This documentary film takes a look at the missionary work of Gordon and Laura Smith in Cambodia and Vietnam. Rev. Gordon and Laura Smith arrived in Vietnam in 1929 and stayed there until 1973, when they had to leave due to health problems. Their church remained active, albeit underground, until 1975.

This film, one of several the couple was involved in, gives a rare look at the Smith’s missionary work and the lives of the hill tribespeople. At the time the film was made, the Southeast Asian nations were still French colonies. This film was created by the Christian & Missionary Alliance (:15). The title screen appears at (:29). It was distributed by C. O. Baptista Films (1:06). The missionary alliance took a trip in 1929 to Cambodia (1:34). In 1934 they sought to transcribe the Bible into their two most popular languages (2:26) though they had to leave during the Japanese invasion of 1941. They were able to return to the jungles after the war in 1947. The troupe is shown arriving at Saigon (4:10) for their third term of service. The 23-foot crate containing their plane is lifted from its transport (4:37). It is then seen being set up for use (5:14). They arrive at their destination, the village of Banmethuot (5:53) where some of the indigenous people here are captured on film (5:59). Traditional homes are shown to be raised high above the ground on stilts (6:14). Aerial footage follows taken from the missionaries’ plane (6:27). Rubber, tea and coffee plantations exists throughout the area (7:30) as natives pick away at tea leaves. Gordon inspected the pods containing coffee beans (8:19). Rubber trees cover thousands of square miles here (8:31). A tribe member rides atop an elephant (8:57). A young monkey feeds from a bottle of condensed milk (9:37). A baby gibbon ape climbs through trees (11:15). The same ape is shown a few years later nearly grown and black (11:48). A young rare blue ape follows (12:02). Laura holds a small deer (12:33); the Muntjac. A wild boar is hunted and killed for sustenance (13:08). The Jeep pictured here (13:33) was used by the missionaries to drive into the villages to preach. Wild peacocks rush through the foliage (14:14). The missionaries then ride elephants through the jungles for the remainder of their trip (14:39). Natives make a sacrifice to demons here in religious ceremony (15:36). Cucumber and pumpkin seeds are added on top of the grains (17:16). Men dig holes to receive seeds in the ground (17:30). The seeds are then dropped into the holes (17:54). Natives reside in the field shacks shown here in order to protect their grains (18:31). Another sacrifice is captured here (19:32). The tribal area is under the protection of the French government (20:28) as the village chiefs are seen renewing their oaths of allegiance (20:30). The Chief of State for Vietnam Bao Dai is in attendance for this event (20:50). Head officials receive bracelets for protection from demons (22:13). Gongs are rung out in support of the sacrifice (22:30). Participants atop of elephants near before sacrificed buffalo (23:24). One of the tribe member’s teeth are zoomed in on to point out they have been sawed off (23:37). A young girl gets her teeth sawed down (24:39). An evangelist chapel is shown which had been constructed by locals (26:42). The evangelist and his wife are captured here (27:10). The Banmethout Chapel is depicted at Christmas time full of patrons (27:22). Gifts are bestowed upon the reverend and his wife (27:53). Three new classrooms are shown as an addition to the bible school (28:09). The Evangelique Chapel at Pleiku follows (28:21). Seventy-five tribe members are baptized in a river (29:16). Locals deliver their rice from harvest (32:18). Some of the native workers are zoomed in on (33:18) as the film wraps up.

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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