[1960s HOME MOVIE AFRICAN AMERICAN / BLACK FAMILY PRINCESS CRUISE SHIP]

Genre: home movie

Description: Dating to the 1960s, this home movie was shot by an unknown filmmaker who was part of an African American family. The film includes various domestic scenes including a birthday party and a tour of the family's flower garden, as well as a trip aboard a Princess cruise liner. The close of the film is a slow drive through the town of Paradise / Tahoe City, evergreens run the road spotted by local shops and the post office.

The film opens with shots of what appears to be a birthday party or similar event -- possibly an Easter celebration. Children wear nice clothes, with girls in pastel dresses and their curls pinned under pink barrettes (:07). Pavement clicks heels, the air and smacks what appears to be a small rubber ball. A kicked over table sits next to the driveway near a lawn chair for sun soaking (:16). The ball parade runs in and off the driveway and the sun sets dim and lowered now (:23). The boy’s dress is considerably drab in comparison; short sleeves and sleek dress shoes of dark tones snapping grass twigs (:33). It captures the anticipation of a simple game; a female player in a light white sleeve sundress hides the ball behind her back on the attack (:35). Two boys stand, one with hands on his head and the other, hands on his waist (1:03) light blues and dark shades contrasting one other’s stance though it is the same face, frustration at the tirade parade of girl ball players. A bunny hop follows in the back corner; clamor over for a lose ball (1:17). In another sequence, the mother (1:23) and father figure (2:25) tend to their backyard flower garden. He tramps the grass, long legs amid the rose brush (2:51). Next sequence, aboard what appears to be the dining area of the Princess Cruise (3:58). A speedboat zips past in the water (4:19), a pair on the bow rides the sun beams off the water seams. The family exits the banquet entryway; couples hang at the elbow with short wrist white gloves (5:17). Girls wade down in furs (5:18), long tan dresses carting bouquets of white blossoms (5:18). Next sequence, well dressed people possibly just home from church. Sundown gathering; a blue pastel dressed matron swings in with a gold clutch (5:49). An older man smiles, snapping at the camera back with cheek bones all happy (5:52). Dim scenes follow as folks settle in with the evening sun (6:09). Film concludes with the drive out of Paradise passing local shops, evergreens patch between (6:20). Sign for Paradise (6:29).