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1930’S Trip to Italy, Switzerland & France Silent Home Movie Venice, Rome, Paris 58214 (1930)

1930 · Short film · 24 min

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Synopsis

Shot by an unknown American tourist, this silent home movie takes viewers through parts of Italy and France in the 1930’s. During this time period in Italy, the fascist party had grabbed a solid foothold over the country. Meanwhile in France, the Great Depression hit in 1931, later than in other countries. The film opens with images of boats lined up along the Grand Canal in Venice, Italy (:20). The Rialto bridge (:24) appears and is the oldest of the four bridges which cross over the Grand Canal. In St. Mark’s Square (:53), the Campanile Bell Tower stands as the tallest structure in Venice at 323 ft. The camera moves around the center of the square capturing pedestrians and pigeons dotting the ground (1:22). The view changes as the film moves onto a small gondola boat on the canal (2:16). Another angle of the Rialto bridge follows from the canal (2:27). The dome of the Papal Basilica of St. Peter is captured (3:50) in the Vatican City. Hadrian’s tomb (4:02) sits at the right bank of the Tiber near the Vatican City. The tour heads to Rome and the Trevi Fountain (4:30). The fountain was developed by Nicola Salvi and is one of the largest Baroque fountains in the city. Cattle move down a gravel and dirt road (4:35). Dark footage follows of a small town nestled in a valley (6:51). The film goes to Switzerland briefly and to the parkland conference center called Kursaal in Interlaken (8:16). Two women work on sewing embroidery onto fabric (8:35). Two brown bears move in an…

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Details

Running time
24 minutes
Collection
Ephemeral Films

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