Watching Hollywood play badminton in Screen Snapshots

Is this worth your time?

If you have a thing for black-and-white archives or you just want to see how movie stars wasted their Sunday afternoons, sure. It’s not exactly Tartuffe, but it’s a nice little time capsule. If you’re looking for a plot, look elsewhere.

The whole thing is basically a glorified home movie. Ralph Staub wanders around with a camera, catching people at Thelma Todd’s place and watching them try to be athletic.

There is something inherently funny about watching famous people from the 30s play badminton. They’re dressed in their casual best, hitting the birdy back and forth with this oddly intense focus. It reminds me a bit of the frantic energy in Cockeyed Cavaliers, but with less slapstick and more sweat.

Patsy Kelly shows up for a bit, which is probably the highlight. She brings that specific, sharp energy that makes the whole thing feel slightly less like a stiff promotional reel.

Oddly Specific Notes:

• The lighting in the cafe shots is so harsh it almost hurts to look at.
• Nobody looks like they actually know how to play badminton, but they’re giving it a real go.
• The transition between the cafe and the court is non-existent. It just jumps.
• I spent way too long staring at the background extras, who seem more interesting than the stars.

It lacks the narrative punch of something like Seven Keys to Baldpate, obviously. But that’s fine. It’s just a peek behind the curtain.

The whole thing ends so abruptly you’ll wonder if your internet cut out. One second they’re serving, the next, it’s just gone. 🏸