Nothing But Time (1926)

The life of a great city (Paris) from dawn until dusk, including the beautiful and the ragged, the rich and the poor, with little or no comment (intertitles) from the director, Cavalcanti (whose first film this was).

Director:

Alberto Cavalcanti

Stars:

Blanche Bernis, Nina Chousvalowa, Philippe Hériat

Cast

Credited cast:
Blanche Bernis
Nina Chousvalowa
Philippe Hériat
Clifford McLaglen

Storyline

A city: we know it's Paris by its monuments, but it could be anywhere; the lives of the poor are the same. We see a streetwalker, a woman who sells newspapers, a sailor, a landlady, an old woman, a shop keeper, and another man. The camera shows us derelicts and the unemployed. As the clock moves, people arrive for work, shops and restaurants open, butchers carry animal carcasses. After work, it's time for pleasure and relaxation, but after midnight, danger waits. So does possibility.

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Plot Keywords:

clock | time | avant garde | experimental film | symphonic film | 

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Genres:

Documentary

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Details

Country:

France

Release Date:

1926 (France)

Also Known As:

Nothing But the Hours

Filming Locations:

Paris, France

Company Credits

Technical Specs

Runtime:

42 min (Buenos Aires Festival Internacional de Cine Independiente)

Sound Mix:

Silent

Color:

Black and White

Aspect Ratio:

1.33 : 1

Did You Know?

Connections

Featured in The Story of Film: An Odyssey: The Golden Age of World Cinema (2011)

User Reviews

A pretty good little art film.

This short French film is from a collection of experimental films entitled "Avant-Garde: Vol. 3:" and is from Disc 1. It's a collection of films that most folks today would probably care very little about, but for some reason I like seeing many of these unusual little art films. Perhaps you will also.

"Nothing But Tim e" is an odd little film that purports to say that all cities are basically the same. However, as if shows tons of footage of Paris and lots of art by folks living there, it sure seems obvious that Paris sure ain't like other cities. Having just returned from Paris yesterday (seriously), I can assure you it's nothing like any other city I have ever visited! One unusual film technique used in the film were taking live scenes and having them become stationary--and then having a hand tear up the scene which is now revealed to be a photo. This was wildly innovative for 1930 as were the low camera angles that must have come from moving cars, a strange but well done cow butchering scene (don't worry--it's not really very gross), closeups of rats and an overall focus on the lives of the city's poor, occasional low-lifes and often ordinary residents. All in all, it's well-constructed and a nice little homage to the less glamorous side of Paris. And, for an art film, it's very watchable and worth your time--as well as a nice historical document of the lives of these folks.

By the way, you might notice a brief scene where water is being poured over a sugar cube on some sort of spoon. This is Absinthe being prepared. Back in 1930, it was thought to be a horribly addictive and deadly spirit abused by the poor that only in the last decade or so has been de-criminalized around the world (because it's basically harmless). It sure made me thirsty, as it's a delicious little drink and should you get a chance, try it by all means!