HOME MOVIES: 1930s

Genre: home movie

Year Published: 1930s

Format: 16mm

Description: Shot by an unknown American family, this black-and-white 16mm home movie chronicles a family’s gathering at their home in perhaps Woodcliff, New Jersey as well as some of their vacation at the famous Villa d’Este along Lake Como in Italy. While the film has no credits, it was likely made during the early 1930s based on the fashion and automobiles that are seen in the footage and is the first part of a multi-part travelog film chronicling the same family’s vacation around Europe and the Holy Land. This film consists of beautiful shots around Italy’s Lake Como, the grounds of Villa d’Este, and typical 1930s men's and women's fashion. The other films in this series, shot by the same family, can be seen at:     • 1930s HOME MOVIES   WOODCLIFF, NEW JE...   (XD65474)     • 1930s HOME MOVIES  TRIP TO LAKE COMO,...   (XD65454)     • 1930S B&W HOME MOVIE   TRIP TO EUROPE...   (XD65424)     • 1930S B&W HOME MOVIE   TRIP TO FRANCE...   (XD65414)     • 1930S HOME MOVIES   TRIP TO BUDAPEST,...   (XD65434)     • 1930s HOME MOVIE   TRIP TO ROCK OF GI...   (XD65404)     • 1930s HOME MOVIE  TRIP TO MEDITERRANE...   (XD65504) Group of adults gathers in backyard dressed in a combination of typical 1930s mens and women's fashion as well as a few costume looks (man wearing turban made from a towel, woman in men’s trousers); The group jumps double dutch rope before transitioning to performing silly stunts (kissing in a bush, swinging a make-shift golf club) and breaking out into a conga line (0:13). One man sings and plays ukulele serenading a woman who peeks her head out of second floor windows before she comes out of house to throw the performer a rose (3:25). Same man continues his performance this time picking up a broom to act as a pretend guitar, same woman steps out onto balcony and throws another rose (4:00). Teenage girl in pinafore dress with large collar performs a little dance (4:26). Group assembles for group photo on stares of perhaps Tudor-style brownstone with striped awning (5:20). Woman walks towards lake in simple perhaps linen jumpsuit and undresses to reveal 1930s-era swimsuit before getting in lake and swimming around with husband and kids (6:05). Perhaps Italian Baroque-style exterior; Villa d’Este and gardens (7:26). Camera pans Lake Como (7:42). Family attempts to play tennis on hotel tennis courts (7:48). Ivy sprawls up sides of gazebo on the lake front, various recreational boats perhaps reserved for hotel guests bob in the lake; Guests dive into the lake from diving board (8:27). Other views of the Villa d’Este estate and gardens (8:48). Woman in evening dress walks up and down the garden stairs to display outfit for the camera (9:10). Scenery abruptly changes back to perhaps Woodcliff, New Jersey home of family from earlier in the film this time donned in winter fur jackets heading out to car (9:42). Young woman poses with family cat and playfully places it on hood of car perhaps Ford 1931 Model A (9:48). Wedding party: Bride and groom wear tuxedo and woman in 1930s dress holding bouquet of flowers; Stand beside other family members in backyard wearing typical 1930s formal wear including fur jackets (10:15). After brief pause in footage image returns with group standing along perhaps Woodcliff Lake Park in New Jersey, playfully posing for photos and perform for camera in tall field of shrubs (11:48). Row of 1930s-era automobiles (Appear to be Ford Model A) parked along street in front of church (2:50). Film ends (13:00).

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