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1950s Traffic
Great color footage of 1950s cars on highways, stuck in traffic; ranging in age from c. 1955 to c. 1959. MS cars on highway towards camera. Cam is off to the side of the road. Good 50's cars. Overhead shot (from bridge) of heavy traffic on highway. Cars crawling in heavy traffic. Some trucks. Lane changing. Nice wide shot of 3 layers of highways, traffic going in all directions - busy. MCU canted anlge from road side as cars on highway pass at normal speed. Overhead WS (slightly fisheye effect) of cars on highway, entrance ramp backed up with cars. Oil tank truck pulls into a gas station on a rainy (overcast) day, turns towards and past camera. Quick shot of a small red and white tanker truck on busy California street - obscured by passing traffic. MS red car carrier truck loaded with new 1954 Mercurys (yellow Mercury in foreground), truck moves past camera and away. MS car carrier truck loaded with 1954 Lincolns drives towards and past camera on urban street. WS of rising railroad crossing gates (industrial-looking area, I.C.C Furniture and Appliances in background), cars passing, c.1969.
Pedestrians in Chicago and a California City
Color footage of late-1960s crowds on city streets. Pedestrians walking on downtown streets, traffic, taxicabs, busses, etc. CUs of feet/legs on sidewalk. People in summer crossing street in front of Security Pacific National Bank and "Wax Museum"--California? More legs-only footage at (watch for the white go-go boots).
1950s Housewife
1950s Housewife Color footage of late 50s/early 60s housewife in kitchen, with baby in high chair. She is washing dishes at the gold double-basin sink. Sterile overlit, white kitchen with canary yellow shutters. She turns to baby, removes his dish, and takes him from the high chair--the camera tilts down to follow this. He begins to cry immediately.
Teacher, Native American School
Color footage, c. 1975, of young female teacher with small class of Native American students, young teenagers. She holds up reading cards with names and words on them: "Norman Mitchill", "blue", "green"; discusses something with them.
Doctors in Surgery
Color footage of operation taking place in weirdly dark, claustrophobic operating room; much more dramatic-looking than a real operating room. Surgery and period not readily identifiable. Camera zooms in on doctor's face.
Mountain Climbing
Various WS of fantastic shots of huge snowy mountains. Could be Rocky Mountains, not sure. Some static, some pan along mountain range. Aerial shot of mountain range. Man rapelling down cliff.
Rain
Color footage of rainy streets. CU wet street, manhole cover in foreground, feet passing by in background, dull reflection in water. Good 50's shoe fashion. CU wet pavement with occasional drops falling off branch in foreground.
Human Eye in Closeup
Extreme closeup of human eye (green) that fills the whole screen. Slightly bloodshot. Could pass for contemporary.
Birth Of Baby
Color footage of the last moments of labor. Lots of headroom in this single shot, as the mother herself is below the edge of the frame. Doctors and nurses, in sterile white room, could be gathered around the barbecue for all we can tell, which certainly dates the film. The doctor's hands are out of the frame and after a second they come up with a real live baby, which he holds upside down and immediately takes to a side table with the nurses. Slow, awkward movement - these almost look like actors.
Mom Washes Son, Twins
CU little boy (about 2 yrs. old) standing at old-fashioned bathroom sink (two faucets with porcelain handles) as his mom (hands only visible) washes off the grape jam that is all over his face. He is holding on to the faucet handle and getting jam all over it. Closer shot, cleaner kid. He is smiling; it's actually quite cute. Color footage of twin babies sitting on grass, both looking upset, as if they are about to cry.
Asian Children
Children in a hospital, Starts with CU of child in bed, looking ill; someone kneeling at a bed sobbing (very dark) another 2 shots of children/young people in bed, sick; young man/teenager standing at window looking out, wistful; another kid in bed at turns out the light and goes to sleep. This footage is strange and melancholy.
China/Boats
Brief bit of soft focus, of what looks like a festival in China or Hong Kong coastal town. high angle shot of Harbor packed with decorated boats, pan over to rocky, mountainous coast. MS on ground of people in dragon costume, flags, etc.
