How to get along in France (AFIF no. 40) is a 1953 Armed Forces Information film used to educate U.S. servicemen about to be stationed in France on French people, politics, customs, social and family life. The film opens with a shot of the Statue of Liberty (00:24), followed by a shot of New York City from across the harbor (00:33). Soldiers board a ship (00:55) as the narrator discusses the threat of communism and the Soviet Union to the “free world.” NATO troops march at headquarters just outside Paris (02:13). The film shows iconic landmarks in and around Paris (03:00), including the Eiffel Tower, the Arc de Triomphe, and Roman ruins (03:30). There are also shots of people relaxing at cafes and on the beach along the French Riviera (03:40). People harvest grapes in a vineyard (03:54). Then there are portrait shots of French people from various regions of the country. Two U.S. servicemen walk down a street in France (04:48). The film discusses French politics and government, and it shows footage of France’s parliament in session (05:28) as well as a communist demonstration (06:37). The film then shows scenes from the two World Wars, including men running across a field during WWI (07:08), and tanks driving through the rubble of a town during WWII (07:20). Nazi soldiers march in France (08:09), but so do French resistance fighters (08:38). The film discusses the influence of communism in France while showing footage of U.S. soldiers arriving in France during WWII where they are cheered on by French people (09:00); this is contrasted with footage of soldiers of the Red Army fighting in urban areas as they move east (09:23). There are several scenes of the destruction caused by WWII, which are followed by footage of U.S. food aid being loaded off a ship (10:44) as part of the efforts to rebuild France. French children watch a massive truck move down a street (11:23). Then the film moves to the French family, showing a typical working-class family sitting around the table having dinner (12:38). At a French market a woman looks at flowers and produce (13:37). A man walks down the street to a café to meet with friends (14:47). The film shows a rural road with cattle-drawn cart and fields of grain being harvested (15:32). A farmer walks a small power tractor down a dirt road (16:05). There are more shots of rural France, including a church atop a hill (16:38), streets of a rural village; and a rural family sitting down for dinner. The film concludes with a few shots of cathedrals and churches (19:28).
We encourage viewers to add comments and, especially, to provide additional information about our videos by adding a comment! See something interesting? Tell people what it is and what they can see by writing something for example: “01:00:12:00 — President Roosevelt is seen meeting with Winston Churchill at the Quebec Conference.”
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
