SCENES FROM GERMANY

Year Published: 1950’

Format: 16mm

Description: This film, narrated in German, shows a brief tour of Germany in the mid 1950’s. It was presented by the Int'l Film Bureau (:09) and narrated by Meno Spann (:22) from the German Department NW University. The US Embassy building (:39), known as the Diechmannsaue Castle opens the film. US President Eisenhower visits the country in August of 1959 (:48) as German’s welcome his arrival (:57). Police on motorcycles escort the American president through town (1:20). The troupe arrives at the Villa Hammerschmidt in Bonn which had served as the primary residency of the President of the Federal Republic of Germany from 1950 to 1994 (1:43). Here he meets with government officials including the German President of the time, Theodor Heuss (1:51). Areas in the Rhineland; a strip of land which borders France, Belgium and the Netherlands, are looked at (2:05). Steamer boats and large cargo vessels move through the Rhine River (2:26). Some notorious castles are viewed along the waters including the Rheinstein Castle (2:34) and the Pfalzgrafenstien Castle (2:38). Expanses of farmland and vineyards are visited (2:49). The film then takes viewers to one of the oldest wine fests in Germany, located in Winningen (3:35). A swan float moves down the downtown area of the city (4:01) with paraders atop dressed as bottles of alcohol. A play is enacted for tourists and locals alike (4:18). Large wine barrels are rolled over the streets (5:01). One of the pedestrians holds a sign noting a brewer called Durkheimer Weinguter (5:13). The German orchestra performs for civilians (5:22). Locals are seen dancing in festive attire (5:35) and test tasting the spirits (6:02). The industrial area of the Rhineland is looked at next (6:09) as molten metals spew from furnaces (7:03). In the agricultural area of the country, oxen move through hay fields (7:09). This hay is later harvest and set into carts for use (7:38). Quaint German farmhouses sit with elegant flower gardens in their front yards (7:56). Children of the area attend the ‘little red schoolhouse’ (8:40). Artisan works are shown including the hand painting of a vase (10:04) and plates (10:35) in the area’s commercial area. Festivities include colorfully dressed civilians (11:03) and one man playing an accordion (11:58). An automobile factory is visited (13:03). The film begins to wrap up with shots of completed automobiles moving down a large conveyor belt (13:48). The end. (13:48).

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