“Old Mexico: Picturesque-Quaint” is an uncredited, silent, color amateur travelog-style home movie that likely dates to the late 1940s and takes the viewer on a tour of Mexico. The footage begins at Laredo–Nuevo Laredo, which is one of six transborder agglomerations along the U.S.-Mexican border. The film then goes on to feature shots from rural villages and towns along the Pan American Highway towards Mexico City. The Pan American Highway was built in stages. The first, not long after one could drive across the United States on a paved road, was the highway from Laredo, Texas, to Mexico City.

Film opens, amateur illustrated map of Southern Texas Mexico highlighting Laredo, Mexico City; Features text that reads “Old Mexico: Picturesque-Quaint” (0:07). Road sign for Laredo City Limits (0:16). Views of Laredo skyline from International Bridge between Laredo, TX & Nuevo Laredo, Mexico (0:18). Metal plaque denoting boundary of the United States (0:29). Crossing the Rio Grande – views of water below bridge (0:31). Customs at Nuevo Laredo: 1939 Plymouth Deluxe 4-Door Sedan, border agents lean against counters (0:38). Station for disinfection/ medical examination for people with “hoof-and-mouth disease” – women one by one walk through patch of mud, Plymouth drives through flooded roadway (0:56). Montage shots of wild cacti varieties growing in Mexican desert: Yucca brevifolia/ Joshua tree, ball cactus, nopales, cactus blooms/ wild flowers (1:18). Views along road weaving through mountains, herd of goats graze on grassy stretch of mountain (3:03). Corral for goats and cattle constructed out of wood, other found materials (3:42). Detour to Saltillo: Views of Zapalinamé Mountains towering over desert landscape (3:56). Street scenes life around city of Saltillo, street vendors, horse-drawn carts, row of colorful single-story buildings (4:15). Hotel Regina Courts in Monterrey, Mexico – compound made up of Spanish Colonial architecture buildings/ apartments (4:43). Montage scenes from around Monterrey: Busy city streets, vendors sell fruit from carts; Rural area of ox-pulled carts on farm (5:00). Land known for orange orchards from Altamira to Montemorelos, agricultural workers load truck with oranges (5:34). Adobe house in middle of scenic farm land in Dona Eligia (6:08). Special palm/straw thatching technique used on roofs of above homes (6:20). Picturesque landscape from Linares to Ciudad Victoria; Women in local village pose for camera while holding children (6:35). Group of tourist sit on white plastered bench with decorative mosaic tiles in Valles (7:18). Various wild bird species, oriole nests hang from trees, vultures eye camera (7:33). Sign for small town Hualahuises (located in Nuevo León), montage scenes of village life, donkeys graze in grass (8:10). Tropical town of Tamazunchale, lush green landscapes frame town road where vendors sell plantains, other goods (8:38). Father and son walk along desolate road carrying hand-woven baskets on their backs (9:40). Scenes of life in Chapulhuacán – Spanish colonial style church, villagers, local butcher (10:00). Corn “maize” farms of indigenous population line steep mountainous terrain (10:31). Fruit stand in rural area selling bananas, oranges, pineapples (10:54). Views of Jacala from 1,100 ft. above (11:42). Pigs on farm with forked stick around necks (12:27). Various flora and fauna found in mountainous region (12:56). Portraits of local population seen posing for camera long road, with farm tools, (13:20). Otomi Indian couple plant beans, use ox-pulled cart to till the land (13:32). Maguey/ Agave plants – used to make tequila, fibers for cloth, other products; Montage shots of agricultural workers, ox, donkeys, women and men carrying woven baskets on backs (14:01). Monumento de Buena Amistad “Friendly Relations” erected by American Colony in Mexico City 1936 (15:05). Augustinian Convent of San Nicolás de Tolentino in Actopan (famous for black and white frescoes): Various shots facade of convent (15:20). Views of snow-capped Popocatépetl and Iztaccihuatl Volcanoes from Pan American Highway (15:41). Closing text with proverbial quote linked to Neill James, Anita Brenner (16:08). Film ends (16:15).

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This film is part of the Periscope Film LLC archive, one of the largest historic military, transportation, and aviation stock footage collections in the USA. Entirely film backed, this material is available for licensing in 24p HD and 2k. For more information visit http://www.PeriscopeFilm.com