretty dull. It’s a series of vignettes that don't go anywhere. If you like seeing legends like Marlene Dietrich just standing around looking iconic, then sure, dive in. If you want a story, skip it.

I found myself zoning out at the grainy footage of studio lots. There's this strange, silent energy to the whole thing. It reminds me a bit of the frantic, messy energy in Blonde Venus, but without the actual drama to back it up.

There is a moment where a group of actors is just laughing at something off-screen. I sat there for a minute trying to figure out what they were talking about. It’s probably nothing. It’s definitely nothing.

The weirdness of it all

The whole thing feels like a home movie that got sent to a theater by mistake. It doesn't have the polish of College or the clear intentions of other stuff from that era. It just is.

• The lighting is mostly just 'the sun.'
• Nobody knows where to look.
• The transition between clips is just a hard cut. It’s jarring.

I kept waiting for someone to actually say something important. They never do. It’s just people in suits and fancy dresses waving at the camera. It’s kind of funny in a sad, distant way. Like watching a ghost dance. 👻

The pacing is entirely non-existent. You blink, and you’re in a different backyard in Beverly Hills. It’s dizzying. Honestly, the lack of structure makes me feel like the editor just threw a handful of film strips at a wall and whatever stuck, stayed.

It’s a bizarre artifact. Not essential, but weirdly comforting if you’re bored on a rainy Tuesday.