Microscopic Mysteries

A Smith called Pete offers some snide, poetic remarks about the struggle of tiny insects in a peaceful-looking field.

There's some good microphotography -- which is just what it sounds like: pictures of tiny things -- here, offered in natural-looking settings. No cameraman is credited. That makes me think that the director, Hugo Lund, handled the camera. A Google search turned up 18 people by that name, including an actor in a 1983 movie. No Hugo Lund has any other credit. Well, life is full of tiny mysteries.

Microscopic Mysteries (1932)

** 1/2 (out of 4)

Early Pete Smith short takes a look at various insects under a microscope. Included are various forms of spiders, worms, scorpions and various other insects. This type of short would be made through the decade as well as future decades as technology would get better and there's no question that the film is somewhat dated but it's important to keep in mind when this was being made. With that said, this 9-minute short is fairly entertaining with some nice visuals of the insects. It's also worth noting that Smith is quite good even though he isn't in that same mode as what we'd see in future shorts. He certainly keeps the film moving with the fun natured narration.

It's springtime and the insects are out.

Get that microscope ready for a look at a variety of insects chewing away at leaves and each other in fierce battles to the death.

Throughout this little epic, we see ants, beetles, spiders, wasps, caterpillars, scorpions, tarantulas--you name it--each finding a predator to have for lunch.

Not the kind of film you want to watch while having your lunch, but it is a fascinating close up and personal view of nature's tiny insects all devouring each other in nature's own cruel way.

Photographed in crisp B&W photography from 1932, with a dry commentary, it's worth a watch.

Pete Smith is the narrator. Insects are the subject matter and there are lots of variety. It's a lot of fighting and eating.

Smith's narrator has that old timey sarcastic take on the life and death battles. He made a career of these shorts. This is obviously filmed by placing these insects into the terrarium and letting them go at it. The footage is great. It's clear and the battles are compelling. It's in black and white and that's its fatal flaw. This needs color. Quite frankly, Pete Smith could have done groundbreaking work if he connected with one of the early color film experimentalists. Both sides would have benefited.