This silent, color, home movie chronicles the filmmaker’s travels around Paris and journey by passenger ship on the Cunard White Star RMS Queen Elizabeth to New York City. Shot in 1949, just a few years after the end of World War II, the film features footage of iconic sites across Paris, such as the Grand Palais, Panthéon, and Eiffel Tower, in addition to the Western suburb of Versailles, home to the former royal residence of Queen Marie Antoinette and the “Sun King,” King Louis XIV. The film culminates in New York City Harbor at Cunard White Star Line’s dock at Pier 90 after a journey across the Atlantic on the RMS Queen Elizabeth.
Film opens, grounds of Palace of Versailles – Le Petit Trianon (0:08). Queen’s Hamlet (private meeting place for Queen Marie Antoinette and friends) (0:11). View of Pont d’Léna along Seine and Eiffel Tower (0:23). Place de Varsovie, Le Palais de Chaillot (0:41). Pedestrians walk on either side while milk delivery struck, other automobiles cross over Pont d’Léna towards Eiffel Tower (0:55). Close-up of elevator ascending up Eiffel Tower (0:59). Champ de Mars, green open space beyond Eiffel Tower (1:17). Close-up iron details of Eiffel Tower (1:22). Aerial view from Eiffel Tower of The Palais de Chaillot and the Trocadero (1:32). Camera pans city skyline, views of Montmartre, The Grand Palais, Panthéon (1:40). View of Seine and city while riding in elevator to top of Eiffel Tower (2:26). Aerial view of Champ de Mars gardens from tower, pedestrians below look like ants (2:36). Aerial view of banks of River Seine as seen from tower (2:45). Pedestrian traffic in front of Hotel Ambassador (today Paris Marriott Opera Ambassador Hotel); Group of what appear to be Moroccan men in traditional Djellabas and Fez hats stand in front of hotel (3:01). Le Pont Neuf (3:15). Women pursue selection at some of the bouquinistes along Seine (well-known part of Parisian cultural, selling books on banks of Seine since mid-1500s) (3:18). Man sits slumped on stairs while smoking cigarette (3:27). Couple illuminated by sun walk along sidewalk while carrying fresh baguettes (3:33). Various shots of Jardin du Luxembourg; Close-ups colorful floral blooms (3:35). Luxembourg Palace (4:10). More footage of the manicured gardens, sculptures, colorful flowers (4:36). Pedestrians walk up tree-lined Champs-Élysées towards Arc de Triomphe (5:29). Officer directs traffic along the busy Champs-Élysées (vehicles i.e. 1939 Volkswagen), Arc de Triomphe in background (5:34). Sequence shots showing details of Arc de Triomphe structure – four sculptural groups at the base: The Triumph of 1810 (by Cortot), Resistance and Peace (both by Antoine Étex), and the Departure of the Volunteers/ La Marseillaise of 1792 (by François Rude) (5:51). Woman wearing pink jacket and gray skirt leans against rail on upper deck of RMS Queen Elizabeth, takes in views (6:35). Same woman poses next to life preserve that says RMS Queen Elizabeth (6:53). Views of vast ocean out of porthole below deck (6:58). Crowd of passengers on upper deck as they approach port in New York City (7:22). Approaching New York City harbor, skyline of skyscrapers begins to appear on horizon (7:27). Approaching Statue of Liberty (8:03). Commercial cargo ship passes RMS Queen Elizabeth in harbor (8:13). Ellis Island in distance (8:29). Views of Lower Manhattan skyscrapers from deck of ship, Manhattan Bridge and Brooklyn Bridge stretching across East River to Brooklyn (8:35). Dock of United Fruit Company (9:03). Empire State Building (9:20). Young woman poses for portrait on ship (9:26). Two tug boats work to tow ship into harbor (9:42). Cunard White Star Line dock at Pier 90 (10:13). Passengers crowd together as they wait for luggage to come off ship (10:17). Film ends (10:44).
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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