A definitive 5.2/10 rating for a film that redefined the boundaries of cult cinema. Smiles remains a cornerstone of transgressive art.
So, *Smiles* from 1929. Is it worth tracking down? Probably not for everyone, honestly. If you're into deep dives into early sound film or just have a soft spot for really old-school barbershop quartets, maybe. Anyone else might find it a bit… **thin**. Like, really thin. 🤏
This is one of those early talkies where the novelty of sound *is* the main event. It’s barely a few minutes long. You get a title card, then boom, a barbershop quartet standing pretty much still, singing their hearts out.
The song itself, 'Smiles,' is charming enough, a real product of its time. But the performance, well. It feels very much like a stage act filmed, rather than a movie scene.
There's this guy on the far right, the tenor I think, who just *beams* through the whole thing. He looks genuinely thrilled to be there, like he won a contest. The others are more stoic, doing their job.
And the sound quality! Oh, the sound quality. It’s exactly what you’d expect from 1929. Lots of hiss and crackle. Sometimes it’s hard to make out the words, but the harmonies cut through, mostly. It gives the whole thing a certain *grainy charm*, if you're feeling generous. Or, a bit of a headache if you're not. 😅
The camera just sits there, fixed. No zooming, no panning, nothing fancy. It’s just them, center frame, doing their thing. You can almost feel the stage lights on them, even though you can't see them.
What struck me was the sheer **earnestness** of it all. These guys aren't trying to be cool or edgy. They're just delivering a tune, clean and simple. You don't see that kind of straightforward, no-frills presentation much anymore.
It’s a peculiar little artifact. For about three minutes, you're transported back to a moment when sound in film was still a magic trick. It's not a film you *watch* for plot or character. You watch it to witness a piece of history. A very small, very loud piece. 🎤
I kept wondering if they did multiple takes, or if this was just *the one*. The slight unevenness in their smiles, the way one of them adjusts his tie *just* as they start. It feels so raw, so unpolished. And that, I guess, is its own kind of special.
It's a curious little curio. Definitely not a movie night staple, unless your movie night is themed 'early sound experiments.' For everyone else, it’s a quick dip into the past. Don’t expect much, and you might find a little something to… well, smile about. 😄