3 Penguins with Fake Snow
Starts with CU of Penguin, Penguin calls. MS penguin swimming in a pool (looks like a zoo habitat). MS cute penguin couple shot from behind as they stand wings spread, heads tilted up to the sun - this is really cute and kinda funny. One of them cranks his neck around to look at the camera. MS 3 penguins standing on rocks with fake snow. Artificial snow falls in front of them.
Dolphin Show
MS underwater shot of 3 dolphins swimming. Cam follows one up to surface. Shot of beach with grass and sand, turquoise water pool. Group of 3-5 dolphins leap out of and back into water. Sea World-type stunts in a natural setting. Covered water tank with dolphin. Dolphin leaps out of tank to take fish from woman trainer's hand (she's perched up high on a scaffold). Shot of beach with grass and sand, turquoise water pool. Dolphins do more stunts, jumps etc. MCU underwater shot of dolphins swimming. First one, then several.
1940s Traffic
Faded (has faded--has that "Eastmancolor Pink" look) footage of New York City traffic in the late 1940s/early 50s. Opens with WS Grand Central Station; skyline shots; cars entering Queens Midtown Tunnel; cars on freeway; people crossing street (all signs flipped l to r); Still skyline shots; Very wide long shot of manhattan skyline from the water - shaky. Woolworth Tower. Nice MS tilt up on Empire State Building. Note that some of this footage was transferred flipped
Birthday Party, Late 1950s
Late 50s/early 60s teenage girl's birthday party, shot inside in dark room. Girl in pink dress sits in front of birthday cake with lit candles. Mother is standing off to side, leads child (2-3 years old?) over to it, she (teenager) blows out candles, film goes dark. Nice.
Eiffel Tower
Two shots of the Eiffel Tower, both taken from a distance: the first on a sunny day - this is absolutely picture postcard Paris. Eiffel Tower with blue sky, green trees and grass and red flower beds in foreground.; the second shot is on a cloudy, rainy day. Cam shakes a bit.
Sphinx/Pyramids
Color footage of the sphinx at Giza, and the pyramids. Starts with shot of sphinx, then long shot of pyramid with sphinx in foreground. Very blue sky background.
Rocky Mountains
WS snow capped mountains, looks like the American Rockies (maybe the Grand Tetons in Wyoming?). Very nice WS with sun and shadows over mountains, and the plains in the foreground. Cam pans right (nice). WS cattle grazing in pasture at foot of hills. Majestic snow-covered mountains in b/g. Postcard perfect shot of stunning snow-capped mountain and it's reflection in still blue lake (Is this Lake Louise?) An all-time great beauty shot. Another great WS of a snow-capped mountain, pine trees in the foreground.
Sailboats
Beautiful idyllic MS of sailboat sailing across lake with low hills in the background. nice sun and shadow detail on the sails as it crosses the frame. Group of sunbathers on board. Cam tracks a little with the boat as it sails. Various views of the same boat on the lake.
Vietnamese or Cambodian funeral
MWS outside building where people are gathering, flower wreaths outside entrance. MS of white-robed pall bearers. May of them look very young - some are children. Flowers draped over casket and carried by others in procession. They line up, crowd behind them and pose for the camera. Closer shot same - an adult adjusts the headbands on the children in front. Closer shot same, on the other side of the casket, adult holds up photo of the deceased. MCU preparing the casket. MS casket is carried on poles. MS group of worshippers gathered outside reading from prayer books - this looks like a separate event from the funeral.
Parrots in a Tree
Nice CU of four colorful parrots in a tree. Red feathers, black tipped wings, clear side views of their heads. Good shot.
Bullfight
MS bull running in a bull ring. Nice framing as the camera tracks it but it's all blurry and out of focus.
Poodle On A Pillow
Lustrous color footage of a white poodle on a red pillow, sitting on a chair covered with black-and-silver satin. Poodle sits, and jumps about, looks cute, rolls around.