Checking in on Screen Snapshots, Series 12, No. 2

Is it worth your time?

Honestly, only if you are a total nerd for film history or just really, really bored. If you want a narrative, you will be disappointed. If you want to see what people looked like at a premiere in 1932 without the gloss, you’re in luck. People who hate slow, plotless things will probably want to turn this off after about three minutes.

There is something inherently strange about these old reels. Ralph Staub just sort of shoves a camera in people’s faces and they smile, looking a bit confused, like they weren’t quite sure if they were actually working or just hanging out.

It makes me think of Tess of the Storm Country, though this is a completely different beast. Here, there is no script, just the sound of a projector humming in my head.

The Vibe

The whole thing feels like digging through a shoebox of photos in an attic. Some are blurry. Some make you wonder who the heck these people even are. It isn’t trying to be deep. It isn't trying to be a masterpiece.

It’s just… there. The editing is erratic at best. Sometimes it stays on a shot of someone waving for way too long. Awkward. I found myself checking my phone, then looking back up and they were still waving. Who keeps waving for that long?

• The grainy film stock makes everything feel like a secret.
• The hats! Everyone is wearing a hat.
• Watching people walk into buildings is surprisingly hypnotic.

I caught myself comparing it to the pacing of Mrs. Wiggs of the Cabbage Patch, though obviously this isn't a feature film. You can feel the age of the thing in every frame. It’s got that flickering light that makes your eyes twitch a little.

It’s not for everyone, but it’s a weird little time capsule. Just don't expect it to explain the universe to you. It barely explains what’s happening in the next shot.