“The Rock of Gibraltar” is a Frith Films presentation that takes its viewer to the British limestone promontory near the coast of Spain. The 1950s film opens with color images of the monolith as the narrator discusses some of its history and mazes of tunnels. At mark 00:53 we learn of the Rock’s importance in World War II and the North African campaign, having once housed the headquarters of General Dwight D. Eisenhower. Much of the Rock is taken up by military barracks and arsenals, we’re told starting at mark 01:35, though the area is also a popular tourist destination with a hotel and some residential properties, as well as a grammar school and high school. We see King’s Bastion at mark 03:45 and the governor’s house while also catching views of the various shops and businesses selling items with British, Spanish, North African, French, Arabic, and Indian influences. The film shows the viewer glimpses of the “entertainment district” and parks (mark 05:50), many of which are designed to honor the Rock’s role in history. Mark 06:30 shows some of the sandy beaches available for tourists, residents, and military personnel, followed by scenes of a Moorish castle constructed circa 711 and the Barbary macaque population the inhabits the island (the only wild monkey population in the European continent). After watching a soccer game between teams from Gibraltar and Spain starting at mark 07:50 the film shows a few ceremonial events including the “changing of the keys to the gates” beginning at mark 09:15 before a few final scenes of the Rock of Gibraltar as seen from the sea.
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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, 2k and 4k. For more information visit http://www.PeriscopeFilm.com
