This black and white promotional film, produced for Pontiac dealers by the Jam Handy Corporation, opens with a title card featuring the stylized profile emblem of Ottawa Chief Pontiac (Obwondiyag) (00:09). It introduces the 1956 Pontiac Strato-Streak V8 sedan (00:23) with a series of still shots, transitioning to show the car in motion (00:40) and the view through the windshield, with the driver’s face reflected in the rear-view mirror (00:47). There is a wide panning shot of a bi-level parking lot filled with cars (01:03). A Catalina Sedan is shown pulling into a parking space; the man driving gets out and opens the passenger door to let out a female rider while two children step out of the rear door (01:24).

A series of demonstrations show the Strato-Streak’s improved horsepower and performance. Two men driving a Star Chief convertible coupe with a camera mounted on the hood pull to a stop on a test track (01:56). One of the men gets out of the car and adjusts the camera to point toward markings on the pavement, then returns to the passenger seat and takes out a notepad and pencil as the driver accelerates away (02:30). Musical tones play in concert with the pavement markings as the pass under the camera’s eye, providing “eye and ear proof of Pontiac’s singing power for lightning getaways” (02:41). A second iteration of this “two-way test” combines pavement markings and musical tones to illustrate the Pontiac’s acceleration as it passes a slower-moving truck, shown from behind (02:56).

Shots of a Catalina sedan on the open road follow (03:14). An overhead view of the hood dissolves to show the V-8 engine, seen from above and in profile as the Strato-Streak’s innovative features are enumerated: pressure-suction crank case ventilation, reverse-flow gusher-valve cooling, and quad-gallery full pressure lubrication. (03:40) There is a cutaway view of the ball-pivot valve train (04:06); a pan shot of the reinforced engine block (04:15), and a spinning view of (04:20) of the carburetion system, followed by a close-up of the piston cutaway (04:32).

A Star Chief Convertible cruises on a banked track (04:46). Close-ups of the Hydra-Matic transmission indicators (04:54) are followed by a diagram comparing the old synchromesh transmission with clutch pedal and manual gear-shift with the smoother drive of the Hydra-Matic, and the even more effortless drive of the new Strato-Flight Hydra-Matic transmission

(05:38). The newly added Park gear position is explained (06:44).

A woman with short, dark hair drives a Catalina model (07:11), followed by a shot of rough, patched pavement (07:19). A Catalina coupe is shown driving on a dirt road (07:44); starting at 07:56, the shot is masked above and below the wheels to shows the suspension absorbing the bumps in the road, leaving the passenger cabin almost motionless. A spiral grooved aperture frames the Pontiac emblem on the rear of the car, emphasizing the drive “as straight and smooth as a rifle barrel” as the car pulls away (08:21).

Luxury features of the 1956 models are demonstrated, starting with the Pontiac head power steering emblem (09:14). Close-ups from the driver’s side show the steering wheel (09:36), then the driver’s feet on the pedals to show the ease of power braking (09:44).

A woman’s hand operates the fingertip controls of the power seat adjustments and power windows (09:53). The radio antenna automatically extends (10:15) and the Deluxe Electromatic signal-seeking radio is shown (10:18).

Interior trim options are shown with a view of the rear seat of a Catalina sedan (10:49). Genuine leather in distinctive color combinations, coated fabrics and gleaming metallic cloth are illustrated (11:06), and a Star Chief Convertible Coupe’s “glamorous, yet durable Morrokide” interior is shown (11:33). Additional close-ups detail the instrument panel and interior hardware (11:41).

A woman drives a Star Chief Convertible Coupe with the top down (11:52). A Catalina coupe drives on the open highway (12:15). The family shown at 01:24 returns to their parked Catalina sedan (12:25). Narrator extols the qualities of Pontiac cars and emphasizes that the discerning customer can “see for yourself” all the things they want in the 1956 Pontiac models.

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