Checking out The March of Time: Old School vibes and White House halls

Is this worth your time?

Honestly, unless you have a specific itch for mid-30s political aesthetics or you're a total history nerd, you’re probably going to find this a bit dry. It’s for the people who get a kick out of how weirdly authoritative the narrator's voice sounds. If you hate being lectured to by a disembodied voice from a century ago, stay far, far away.

There’s this segment on 'Progressive Education' that is just wild. They’re filming kids doing things that were supposedly cutting-edge back then, like sitting in circles or working on crafts. It feels so staged, but in that charming, grainy way. You can almost see the teachers sweating off-camera, trying to make sure the kids don't look at the lens.

The White House bit is the real draw, I guess. It’s not like the polished, PR-heavy stuff you get today. It’s got this dusty, lived-in feel. It reminds me a little of the quiet, observational energy you find in People on Sunday, where you’re just watching people exist in a space, even if the context here is way more formal and stiff.

Odd little observations:

• The narrator’s pacing is so fast, like he’s trying to beat a timer.
• The lighting in the classrooms looks like a basement, which is… a choice.
• There’s a shot of a desk that lingers for about three seconds too long. It’s almost funny how much importance they place on a wooden table.
• I kept waiting for someone to trip or crack a smile, but nope. Everyone is dead serious about the future of pedagogy.

It’s not as zany as Ko-Ko Back Tracks or as glamorous as the stuff in Central Airport. It’s just news. It’s just the march of time, I suppose. 🕰️

You can tell they really wanted us to believe that the 'new' school system was going to change the world. It’s kind of sweet, in a naive way. The film doesn't have a soul, really, but it has a very specific heartbeat. You watch it, you nod, and you wonder if anyone actually learned anything or if they were just doing what the man with the camera asked.

It’s a short watch. Don't overthink it.