Bringemovies
← Browse Movies
Mechanical Principles
TITLE DETAILS

Mechanical Principles

1930-02-05 · 11 min · ★ 6.8

Documentary

Close up we see pistons move up and down or side to side. Pendulums sway, the small parts of machinery move. Gears drive larger wheels. Gears within gears spin. Shafts turn some mechanism that is out of sight. Screws revolve and move other gears; a bit rotates. More subtle mechanisms move other mechanical parts for unknown purposes. Weights rise and fall. The movements, underscored by sound, are rhythmic. Circles, squares, rods, and teeth are in constant and sometimes asymmetrical motion. These human-made mechanical bits seem benign and reassuring.

Open detail page

Trailers are previews, not full movies.

No authorized playback source configured. Use the legal watch options below.

Production details

Directors
Ralph Steiner
Production companies
Unavailable
Countries
United States of America
Status
Released

Top Cast

Cast unavailable.

Title information and images are supplied by TMDb. Explore our discovery guide for advice on comparing metadata and legal viewing options.

Where to watch

Availability provided by JustWatch via TMDb. Offers can change. Provider links are listed on TMDb; full playback requires a separately authorized source.

Recommendations

Come See Me in the Good Light
★ 7.2
Come See Me in the Good Light2025Documentary

In an intimate and joyful story of love in the face of loss, celebrated poets Andrea Gibson and Megan Falley find strength—and unexpected hilarity—in what might be their final year together.

Spider-Man: All Roads Lead to No Way Home
★ 6.8
Spider-Man: All Roads Lead to No Way Home2022Documentary

JB Smoove and Martin Starr host a celebration of 20 years of "Spider-Man" movies, from the Sam Raimi trilogy to Marc Webb's movies and the trio from Jon Watts.

Avatar: The Deep Dive - A Special Edition of 20/20
★ 7.2
Avatar: The Deep Dive - A Special Edition of 20/202022Documentary

An inside look at one of the most anticipated movie sequels ever with James Cameron and cast.

Be Natural: The Untold Story of Alice Guy-Blaché
★ 7.2
Be Natural: The Untold Story of Alice Guy-Blaché2018Documentary

The epic life story of Alice Guy-Blaché (1873–1968), a French screenwriter, director and producer, true pioneer of cinema, the first person who made a narrative fiction film; author of hundreds of movies, but banished from history books. Ignored and forgotten. At last remembered.

A Fan's Guide to Ms. Marvel
★ 7.1
A Fan's Guide to Ms. Marvel2022Documentary

A documentary short that gives you an exclusive look behind the groundbreaking original series, "Ms. Marvel", from its comic book origins to its development and production as Marvel Studios’ next hit series on Disney+. It features interviews with its award winning filmmaking team and the show’s captivating star, newcomer Iman Vellani.

Being James Bond
★ 7.8
Being James Bond2021Documentary

Daniel Craig candidly reflects on his 15 year adventure as James Bond. Including never-before-seen archival footage from Casino Royale to the upcoming 25th film No Time To Die, Craig shares his personal memories in conversation with 007 producers, Michael G Wilson and Barbara Broccoli.

Embrace the Panda: Making Turning Red
★ 6.8
Embrace the Panda: Making Turning Red2022Documentary

A feature length documentary about the all-women team at the helm of Pixar's original feature, Turning Red. With unprecedented behind-the-scenes access to Director Domee Shi and her core leadership crew, this story shines a light on the powerful professional and personal journeys that brought this incredibly comical, utterly relatable, and deeply heartfelt story to the screen.

Aquaman: Heroines of Atlantis
★ 6.2
Aquaman: Heroines of Atlantis2019Documentary

Amber Heard and Nicole Kidman discuss their characters Mera and Atlanna.

Obi-Wan Kenobi: A Jedi's Return
★ 6.8
Obi-Wan Kenobi: A Jedi's Return2022Documentary

This special explores the return of Obi-Wan Kenobi and Anakin Skywalker to the screen, as well as Ewan McGregor and Hayden Christensen to their classic roles. Director Deborah Chow leads the cast and crew as they create new heroes and villains that live alongside new incarnations of beloved Star Wars characters, and an epic story that dramatically bridges the saga films.

