Dating to 1960 and produced by Owen Murphy Production on behalf of Bell Telephone, “The Conquest of Light” is a film about lasers. Made only three years after Bell Labs created the company’s first “coherent light device”, this film is about the development and potential of laser technology for communication. It explains how scientists have harnessed light waves, specifically coherent light, to create lasers. These lasers can generate a powerful, precisely controlled beam of light, which has numerous applications, including high-capacity communication systems, scientific research, and medical procedures. The film also highlights the historical context of laser development and its future possibilities in various fields. Note: at this stage, the laser was still in its infancy, and its uses were mostly speculative. The laser, or “light amplification by stimulated emission of radiation,” would later be applied to fiber optics, communications, surgery, manufacturing, and even space exploration. The film was written by Marc Siegel, with music by Bernardo Segall, photography by Michael Livesey, art by Ted Lowry, narration by Norman Rose, and directed by Paul Cohen.

0:36 – 1:00 : Introduction to the various types of waves used for communication, including radio, television, and microwaves, and the potential of light waves. 1:00 – 1:30 : Discussion on the magical quality of waves and their use in communication, highlighting the manipulation of invisible waves. 1:30 – 2:00 : Scientists’ challenge in generating and controlling light waves, similar to radio waves, and the interest in coherent light waves. 2:00 – 2:30 : Explanation of coherent light, its properties, and its potential for creating a high-capacity communications system. 2:30 – 3:00 : Comparison between ordinary light and coherent light, emphasizing the need for a constant, coherent flow of light for communication. 3:00 – 3:30 : Introduction to the laser, a device developed at Bell Telephone Laboratories, capable of generating coherent light. 3:30 – 4:00 : Description of different types of lasers and their components, including gas, liquid, and crystal lasers. 4:00 – 4:30 : Process of generating coherent light within a laser, involving the excitation of atoms and the creation of a powerful light beam. 4:30 – 5:00 : Historical context of the laser’s development, mentioning key scientists and the first lasers built in 1960. 5:00 – 5:30 : Focus on the need for continuous coherent light for communication and the development of a continuous laser beam. 5:30 – 6:00 : Introduction of the first continuous coherent light laser, named “Eve,” in February 1961. 6:00 – 6:30 : Description of the unique properties of laser light, including its parallel rays and intense brightness. 6:30 – 7:00 : Exploration of the potential applications of laser light in various fields, such as communication, research, and surgery. 7:00 – 7:30 : Speculation on the future uses of laser light, including mapping the moon and communication in outer space. 7:30 – 9:00 : Conclusion highlighting the laser as a significant achievement in the conquest of light and its endless possibilities for the future.

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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