Amateur films: Ivan Besse collection: Britton, South Dakota Part II (1938)

★★★★★ · discard hollywood.SEE the REAL USA in 1938 · cashel · 2004-05-27

Ivan Besse filmed two and a half hours of movies in his small country home town during 1938/1939. He would film one week and the next week he would show the film at the Strand Cinema where he was the projectionist. The people are so natural and the children are delightful. We see the local sporting team in action and meet the players. Shown also, is the Street Parade. Still held and last year,s parade was a huge success. Excellent photography in high definition b/w silent film

★★★★ · Part II of Mr. Besse's film of his town in the late 1930's · ERD. · 2010-01-02

This film really captures the time and the atmosphere of Britton, South Dakota in 1938-39. It is like stepping bck in time. I enjoyed watching the various routines and events done during those years: The football team, the band, the 4 H parade, Santa Clause and the children, etc. Even the sheriff and his deputies were shown escourting some chained prisoner into a car. Looks like the place was a nice place to live.

★★★★ · Just wonderful · chriscraft67 · 2009-01-07

I could not have enjoyed this more. America at its best. I had to wonder how many of those youngsters lost their lives in WWII. Mr. Besse was an accomplished photographer. His focus and framing on the street shots must have been very hard to do, given the equipment he had to work with. There are several shots on the football field that would take a crew of 20 to duplicate today. It is wonderful that films like this are preserved for us to see.