Sport Parade: Water Sports

Series: Sport parade

Year Published: 1940

Creator: Castle Films

Description: Dating to 1940, "Water Sports" was released by Catle Films as part of "The Sport Parade" series. 0:00-1:19: Main titles. The film begins with the grace and thrill of sailing yachts , showcasing large America's Cup yacht race defenders like the Ranger or the Endeavor breaking out enormous balloon spinnakers in competitive races. It notes that the thrill of sailboat racing isn't just for professionals, suggesting that small Rainbow or Star class boats offer more fun, and that more girls are taking up sailing . 1:19-1:40: Women's Athletics and Rowing / Crew. Modern girls are more athletic than in the past. It showcases the strength required for rowing, calling it a great sport and "a great exercise for reducing" . 1:40-2:05: Speedboats and Outboards. This water sport offers "zip and dash." Speedboats and outboards have been known to hit over 60 MPH , with motors roaring as "fearless, reckless" daredevils ride the waves and hit curves at breakneck speed. 2:05-3:16: Aquaplaning/Water Skiing. Aquaplaning, once exclusive to Waikiki, is now universal. It's a thrilling sport that requires a lot of practice and absolute balance . The film shows three men stunting (even upside down), and girls riding piggyback on an aquaplane, noting that the faster they go, the greater the thrill. 3:17-3:40: Dog Aquaplaning. A novel stunt shows a girl first taking her dog out to build confidence, followed by the dog making a solo flight on the board, demonstrating instinctive balance. 3:40-4:12: Fishing. A brief, comedic segment shows a "Fisherman's Paradise" where fish are so abundant that they are easily caught, with some fish even jumping right into the boat (attributed to a trick camera). 4:13-4:31: Rough Water Sport/Medicine Ball. A "rough water sport" is showcased by throwing a great big medicine ball into a swimming pool with about 100 people, resulting in a chaotic and fun scene. 4:31-5:03: Nostalgia/Forbidden Swim. The film shifts to nostalgic memories of sneaking a swim at the "Forbidden water hole" with childhood friends like Skinny, Red, Fatty, and Dopey. 5:03-6:03: Diving. Expert divers demonstrate perfect form, emphasizing that the less splash the better the dive . Diving requires timing, stance, balance, and perfect control of every muscle . Olympic champions practice for years. 6:03-7:09: Backstroke and Formation Swimming. Backstroke swimming is a comparatively recent addition to competitive water sports. Girls demonstrate perfect backstroke technique with grace and rhythm. The segment culminates in a demonstration of formation swimming (like "living statues"), including making an "animated snowflake" and a star formation ("real Hollywood stuff"). 7:09-7:30: Homemade Water Rodeo. A "homemade rodeo" is suggested as a fun stunt: suspending a mattress (the horse's body) and a pillow/broom (head/tail) across the water to create a bucking bronco experience, complete with a good ducking. 7:30-8:43: Underwater Exploration. The film shifts to looking underwater. Girls on a glass-bottom boat investigate, only to find a shy turtle. Underwater sequences shot at Cypress Gardens in Florida, of women swimming underwater. The segment ends with the girls using "nature's beauty parlor" underwater -- getting their hair done in the depths. The End.

Online Copy: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=RAHzMPYK0bk

Metadata Source:YouTube