Watching Old Newsreels is Weirdly Addictive

Is this for you?

If you like movies that feel like a fever dream from the past, you’ll dig this. If you need a movie to be smooth and have a clear plot, stay far away. This is pure, unfiltered 1930s energy.

Honestly, watching The March of Time makes you realize how little has changed. We're still yelling about labor rights and money in sports, just with better cameras.

Labor wars and weird taxes

The segment on the labor strikes is surprisingly intense. It doesn't sugarcoat the violence. There’s a shot of a picket line that feels way too close for comfort. You can see the tension in the guys' faces—it's not like the polished stuff you see today.

Then, the movie pivots to the 'Tithe War' in England. Who knew taxes on behalf of the Church could be this dramatic? It’s a bizarre detour. One minute you’re in a factory, the next you’re watching British farmers look grumpy about sheep or grain or something. I wasn’t sure why I was watching it, but I couldn't look away.

The college football trap

My favorite part was definitely the bit about college football. They call it an 'insidious influence' and honestly? They were right. The way they frame the money side of things feels like it could have been written yesterday.

The narrator has this voice that sounds like he’s trying to sell you a car while telling you the world is ending. It’s hilarious. It’s a stark contrast to something like The Last Crusade, which at least has the decency to be fun while it lies to you about history.

• The editing is so choppy it almost gives you whiplash.
• The transition between 'angry laborers' and 'football players' is abrupt and frankly, a little jarring.
• I’m still not 100% sure what a tithe is, but I’m pretty sure I don’t want to pay one.

It’s not a masterpiece, but it’s real. It feels like a time capsule that someone left open in the rain. Definitely worth a watch if you have twenty minutes and want to feel slightly confused about the 1930s.