The Making of 'Terminator 2: Judgment Day'
★ 7.1
The Making of 'Terminator 2: Judgment Day'1991Documentary

Documentary of the making of the sequel to the popular Schwarzenegger film, The Terminator.

The Director and the Jedi
★ 7.4
The Director and the Jedi2018Documentary

An intimate documentary delving into Rian Johnson's process as he comes in as a director new to the Star Wars universe.

Under the Helmet: The Legacy of Boba Fett
★ 6.9
Under the Helmet: The Legacy of Boba Fett2021Documentary

A special celebrating the origins and legacy of Star Wars' legendary bounty hunter, Boba Fett.

Struggle: The Life and Lost Art of Szukalski
★ 7.5
Struggle: The Life and Lost Art of Szukalski2018Documentary

Artists in LA discover the work of forgotten Polish sculptor Stanislav Szukalski, a mad genius whose true story unfolds chapter by astounding chapter.

Extremis
★ 6.9
Extremis2016Documentary

A purely observational non-fiction film that takes viewers into the ethically murky world of end-of-life decision making in a public hospital.

Marvel's Behind the Mask
★ 7.0
Marvel's Behind the Mask2021Documentary

A documentary special that explores the power of identity behind the iconic superheroes we know and love today. These legendary Marvel creations and stories have not only reflected the world outside our window – they have become a reflection of our own identities and who we truly are.

No Half Measures: Creating the Final Season of Breaking Bad
★ 8.5
No Half Measures: Creating the Final Season of Breaking Bad2013Documentary

A documentary about the making of season five of the acclaimed AMC series Breaking Bad.

As I Was Moving Ahead Occasionally I Saw Brief Glimpses of Beauty
★ 7.8
As I Was Moving Ahead Occasionally I Saw Brief Glimpses of Beauty2000Documentary

A compilation of over 30 years of private home movie footage shot by Lithuanian-American avant-garde director Jonas Mekas, assembled by Mekas "purely by chance", without concern for chronological order.

Avatar: Creating the World of Pandora
★ 6.5
Avatar: Creating the World of Pandora2010Documentary

The Making-of James Cameron's Avatar. It shows interesting parts of the work on the set.

The Last Repair Shop
★ 7.5
The Last Repair Shop2024Documentary

In a warehouse in the heart of Los Angeles, a dwindling handful of devoted craftspeople maintain more than 80,000 student musical instruments, the largest remaining workshop in America of its kind. Meet four unforgettable characters whose broken-and-repaired lives have been dedicated to bringing so much more than music to the schoolchildren of this city.

Making Waves: The Art of Cinematic Sound
★ 6.9
Making Waves: The Art of Cinematic Sound2019Documentary

The history of cinematic sound, told by legendary sound designers and visionary filmmakers.

Similar titles

Poster unavailable
Not rated
Geysers of the Yellowstone1917Documentary

Nice looking Travelogue takes us to the Northeast corner of Wyoming as we visit Yellowstone National Park.

First vlog!! #1
Not rated
First vlog!! #12017Documentary

A short mock-vlog film explaining and defending the concepts behind the fictional 'Death To Straight White Men 2017' clothing brand. Edited in a way that mocked the trends of Youtube vlogging and apology-videos of the time, including sound effects and interjected fast-moving graphics. "After QnWF-société received an overwhelming amount of negative feedback following the launch of their 'Death To Straight White Men 2017' clothing brand, their CEO felt the need to create an apology video of sorts - explaining and defending the concepts behind their latest line of clothing."

Control
Not rated
Control2018Documentary

What begins as a spatially abstract, weightless situation transforms into a mediation of geography, culture, and history. Filmed transcontinentally between Singapore and The Netherlands, Control emphasizes the idiosyncratic texture of a common, fragmented consciousness.

JENNY@7-11
Not rated
JENNY@7-112011Documentary

In a convenience store, the door of the storage room is a two-way mirror, reflecting a romantic story of love at first sight.

Opium für das Volk - Karl Marx und die Kirchen
Not rated
Opium für das Volk - Karl Marx und die Kirchen1983Documentary

The first part of the film shows parallels between Christianity and Marxism. The second part describes the influence of both the Judeo-Christian background and that of other religious critics on Marx's position as a critic of religion. Beyond the well-known facts, this documentary not only analyzes the historical background of Karl Marx's life and work, but also deals in particular with his personal relationship to Christianity.

