A GREAT NEW STAR
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Year Published: 1953
Creator: chevrolet-motor-division-jam-handy
Description: Dating to 1953 and starring Dinah Shore, "A Great New Star" was made by Jam Handy productions for Chevrolet, to promote the new 1953 Chevy. This sophisticated short uses Shore as both a narrator, and for her considerable vocal talents, and uses the premise of making a commercial about the new Chevy to entertain the audience. The film starts with Day on a soundstage, prompted by a film director and cameraman. She begins to sing "It's a Most Unusual Day". After the song concludes, Shore narrates a transition to the introduction of a "new performer" and "new star" -- which turns out to be the new 1953 Chevrolet. Shore expresses admiration for the car's detailed design, both exterior and interior, emphasizing its beauty, comfort, and innovative features. A car salesman is then shown speaking to customers and giving a full sales pitch; but then it is revealed that he and the customers are actors on the same soundstage as Shore, and even the background shown is fake -- the result of process photography. This clever trick helps further the narrative. The film provides a detailed description of the car's high-compression Blue Flame engine, highlighting its performance and economy benefits, as well as the new Powerglide transmission. The conclusion, with Shore accompanying singing the famous "Chevrolet song", underscores the overall features and benefits of the 1953 Chevrolet, while showcasing the available models. (Note: at the time this film was made, Shore she starred in a twice-weekly 15-minute musical interlude for Chevrolet on NBC-TV.) 00:00: Intro. 0:37-2:38: On a Hollywood soundstage, a director, soundman and a cameraman are shown ready to film Dinah Shore. The "Quiet Please" lamp lights up, and Shore gets the cue to sing a song. 3:02-3:12: Day speaks to the camera and gives an introduction of the new 1953 Chevrolet, highlighting its beauty and design. 3:12-3:36: Continued admiration of the car's detailed design and aesthetics. 3:36-4:36: A salesman in a showroom gives a detailed description of the new Chevrolet's design features to customer / actors. His descriptions includes comments on the grille, fender lines, and windows. 4:36-6:45: Description of the new Chevrolet's interior design, features, and comfort. Shots of the car out in the real world, driving down highways and past pleasant scenery. 6:45-7:01: Having made a costume change, Dinah Shore returns to the film, and narrates a segment explaining about process photography, while a commercial director puts the cast through their paces. The background behind the car changes as part of the process photography system. 7:01-9:29: Introduction and detailed description of the Chevrolet's new high-compression Blue Flame engine, its performance, and economy benefits. 9:29-10:19: Explanation of the new Powerglide transmission and its drivability benefits. 10:19-10:42: Conclusion highlighting the overall new features and benefits of the 1953 Chevrolet. 10:42-11:30: Musical cue and Dinah Shore starts to sing a famous song, encouraging viewers to "see the USA in your Chevrolet" and highlighting the choice of Chevrolet models.
Complete Record: Dating to 1953 and starring Dinah Shore, "A Great New Star" was made by Jam Handy productions for Chevrolet, to promote the new 1953 Chevy. This sophisticated short uses Shore as both a narrator, and for her considerable vocal talents, and uses the premise of making a commercial about the new Chevy to entertain the audience. The film starts with Day on a soundstage, prompted by a film director and cameraman. She begins to sing "It's a Most Unusual Day". After the song concludes, Shore narrates a transition to the introduction of a "new performer" and "new star" -- which turns out to be the new 1953 Chevrolet. Shore expresses admiration for the car's detailed design, both exterior and interior, emphasizing its beauty, comfort, and innovative features. A car salesman is then shown speaking to customers and giving a full sales pitch; but then it is revealed that he and the customers are actors on the same soundstage as Shore, and even the background shown is fake -- the result of process photography. This clever trick helps further the narrative. The film provides a detailed description of the car's high-compression Blue Flame engine, highlighting its performance and economy benefits, as well as the new Powerglide transmission. The conclusion, with Shore accompanying singing the famous "Chevrolet song", underscores the overall features and benefits of the 1953 Chevrolet, while showcasing the available models. (Note: at the time this film was made, Shore she starred in a twice-weekly 15-minute musical interlude for Chevrolet on NBC-TV.) 00:00: Intro. 0:37-2:38: On a Hollywood soundstage, a director, soundman and a cameraman are shown ready to film Dinah Shore. The "Quiet Please" lamp lights up, and Shore gets the cue to sing a song. 3:02-3:12: Day speaks to the camera and gives an introduction of the new 1953 Chevrolet, highlighting its beauty and design. 