You Can't Fool a Camera

There's nothing much to recommend this short from MGM, YOU CAN'T FOOL A CAMERA, except to say that it does prove the theory that all four hoofs of a horse are off the ground at some point in time during their running speed. A whole row of cameras attached to strings that set the shutters off enable proof when at least one of the B&W stills show a horse with all four legs in mid-air.

Then, having proved this and taking a look at a couple of other historical incidents captured on camera, the film goes on to show some of MGM's busy studio craftsmen behind the movie cameras or directing a bevy of films about to be released.

So, in essence, it's a promotional short for upcoming MGM features posing as some sort of documentary. Upcoming titles include some which never materialized as planned: for instance, Spencer Tracy in THE YEARLING or Rosalind Russell and Clark Gable in a film called STRANGE PARTNERS whose title was later changed to THEY MET IN BOMBAY. For the final shot, we get a glimpse of all the talent under contract to MGM at that time: everyone from Gable and Garson to Nelson Eddy and Jeanette MacDonald and Jean Harlow.

But still, not much to recommend it as anything more than passable interest.