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The Supreme Court (1949)

1949 · Short film · 8 min

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Synopsis

(1949) is a black-and-white educational short film made under the auspices of the March of Time. Through a montage of archival footage of Supreme Court justices, President Roosevelt, and congressional meetings in combinations with shots of the architectural details of the United States Supreme Court Building and Capitol building, the film sheds light on the history of the US Supreme Court. Specifically, the film takes a look at how the Supreme Court both challenged FDR’s New Deal legislation and was challenged as FDR attempted to alter the structure of the court system. Opening credits (0:08). Film title overlaid shot of the United States Supreme Court Building in Washington, DC (0:30). Close-up James Earle Fraser's statue The Contemplation of Justice on the west side of the United States Supreme Court building (0:36). Close-up West Pediment by sculptor Robert I. Aitken located above the front entrance of the Supreme Court Building - 9 pediment figures each have allegorical meanings (0:39). Close-up of other Fraser statue of male titled Authority of Law (0:41). Interior architectural details: spiral staircase, doric columns, brass doors and decorative fixtures (0:54). Visitor traffic in the Great Hall (1:05). The courtroom, close-up Justices’ Bench (1:18). Details of Adolph Weinman’s East Wall Frieze above Justices’ Bench, one of four sculpted marble panels along courtroom walls (1:25). Entrance and interior Law Library of Congress (1:33). Cover “The Life of John Marshall”…

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Details

Running time
8 minutes
Collection
Ephemeral Films

Subjects on the Internet Archive

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