Watching History: A Look at The March of Time, Vol. 1, No. 4

Is it worth your time?

If you have a weird itch to see how people in the 1930s consumed their news, then yes. It is fast, loud, and weirdly confident. If you are looking for a relaxing evening, probably skip this. It feels like someone shouting headlines at you for twenty minutes straight.

The pacing is honestly exhausting. It just jumps from one topic to the next without a breath. You barely finish hearing about a Washington politician before you are suddenly in the middle of a Pacific war game. It’s a lot.

The segment on Washington reminded me of the frantic energy in The Swell-Head. It is that same kind of "insider" posturing, but with way more cigars and dramatic lighting. Everyone looks like they are hiding a secret, or maybe they are just trying to find a good place for lunch.

I found the Russia part surprisingly tense. They talk about it like a looming shadow, which I guess it was at the time. The narration is so aggressive. It makes modern pundits sound like they are whispering a lullaby. 📢

There are these little moments in the Pacific war games footage where you can see the extras looking bored. They are supposed to be hardened soldiers, but one guy in the back is definitely picking his teeth. It is the best part of the whole thing.

This whole thing feels like the polar opposite of the lighthearted fun you might get from Hungry Hoboes. There is no joy here. Just cold, hard, slightly grainy facts delivered at top speed. It’s like being trapped in an elevator with a history professor who has had six cups of coffee.

Some notes I scribbled down:

• The narrator sounds like he is announcing a heavyweight boxing match, not world politics.
• The transition music is jarringly upbeat for the grim stuff they are talking about.
• Wait, did that senator just wink at the camera? Maybe.
• The grain on the film is so heavy it almost feels like a texture, like looking through a dusty window.

I don't know if I would watch it again. But for a Tuesday afternoon? It did the trick. It makes you feel like you are standing in a crowded lobby in 1935, waiting for the real show to start. Just don't expect a deep dive into the human condition. It is all surface, all the time. 🎞️