I watched The Voice of Hollywood No. 23 and it was kind of awkward

Is this worth watching today? Only if you have a weird obsession with 1930s celebrities doing absolutely nothing for ten minutes straight. 🎞️

History buffs will probably find it neat. Anyone looking for a 'story' or 'entertainment' will likely be bored out of their mind.

It’s part of a series where Ken Niles—a guy who sounds exactly like every radio man from that era—takes us 'behind the scenes' in Hollywood. But it’s not really behind the scenes because everyone is clearly terrified of the camera.

The whole thing feels like a fever dream of polite smiling and stiff poses.

The way they stand is just so awkward. It reminds me of the rigid acting in some parts of The Royal Family of Broadway, but without the jokes to save it.

There is a moment where an actress is showing off her house. She looks at her own kitchen like it’s an alien planet she just landed on.

The lighting is... well, it’s there. Sometimes the shadows are so long they almost swallow the actors whole.

I noticed one guy smoking a pipe who stares into the lens for way too long. It started to feel like he was judging my life choices through time.

Cinematic perspective: Exploring the visual vocabulary of The Voice of Hollywood No. 23 (1930) through its definitive frames.

The audio have a lot of hiss. It sounds like a bunch of angry snakes are living inside the film reel. 🐍

It’s way less intense than something like The Screaming Shadow. There are no scares here, just people in fancy clothes looking stiff.

Small things I noticed:

• The announcer’s hair is impossibly shiny.
• The background music just stops and starts for no reason.
• A dog appears and is honestly the best actor in the entire film.

If you’ve seen Once Over, you know how these early shorts can be a bit hit or miss. This one is a miss, unless you like looking at old furniture.

The dog doesn't care about being a 'star.' He just looks like he wants a nap, and I really felt that.

One reaction shot lingers so long it actually becomes funny. I think they forgot to yell 'cut' or the editor was asleep at the desk.

The movie gets noticeably better once you realize it's basically just a commercial for people who aren't famous anymore.

It’s a strange little relic. Not necessarily 'good' but it exists.

I wouldn't call it a must-watch. But if it's on in the background while you're doing something else, it's fine. 🤷‍♂️

Just don't expect it to change your life.