I watched The Wandering Toy (1928) and it's kind of weirdly peaceful

A weird little trip with a wooden guy

If you have ten minutes and you're eating a sandwich, you should probably put on The Wandering Toy. It is worth watching if you like old, grainy footage of parks and don't mind that nothing really happens.

People who love fast-paced action or clear plots will absolutely hate this. It’s basically just a 1920s home movie that someone decided to call a film.

The whole thing is about this wooden toy—I started calling him Barnaby in my head—who ends up out in the world. He doesn't move his face or anything, obviously, because he's a piece of wood.

James F. Clemenger, the guy who made this, seems to really like trees. Most of the movie is just the toy sitting near a tree or being carried past a bush.

There is this one shot where the toy is sitting on a branch and the camera shakes just a little bit. It made me think the cameraman was maybe sneezing or trying not to trip over a root.

It’s a bit like The Peddler in how it captures a specific moment in time, but it’s way less heavy. Actually, it has the same lazy afternoon energy as Sunday Calm, just without the shouting kids.

The toy's face is actually kind of creepy if you look at it too long. It has these wide, painted eyes that make it look like it’s constantly surprised by the concept of grass.

At one point, the toy is just lying in a field. I wondered for a second if the crew just left it there and went to get lunch.

Cinematic perspective: Exploring the visual vocabulary of The Wandering Toy (1928) through its definitive frames.

The film quality is pretty rough, with lots of those little black dots and scratches dancing over the screen. It makes the whole thing feel like a ghost story even though it’s supposed to be for children.

There’s a moment with a dog that comes near the toy. I was actually worried the dog was going to chew Barnaby’s head off, but it just sniffs and walks away.

That is the vibe of the whole movie. Things almost happen, and then they just... don't.

It’s much more tolerable than His Father's Son, which I remember being a bit of a slog. This one is short enough that it doesn't overstay its welcome.

I liked the scenes by the water the most. The way the light reflects off the wood makes the toy look almost real for a second.

The edits are pretty jumpy, though. One second he's on a bench, the next he's by a stream like he has teleportation powers.

It feels very personal, like a secret you found in a dusty box in an attic. It’s not a masterpiece, but it’s a nice break from movies that try too hard to be important.

If you're into this kind of thing, you might also find Mountain Dew interesting for that same old-timey texture. But honestly, just watch the toy wander and don't think about it too much.

It's a weird little relic. I’m glad I watched it, even if I forgot most of it ten minutes later. 🌲