Switzerland: Life in a Mountain Village
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A color faded Encyclopedia Britannica film about a family in the small Swiss town Evolene, in the canton of Valais at the foot of the Alps. Follows family members as they go about their lives, in school and at home as well as continuing the traditions of their village such as cheesemaking, building chalets and getting married.
Credits
Fred Strauss (producer); Encyclopaedia Britannica (contributor); Fred Strauss (contributor); Clarence W. Sorensen (participant)
Complete catalog record
Cfa collection: Margaret Conneely Collection
Distributed by: Encyclopaedia Britannica
Subjects: City and town life; Europe; Manners and customs
Places: Europe > Switzerland
Language: English
Shot log: 00:00 - Credits. Narrator explains how the snow in Switzerland leads to a spring melt that gives the country power for industry. Visuals show var. snow covered scenery, examples of resevoirs, dams, trains and roads.; 02:02 - Roads enable tourists to reach the small alpine town of Evolene. Narrator gives an overview of the everyday lives of his family. Visuals show var. views of the town with the church and chalets, a one room schoolhouse, housework, carpentry, spinning yarn, the general store, traditional weaving, homework.; 06:00 - When the snows melt the cows are led to pasture. Visuals are var. cows wearing bells, on the road and grazing in the pastures. More chores include gathering wood, reaping hay with a scythe, var. crops and gardens, milking cows and making cheese.; 10:38-13:21 - It is a wedding day. Follows the woman as she is dressed in her traditional head cap, the choir in the church, the ceremony and the feast. More var. views of the town and mountains.
Cfa elements: Print, 480 feet
Cfa records: https://collections.chicagofilmarchives.org/Detail/objects/2632
Distributed by: Encyclopaedia Britannica
Subjects: City and town life; Europe; Manners and customs
Places: Europe > Switzerland
Language: English
Shot log: 00:00 - Credits. Narrator explains how the snow in Switzerland leads to a spring melt that gives the country power for industry. Visuals show var. snow covered scenery, examples of resevoirs, dams, trains and roads.; 02:02 - Roads enable tourists to reach the small alpine town of Evolene. Narrator gives an overview of the everyday lives of his family. Visuals show var. views of the town with the church and chalets, a one room schoolhouse, housework, carpentry, spinning yarn, the general store, traditional weaving, homework.; 06:00 - When the snows melt the cows are led to pasture. Visuals are var. cows wearing bells, on the road and grazing in the pastures. More chores include gathering wood, reaping hay with a scythe, var. crops and gardens, milking cows and making cheese.; 10:38-13:21 - It is a wedding day. Follows the woman as she is dressed in her traditional head cap, the choir in the church, the ceremony and the feast. More var. views of the town and mountains.
Cfa elements: Print, 480 feet
Cfa records: https://collections.chicagofilmarchives.org/Detail/objects/2632
Sources
- Chicago Film Archives · record ↗ — title, year, creator, length, format, color, sound, genre, description, credits, catalog record
Record added 2026-11-08 21:25:06