MGM presents A Pete Smith Specialty. It's a group of lifeguards on a beach hangout. They are boarding and diving. They hunt for food, and battle undersea creatures. Some of the underwater action looks real enough. The octopus does look really fake and some of this is definitely filmed in a tank. The dog on the surfing board is very cute. The coastal scenery looks good. I love the seals. There is plenty to like. It is missing the cookout section. I know that it's only a ten minute short. They need to do the beach side cooking and start chowing down on the lobsters. Any good travelogue knows to do that.
5 Reviews
Lifeguards
boblipton8 June 2020
A Smith called Pete takes a look at what lifeguards do on their time off, as they paddle their surfboards away from the California coast and its penguins, to dive in a tank for abalone and other delicacies from underseas caves.
If that doesn't make much sense to you, well, it doesn't make much to me, either. It's more a statement of what the moviemakers thought their audiences thought in those innocent pre-war days, where moray eels, rocks, basking sharks, and octopuses were threatening enough to cause dramatic music to rise, and Smith to abandon his patented corny snark for a few moments. He doesn't even see fit to comment about the surfboarding dog.
Not one of the better Pete Smith Specialties is, I guess, what I'm saying.
If that doesn't make much sense to you, well, it doesn't make much to me, either. It's more a statement of what the moviemakers thought their audiences thought in those innocent pre-war days, where moray eels, rocks, basking sharks, and octopuses were threatening enough to cause dramatic music to rise, and Smith to abandon his patented corny snark for a few moments. He doesn't even see fit to comment about the surfboarding dog.
Not one of the better Pete Smith Specialties is, I guess, what I'm saying.
fun (Full !) day in the water!... minor spoilers
ksf-28 June 2020
Warning: Spoilers
Kind of a fun swimming/surfing/looking for shell-fish bit. it's a Pete Smith shortie. and while it's in the documentary category, my guess is that half of the scenes shown were staged. a penguin on the beach? really? the beach and the rock formations kind of look like it was filmed near mismaloya, mexico. sadly, locations aren't listed. yet. these surfers/lifeguards go underwater, and pull up lobsters by hand, they wrestle sharks and octopus. they pry abalone off the rocks, which they may or may not actually sell to the guy on a sail boat. they go spear fishing to kill the moray eel. What a day! Smith tells us about the goggles with air pods attached, which help balance out the air pressure near the eyes. interesting. the dog which not only checks out seals, but stands at the front of the paddle board. One of the ten films directed by Charles Trego. nine were shorts; his first film, Isle of Paradise was a full length, and shot in Bali, according to the description. i'd love to see THAT one. hopefully Turner Classics will show that some time.
Decent Smith short
Michael_Elliott6 March 2009
Heroes at Leisure (1939)
** 1/2 (out of 4)
Pete Smith short takes a look at what lifeguards do during the off season. So, what do they do, you ask? Well they jump on their surf boards and dive for lobsters to sell to rich people of course. This is pretty much middle ground in terms of Smith shorts. The movie features a somewhat interesting story but the screenplay, or dialogue if you will, doesn't add much excitement to the story and I honestly can't say I wanted to know much more. The best sequences are the underwater stuff where we get to see some nice sea creatures including a shark and an octopus. Some should be warned that the humans are attacked by the two and the animals are eventually killed on screen.
** 1/2 (out of 4)
Pete Smith short takes a look at what lifeguards do during the off season. So, what do they do, you ask? Well they jump on their surf boards and dive for lobsters to sell to rich people of course. This is pretty much middle ground in terms of Smith shorts. The movie features a somewhat interesting story but the screenplay, or dialogue if you will, doesn't add much excitement to the story and I honestly can't say I wanted to know much more. The best sequences are the underwater stuff where we get to see some nice sea creatures including a shark and an octopus. Some should be warned that the humans are attacked by the two and the animals are eventually killed on screen.
It's hardly leisure for these guys...
Doylenf4 August 2009
Mildly diverting Pete Smith Specialty focuses on lifeguards when the season is over. You'd think they'd find more leisurely pursuits, but no, they're off on their surfboards armed with goggles and spears and hunting for whatever exotic fish they can find--mostly lobster according to this short.
One of them experiences a fight with an octopus and his buddies come to his aid before it can keep a grip on his waist.
This is one Pete Smith Specialty that would have benefited from being filmed in Technicolor instead of the rather murky underwater B&W photography.
Not exactly a relaxing way to spend your summer.
One of them experiences a fight with an octopus and his buddies come to his aid before it can keep a grip on his waist.
This is one Pete Smith Specialty that would have benefited from being filmed in Technicolor instead of the rather murky underwater B&W photography.
Not exactly a relaxing way to spend your summer.
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