Dare-devils perform zany stunts.Dare-devils perform zany stunts.Dare-devils perform zany stunts.
- Director
- Writer
- Star
- Nominated for 1 Oscar
- 1 nomination total
Photos
- Director
- Writer
- All cast & crew
- Production, box office & more at IMDbPro
Storyline
Did you know
- TriviaThis short, featuring vintage clips of stunt men and women, daredevils and acrobats performing thrilling feats on biplanes, hot air balloons, skyscrapers, high bridges, cars and trains is available as an extra on the Warner Bros. DVD "It's a Great Feeling."
Featured review
Definitely lives up to its title... and only ten minutes long!
Time-Warner is finally, if slowly, releasing some of these "docu-shorts" that Robert Youngson made before his popular feature THE GOLDEN AGE OF COMEDY. In the late forties and fifties, critics at the time routinely praised these above even the "March of Time" and Disney "True Life Adventures" and Oscar nominations were frequent. Now, that three titles have made it to DVD as "extras", it is easy to see what all of the fuss was about. They cull the very best newsreel clips, presented with enthusiastic narration, fast-paced editing and swirling orchestration that only a major studio could provide.
Think of these as Ken Burns TV shows sped up on caffeine. Even the opening titles pack a lot: SPILLS AND CHILLS rolls its credits over aerial shots of New York City shot from a daredevil's point of view. The fact that the footage is even older today (dating circa 1916 to mid '40s with the twenties emphasized) makes it all the more fascinating, since most modern viewers will be new to folks like Lillian Boyer, John "Jammie" Reynolds, Mildred Unger and many others who will leave your jaw dropped to the ground.
This title is definitely NOT for those afraid of heights, speed or extreme temperature. We have a very young Mildred riding the top of a balloon, Lillian performing trapeze stunts under a plane without a parachute, Paris bridge jumps, a prize fight high over Manhattan, jump-roping on a skyscraper scaffold, human "flies" scaling buildings and "teeter-tottering" chairs along rooftop edges. Some additional motorcycle and car crash scenes here (like the famous one crashing through a shed) may have inspired the comic gags with Gene Kelly early in SINGIN' IN THE RAIN. This was an era when most Americans weren't at all terrified by death, the insurance agencies hadn't taken charge yet and the filmmakers had super strong stomachs watching through their lenses.
Think of these as Ken Burns TV shows sped up on caffeine. Even the opening titles pack a lot: SPILLS AND CHILLS rolls its credits over aerial shots of New York City shot from a daredevil's point of view. The fact that the footage is even older today (dating circa 1916 to mid '40s with the twenties emphasized) makes it all the more fascinating, since most modern viewers will be new to folks like Lillian Boyer, John "Jammie" Reynolds, Mildred Unger and many others who will leave your jaw dropped to the ground.
This title is definitely NOT for those afraid of heights, speed or extreme temperature. We have a very young Mildred riding the top of a balloon, Lillian performing trapeze stunts under a plane without a parachute, Paris bridge jumps, a prize fight high over Manhattan, jump-roping on a skyscraper scaffold, human "flies" scaling buildings and "teeter-tottering" chairs along rooftop edges. Some additional motorcycle and car crash scenes here (like the famous one crashing through a shed) may have inspired the comic gags with Gene Kelly early in SINGIN' IN THE RAIN. This was an era when most Americans weren't at all terrified by death, the insurance agencies hadn't taken charge yet and the filmmakers had super strong stomachs watching through their lenses.
helpful•20
- jlewis77-1
- Mar 19, 2011
Details
- Release date
- Country of origin
- Language
- Also known as
- Sports News Reviews: Spills and Chills
- Production company
- See more company credits at IMDbPro
- Runtime10 minutes
- Color
- Sound mix
- Aspect ratio
- 1.37 : 1
Contribute to this page
Suggest an edit or add missing content