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Freedom of the American Road (Part II) (1955)

1955 · Ephemeral film · 14 min

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Synopsis

Henry Ford II introduces this film designed to encourage private citizens to unite and support road improvement. Part of the lobbying campaign that culminated in legislation authorizing the Interstate Highway system in 1956, this film shows community efforts to improve and increase safety on the Bayshore Highway in the San Francisco Bay Area; congestion in Pittsburgh and the Golden Triangle redevelopment area; the economic benefits of Boston's circumferential highway, Route 128; and safety education in St. Joseph, Missouri. Narrator: Westbrook van Voorhis.

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Details

Running time
14 minutes
Collection
Prelinger Archives
Internet Archive item
Freedomo1955_2

Subjects on the Internet Archive

Reviews on the Internet Archive

★★★ · It's Bloody Bayshore Day! · Spuzz · 2003-06-20

In this grand expose of why the roadways of America are in need of repair, RIGHT NOW! Henry Frd II sweatily introduces us to the film, Ford, who BADLY reads from cue cards, introduces us to the real star of the show, "the traffic safety and highway improvement reporter" Wesbrook Van Vorheen (????), a man who's face and body clearly doesnt match the voice. In his deep basso nova voice. 4 "actual" scenarios are reported on, each seemingly more duller then the first. The first report, about the mayhem and carnage on the Palo Alto Bayshore highway, is clearly the most interesting. Shots of…

★★ · Ho-Hum · norton67 · 2008-01-17

Kinda boring stuff but funny at the end of part 2 the MC cops are riding pretty dangerously. I'm surprised that made the cut !

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