3:12-3:36: Continued admiration of the car's detailed design and aesthetics. 3:36-4:36: A salesman in a showroom gives a detailed description of the new Chevrolet's design features to customer / actors. His descriptions includes comments on the grille, fender lines, and windows. 4:36-6:45: Description of the new Chevrolet's interior design, features, and comfort. Shots of the car out in the real world, driving down highways and past pleasant scenery. 6:45-7:01: Having made a costume change, Dinah Shore returns to the film, and narrates a segment explaining about process photography, while a commercial director puts the cast through their paces. The background behind the car changes as part of the process photography system. 7:01-9:29: Introduction and detailed description of the Chevrolet's new high-compression Blue Flame engine, its performance, and economy benefits. 9:29-10:19: Explanation of the new Powerglide transmission and its drivability benefits. 10:19-10:42: Conclusion highlighting the overall new features and benefits of the 1953 Chevrolet. 10:42-11:30: Musical cue and Dinah Shore starts to sing a famous song, encouraging viewers to "see the USA in your Chevrolet" and highlighting the choice of Chevrolet models.
Transcription
Okay, Dinah. Okay. Take it, babe. It's a most unusual day. Feel like throwing my worries away. As an old lady born Californian would say, it's a most unusual day. There's a most unusual sky. Not a sign of a cloud passing by. And if I want to sing from my heart in the rain, it's a most unusual day. There are people greeting people. There is sunshine everywhere. There are people greeting people and a feeling of spring in the air. It's a most unusual day. I keep feeling my temperature climb. If my heart won't behave in the usual way, well, there's only one thing to say. It's a most unusual day. There's a most unusual sky. Not a sign of a cloud passing by. And if I want to sing from my heart in the rain, it's a most There are people greeting people. There is sunshine everywhere. There are people greeting people and a feeling of spring in the air. It's a most unusual day. I keep feeling my temperature climb. If my heart won't behave in the usual way, well, there's only one thing to say. It's a most unusual, most unusual, most unusual day. Cut. Print it and let's move on to the next set. Hi there. What a wonderful time for you to drop by. You know, they're just setting up to shoot a scene of our new star and I'd love to introduce you before they begin. Honestly, we're all just bursting with excitement about this brilliant new performer. We think this one will not only win every award hands down, but it's just going to win the hearts of people all over the country. Come on now. I want you to meet a great new star. The new 1953 Chevrolet. Isn't that a sight to take your breath away? Wouldn't that new beauty steal any show? I declare it looks a mile long. And see how low it is? And that beautiful, beautiful grill. Every detail is so perfectly designed, I just keep looking and looking at it. And I'll tell you something. You can look at it from every possible angle and you'll still come up with the same answer. It's the best looking car in the whole world. There I go getting carried away again. I could just talk about it all day. Okay, take your positions, kids. Let's get set to roll them. I'll tell you what, I have to make a costume change, so why don't you just stay here and watch them shoot the scene while I get ready for my next one. Okay? I'll see you later. Let's make it action. And as you can see, it's completely new. New from bumper to bumper and so beautiful. The new full width grill, bumper and front end treatment stresses the low road hugging look with new crispness and new big car appearance. And from the side, the airfoil shaped fender lines and wide double molding are all new to accent the length and grace of the beautiful Bel Air Fisher body. The car really is lower, yet there's more room inside. The windows have been redesigned for the maximum usable visibility without sacrifice of strength. The bright extra wide window trim adds to the airy feeling of the new one piece curved windshield and the big wrap around rear window. Both pioneered by General Motors. The trunk, you'll notice, has been newly designed to give you more space, a larger opening and level easier loading. Won't you? Well, thank you. That's an invitation I can't resist. But Jimmy, you don't need to I know, Judy. Just wait. And don't you feel luxurious in that roomy interior? I just can't begin to tell you all the values that will be yours in Chevrolet for 1953. This body by Fisher is all new from frame to hardware. Notice the lustrous sheen of the upholstery. Every detail has been redesigned to give you true luxury styling with more comfort and pleasure. Seems they have just everything you could ever