Basque Sports

Basque Sports (1957)

** 1/2 (out of 4)

Decent entry in RKO's Sportscope series has Harry Wismer narrating the story of the Basque people of Spain and the various sports that they play. We learn that in Spain handball is the national past time just like baseball is in America. We see how the sport is played as well as a couple alternate versions. We also see wood chopping and why it is so important as well. Overall this is actually one of the better Sportscope episodes that I've seen, although to be fair that's not saying too much as none of them are really what I'd consider good films. I do think that this one here at least keeps you entertained throughout the 8-minute running time and it also makes you interested in the story being told. The film contains some pretty good footage of the sports, which is pretty rare for the series as more times than not we're just given a bunch of cheap footage thrown together. Wismer does a nice job with the narration as well.

The Basque people lives in the mountains of southern France and northern Spain. They have an unique language and unique sports. Narrator Harry Wismer does his yelling voice of authority. It's interesting to see the unique culture which seems close to something familiar but different nevertheless. There are some Scottish or Irish flavors. It all comes and goes quickly. Other than the Jai-Alai cousin, none of it is that memorable.

This RKO Sportscope about the sort of sports and games that the Basques play -- usually involving rock walls or swinging an axe while unshod feet are around -- is a typically interesting entry in the series. It is rendered a little more interesting to me because a lot of the games derive from handball, a game which my father played until he was sixty; one day he took me out to the court he played on and proceeded to embarrass me and leave a few bruises where the ball landed.

I do have some issues with Harry Wismer's narration, which is pitched consistently as a shout, as if the audience is deaf. It is possible to speak loudly without shouting and it is a trifle odd that Mr. Wismer never learned how.