Opening on the New York skyline and the United Nations Headquarters building constructed in 1950, this documentary short film honors the U.N.’s landmark as a “workshop for peace”. Produced by the United Nations Department of Public Information in the late 1950s as part of a broader series, this film footage takes viewers on a tour through the United Nations Headquarters in New York City. Near panoramic and bird’s eye view footage of the historically significant building continues as flags and other symbols are depicted and visitors are shown walking throughout to listen to the debates within (01:00-02:25). Features like the ceiling pendulum and other statues are viewed in awe by passersby. The General Assembly hall is shown at 03:00 as the narrator explains its use by delegate countries. Equipment, namecards, and seating is double-checked by the facility staff. Soviet Union representative Andrei Gromyko is shown being filmed speaking in front of the assembly while record-keepers take note behind the scenes (05:19-06:05). Mr. Gromyko was appointed Permanent Representative of the Soviet Union to the United Nations in April of 1946. News correspondents also work behind the scenes at the UN headquarters in order to document proceedings and share them with the world. The history of the building’s architecture and its visitors is explained (07:25-09:00). A scene in which emissaries from British Togoland speak to the U.N. council is depicted, resulting in Ghana’s membership being accepted into the United Nations (09:23-11:20). The visitor tour continues to the Chamber of the Economic and Social Council at 11:24. However, some portions of the headquarters, like the Secretariat, are not part of the visitor tour as the narrator explains at 15:30. The United Nations’ Children Fund, or UNICEF, international meetings, and a call to Geneva from within the U.N. building, are among the many crucial communications that take place inside (18:55-19:46). Key events in history have their beginnings inside the U.N. chambers. For example, the U.N. helped to bring self-government to Libya and independence to Indonesia (20:36-23:30). The film closes on a night time view of the historic building followed by the U.N. symbol at 24:05.
The United Nations is headquartered in New York City in a complex designed by a board of architects led by Wallace Harrison and built by the architectural firm Harrison & Abramovitz. The complex has served as the official headquarters of the United Nations since its completion in 1951. It is in the Turtle Bay neighborhood of Manhattan. The term “Turtle Bay” is occasionally used as a metonym for the UN headquarters or for the United Nations as a whole.
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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
