HOME MOVIES: 1930’s SILENT

Genre: home movie

Year Published: 1930s

Format: 16mm

Description: Shot by an unknown traveler in the 1930s, this fascinating 16mm silent home movie shows a ship’s transit through the Suez Canal and then across the Mediterranean to Naples, and then has a brief bit at the end shot in London. It likely dates to 1935 based on the presence of a neon sign for a movie released in that year "False Faces" at the (11:49) mark. The person who filmed this was apparently a passenger on an Italian Line ocean liner, but it's not clear what the name of the vessel he or she sailed on. The film opens with footage of dolphins or porpoises diving in and out of the water’s surface as they move alongside the ship (:09). At (:33) a felucca, a traditional wooden sailing boat used in the eastern Mediterranean, is seen. Its rig consists of one or two lateen sails. At (:40), the Suez Canal Defense Monument at Ismalia, Egypt is seen. This monument was designed by the French, is 50 meters high and was erected to commemorate the defense of the Canal Zone from the Turkish Army in WWI. At (1;08) another felucca is seen. As the ship moves through the Canal, modern buildings that appear to be homes are visible (1:20) as well as more primitive shacks and bedouin tents (2:00). At (2:15) a singled stack vessel the Prometheus hoves into view. This is apparently an oil tanker built in 1923 and scrapped in 1949 that operated for Esso out of Hamburg. The town of Port Said (3:17) is shown along with the huge Suez Canal Company building. An Egyptian swims through the waters of the Canal, probably hoping a tourist will drop him a coin (3:37) followed by footage of a large two stack ocean liner in port (3:48). Within the town’s streets, pedestrians walk under a sign for Simon Artz (4:01). Established by a Jewish merchant, this was the most famous and exclusive department store in Port Said, and arguably Egypt. As the ship continues to move down the Canal a billboard for Amstel Beer is seen (4:15) as well as one for Nestles at (4:19), and a (4:22) the Simon Artz building. A floating dock is viewed nearby with small boats (4:37). It's not precisely clear what is shown next, although it appears to be the unloading of some sort of mineral cargo into barges. Workers dig up the muddy material (4:53) and carry it in baskets over their heads (5:28). Cargo including bales of Egyptian cotton is seen lifted from the ship to the port grounds (5:33). A radio antenna at the port towers over the town (5:42). At (6:11) another oil tanker is shown, smoke belching from its stack. Sail boats and merchant ships move through the Canal including the oil tanker Everhope, later known the SS Anke (6:34). Passengers are shown recreating on the ship's deck, tossing a ring back and forth (6:40). Passengers put on life jackets and a small boat is lowered from the side of a ship (6:46) probably as part of an abandon ship drill. Another oil tanker comes past. A tall structure rises behind a ship at (7:30) which appears to be the Molo San Vincenzo lighthouse at Naples. Passengers debark at a terminal for the Compagnia Italiana Turismo (Italian travel agency) (8:14). At (8:50) a two stack ocean liner is shown but it's not easy to identify. (Possibly SS Conte Grande, SS Conte di Savoia, SS Rex or SS Conte Rosso). Shots of the Italian coastline including the looming Mt. Vesuvius (9:06). At (10:41) fishing vessels are seen at anchor. This section of the film may show Dover (note the white cliffs at 10:48). The port area of the city (11:02). Within the city of London streets, buses and trolley cars drive through (11:06). The film switches to night footage in London's Piccadilly Circus with blaring neon lights advertising Schweppes Tonic Water (11:16) and Haig Whiskey (11:46). The London Pavilion building is seen (11:47) advertising a film called ‘False Faces’ staring Bruce Cabot which had only been known under this title in the United Kingdom and in Australia. In the US the film was known as ‘Let Em Have It" and it was released in 1935. The film begins to wrap up with other neon advertisements including one for Essolube motor oil (11:58) and Royal Ediswan Lamps. The Suez Canal is the man-made waterway in Egypt which connects the Mediterranean Sea with the Red Sea. It is considered the border between Africa and Asia and was built by the Suez Canal Company. The canal officially opened on November 17th, 1869.

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