Missing Link
Not rated
Missing Link2021Documentary

"Encouraged by a special encounter between myself and an animal, my research into the “humanimal” began. This is a performative exploration reflecting on the place of animals and humans in their changing relationships throughout time. The research spans from topics like the cohabitation of different human species, the prehuman, the posthuman, to domestication and the numerous animal watching webcams found in zoos and online. Missing Link reflects on the intimacy between the species and how it can be expressed through movement here and now. "

The Arrival of a Train at La Ciotat
★ 7.1
The Arrival of a Train at La Ciotat1896Documentary

A group of people are standing along the platform of a railway station in La Ciotat, waiting for a train. One is seen coming, at some distance, and eventually stops at the platform. Doors of the railway-cars open and attendants help passengers off and on. Popular legend has it that, when this film was shown, the first-night audience fled the café in terror, fearing being run over by the "approaching" train. This legend has since been identified as promotional embellishment, though there is evidence to suggest that people were astounded at the capabilities of the Lumières' cinématographe.

Film-Tract n° 1968
★ 6.5
Film-Tract n° 19681968Documentary

In the 1968 movement in Paris, Jean-Luc Godard made a 16mm, 3-minute long film, Film-tract No.1968, Le Rouge, in collaboration with French artist Gérard Fromanger. Starting with the shot identifying its title written in red paint on the Le Monde for 31 July 1968, the film shows the process of making Fromanger’s poster image, which is thick red paint flows over a tri-color French flag. —Hye Young Min

Canada the Land
★ 6.8
Canada the Land1971Documentary

Filmed for the most part from a low-flying aircraft, this documentary short presents a breathtaking view of Canada from coast to coast. Showing the varied terrain, from craggy coast to towering glacier, the film illustrates Canada’s pristine wilderness as well as today's industrial and urban realities. Canada the Land was specially commissioned for the Canada Pavilion at the Osaka World Fair in 1970.

Berlin: Symphony of a Great City
★ 7.5
Berlin: Symphony of a Great City1927Documentary

A day in the city of Berlin, which experienced an industrial boom in the 1920s, and still provides an insight into the living and working conditions at that time. Germany had just recovered a little from the worst consequences of the First World War, the great economic crisis was still a few years away and Hitler was not yet an issue at the time.

Death To Straight White Men 2017
Not rated
Death To Straight White Men 20172017Documentary

Three commercials, presented as a short film, for fictional clothing brand 'Death To Straight White Men' by the QnWF-Sociétè. This fictional clothing brand and the ready-for-action poses and portraits of the three models were in many ways the foundation for 'E Kolór Korra' (2017).

Moongazer's Moonlight Reverie
Not rated
Moongazer's Moonlight Reverie2024Documentary

Screaming
Not rated
Screaming2019Documentary

A peaceful path with grass along the sides is disturbed by a man that is running and screaming.

Poster unavailable
★ 7.1
Dresden Oktober '891989Documentary

Two/2
Not rated
Two/22008Documentary

Music scores are atomized and recompiled into instructions for visual edits and cues. Ties are uncovered between sight and sound.

A Staircase
Not rated
A Staircase2009Documentary

Single frames vectorized and stitched before processing through an analog EAB.

Water Theater
Not rated
Water Theater2015Documentary

White Rock Lake Water Theater in Dallas, Texas. Sculpture by Frances Bagley and Tom Orr. Video compiled from 35mm stills.

XYZ
Not rated
XYZ2016Documentary

Oil spills around Oak Cliff, Dallas.

In the Ocean, on Land
Not rated
In the Ocean, on Land2008Documentary

Panasonic PV-GS83 in a plastic bag thrown in the ocean.

The Sun
Not rated
The Sun2018Documentary

Compiled and animated from still images.

Your favorites

Recently viewed

Watch

Choose an authorized server.

Full video from an operator-configured authorized source. Official trailers use a separate player. If a server fails, retry or select another authorized server.

Legal watch options

Official trailer

Trailer preview only. Press Play to start.

Privacy choices

Favorites stay in your browser. Movie images load from TMDb. YouTube trailers contact YouTube only after you allow external media and choose a trailer. Advertising consent, if ads are enabled, is managed separately by the operator’s certified CMP.

Privacy policy

After allowing external media, choose the trailer button to load its player.