Damascus, Syria & Granada, Spain (1934)
1934 · Short film · 19 min
- Action
Synopsis
Here are two episodes in the obscure Vagabond Adventure Series of films, produced by the Van Beuren Corporation and released by RKO. Both “Damascus” and “Moorish Spain” are short, black-and-white travel films from 1934 that, through a combination of stunning visuals and architectural wonders, takes the viewer on a trip through Damascus, Syria and Granada, Spain. Narrated by Alois Havrilla, the films underscore the history of these cities, the agricultural industries, and the famous buildings that are found there from the Umayyad Mosque to the Alhambra. Film 1: Opening credits (0:08). Arid farmland lined with Terebinth trees, man on donkey ushers two horses carrying hay; another farmer using ox-pulled plow (0:58). Close-up farmer with 1930s wooden ox-drawn plow wearing traditional keffiyeh head wrap, plows field barefoot (1:36). View of Damascus from elevated viewpoint where Prophet Mohammed said he refused to enter the city (1:59). Ruins of mosque on outskirts of Damascus, minaret peaks up over archways of mosque’s remnants (2:09). Minaret of the Bride at the Umayyad Mosque/ Great Mosque of Damascus in distance (2:19). Ruins of religious school surrounding Mausoleum of Saladin (2:29). Minaret of Isa framed by two ancient Roman columns (2:35). Close-up architectural details of Umayyad Mosque courtyard, archways, remnants of Byzantine Basilica dedicated to John the Baptist (2:53). Ancient Roman triumphal arch (Al Kharab) on Street called Straight, camera pans down to reveal…
Uploader's description on archive.org
Details
- Running time
- 19 minutes
- Collection
- Ephemeral Films
Subjects on the Internet Archive
- Buzuriyah Souq
- Vagabond Adventure Series
- Van Beuren Corporation
- Moorish Spain
- Alois Havrilla
- Umayyad Mosque
- Prophet Mohammed
- Great Mosque
- Byzantine Basilica
- Al Kharab
