This color travelogue film shows a voyage down Colombia’s Magdalena River. Copyright 1958.

Opening: Universal International presents DOWN THE MAGDALENA (:07-:36). The Magdalena River is the principal river of Colombia, flowing northward about 1,528 kilometres through the western half of the country. It takes its name from the biblical figure Mary Magdalene. Steamship Atlantico on the river. A crewman uses binoculars while another man uses a stick to help row. Tourists on the boat look as they sail. Shops and buildings seen off the banks of the river as the ship goes. The ship stops at Puerto Berrío, Columbia, a municipality and town in the Colombian department of Antioquia. Men work and pack up bags to have a crane take. Tourists look around. The Atlantico continues on. Barrancabermeja is visited next (:37-2:40). 1600 producing oil wells in Barrancabermeja. Cattle. A railroad is being built. Men lay the rails. An airstrip. A plane takes off and crop dusts. The pilot carefully crop dusts hills and fields. Cotton grows in the field (2:41- 4:25). Coffee beans. Men rake coffee beans. A group of cars on a barge goes down the Magdalena River. Buildings seen off the banks. Cartagena is a port city on Colombia’s Caribbean coast. By the sea is the walled Old Town, founded in the 16th century, with squares, cobblestone streets and colorful colonial buildings. Boats in the canal. People walk the streets. A pair of two enormous boots in bronze are placed in honor of a poet from Cartagena, Luis Carlos Lopez, famous poet (4:26-6:11). Salt flats along the coast. People dump salt bags. Hands play with salt. Lots of people work in the salt flats. Indians who work there put black on their faces to help against the sun and the reflections from it. The Atlantico Steamship continues on the river. Ship pulls into Barranquilla, the capital of Colombia’s Atlántico Department. It’s a bustling seaport flanked by the Magdalena River. The city is known for its enormous Carnival, which brings together flamboyantly costumed performers, elaborate floats and cumbia music. A man carries a sewing machine (6:12-8:03). Old section and the new residential section. New homes. People walk through the city, it’s fiesta time. A costumed man, other people wear costumes. The day is called “The Battle of the Flowers.” People are dressed as monkeys, skeletons, natives, etc. People wear giant flower hats. Steamship continues on the Magdalena. Sun sets (8:04-9:36). End credits (9:37-9:40).