ask for. But dear, what did you mean by You'll find out. The instrument panel has been redesigned so that all of the instruments and controls are together within easy reach and easy view for the driver. And it's more beautiful than ever. The steering wheel sits lower out of the line of vision. More comfortable for short trips or long trips. Notice the steering wheel grip. That's new, too, to fit your hands more comfortably. Even the smallest details had the designer's attention. For instance, the brake pedal is reshaped to fit your foot more comfortably. And on what other car would you find a combination of all these things with such luxury features as this year's front vent and pane control crank, ordinarily found in only the highest priced cars? It just seems they've thought of everything, haven't they? Sure have. But Jimmy, I just don't understand. You will, dear. You will. Okay, cut. Hold your positions. Well, now it didn't take me too long, did it? Are you having fun? All right, let's print that one and get set on the process shot. Oh, you'll enjoy seeing how they do this. All right, places, please, and let's have a test on the scenic background. Process photography is tops in Hollywood's bag of tricks. You see, the cameras are set up so that they photograph the car and the actors and the screen behind them. Now watch. To the cameras, the picture on the screen looks like a real background for the action. Let's make this a take. Camera. Action. I'm sure you know Chevrolet's reputation through the years for outstanding performance and economy. But you'll be amazed when you see how much more performance and how much new economy has been built into this new car. That story starts with Chevrolet's great new high compression Blue Flame engine. And it is all new. Of course, the superiority of the valve-in-head design has been kept. But here is a power plant for your car with the highest compression ratio in Chevrolet history. Made possible by a completely new engine. Here's a completely new power plant to give you a new feeling of power and fast acceleration. Can you imagine getting 115 horsepower and at the same time getting much more economy? And you'll find Chevrolet's leadership with Powerglide, which has been owner proved over billions of driving miles, has been retained in a great new Powerglide with tremendous new performance and economy. Just imagine yourself with a new 1953 Chevrolet. You turn the key in Chevrolet's new key start ignition switch. The choke is automatic. When you shift into drive position, this new Powerglide starts in automatic low. This is a feature to give you more starting acceleration and to make the job of driving even more fully automatic. When you want to pass, you step down on the gas and Powerglide automatically goes smoothly into gear to put all that 115 horsepower engine to work. To worry you by in a burst of speed. At highway speeds, Powerglide instantly provides exactly the right amount of fluid power for all driving conditions. Chevrolet has learned how to harness the Blue Flame engine power for unbelievable acceleration. And at the same time give you incredible economy even in city driving. You'll find a new brake feel on this new car. Smoother, easier operation with pedal effort reduced to a feather touch. Now you can see why I say that it's completely new. Jimmy Jones, I'm not going to wait a moment longer. You know very well we've already made up our minds the 1953 Chevrolet. Yes, Judy, but Mr. Smith and I thought it would be nice for you to find out for yourself all the wonderful things we're getting for our money. Cut. Good take and thank you. Now let's see See plates. Wasn't that And what a wonderful choice Chevrolet is. The choice of more people than any other car. It offers a choice of three series, the glamorous new Bel Air series, the luxurious 210 series, and the beautiful 150 series. Then of course you have the choice of the very finest automatic driving or the finest standard driving. No wonder Chevrolet is first choice all over America. That's good. Dinah, you're on. Oh, okay. Now, aren't you just as excited about our great new star as I am? See the USA in your Chevrolet. America's asking you to call. Drive your Chevrolet through the USA. America's the greatest land of all. On a highway or a road along a levee, performance is sweeter, nothing can beat her. Life is completer in a Chevy. So make a date today to see the USA. See it in your Chevrolet. Traveling east, traveling west, wherever you go Chevy service is best. South or north, near plains or far, there's a Chevrolet dealer for your Chevrolet car. See the USA in your Chevrolet. The Rockies way out west are calling you. Drive your Chevrolet through the USA, where fields of golden wheat pass in review. Whether traveling light or with a load that's heavy, performance is sweeter, nothing can beat her. Life is completer in a Chevy. So make a date today to see the USA and see it in your
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