Narrated by Westbrook Van Voorhis, “Castro-Cuba and Communism: Danger on Our Doorstep” (1960) is a black-and-white anti-communist documentary film depicting the Cuban Revolution from its beginnings in the early 1950s to the early days of Castro’s Cuba. Split into two parts, this particular film is part 1 and focuses on Cuba under the autocratic government of Fulgencio Batista and the early days of the Cuban Revolution including the training and expansion of the 26th July Movement and the encampment at Sierra Maestra.

Film opens (0:07). Fidel Castro holding assault rifle (0:25). Hotel Nacional de Cuba (1:01). El Capitolio (The Capitol) (1:04). Fruit vendor walks through city (1:06). Sugar cane field (1:08). Patrons gamble at casino (1:27). Guantánamo Bay, Leeward Point Field (Leeward Airfield) (1:39). 1952 Cuban coup d’état “Batistazo:” Fulgencio Batista leads Cuban Constitutional Army to take over Camp Columbia garrison, Presidential Palace (2:01). Rafael Salas Cañizares takes over police force (2:52). Tanks, cars (1951 Plymouth Cambridge) in Havana (3:21). President Carlos Prío Socarrás meets with officials (3:29). Batista greets public (3:41). Cuban Constitution (4:07). Prío Socarrás seeks refuge in Mexican Embassy (4:12). Batista meets with first cabinet (4:35). University students stage mock burial of Cuban Constitution, funeral procession to tomb of Eduardo Chibás (4:48). José Antonio Echeverría leads rally of students (5:14). Student-led street demonstrations, police violence to quell protest (5:40). Student protestor killed; Bust of Batista carried to CMQ (Cuba) radio station, hung in effigy (6:03). Opposition leader Pelayo Cuervo Navarro defends students (7:03). Students rounded up in buses (Eskasoni 1940s school bus), taken to “trial” (7:20). Media censorship under Batista’s government (7:48). 26th of July Movement: Castro and revolutionary troops attack Moncada Barracks in Santiago de Cuba; Men die in battle and Castro flees (8:18). Batista’s troops pick through uniforms of revolutionaries killed in attack (9:07). Brigadier General Alberto del Rio Chaviano (9:20). Joaquin Castillo Duany Military Hospital (9:32). Manhunt for Castro, eventual surrender, trial and sentence of 15 years at Presidio Modelo on Isle of Pines (9:48). More student demonstrations centering around University in Havana (11:07). 1955 Batista appeasement policy; Castro and other political prisoners (Haydée Santamaría, Melba Hernández) freed (11:30). April 1956: Independent group 100 guerrillas attack Goicuria Barracks in Matanzas; Police raids follow, weapons seized (12:04). October 1956 Mil intelligence chief Col Blanco Rico assassinated; Cañizares killed in shoot out with suspects (12:58). Cuban freedom fighters in Exile: Pro-Cuban revolution leaflets fall at New York Yankee’s game (13:04). Castro speaks to audience in Miami, raise funds for revolution (13:39). Castro purchases yacht Granma and stockpiles weapons in Mexico; Granma lands on Eastern Cuba (13:59). Castro, surviving guerrilla forces set up encampment in Sierra Maestra mountain range; Ride donkeys through streams and rugged peaks; Target practice (14:55). Havana Presidential Palace attack (1957): Shooting ensues between palace guards, student rebels led by José Antonio Echeverría (16:24). Jeep CJ drives through mountain terrain to deliver money, ammunition, medical supplies to encampment (17:16). Sierra Maestra Manifesto (17:32). Funeral opposition leader Frank País in Santiago (17:44). Castro corresponds with outside world using “pony express” system; Courier transports letter from mountain on back of donkey (18:38). Argentine Marxist Ernesto “Che” Guevara joins encampment; Trains rebels in guerrilla tactics, subsequent footage of damage done by planted bombs in trains, buses (18:54). Rebel field hospital, doctor treats wounded (20:51). Batista orders offensive against rebels in Sierra Maestra mountains, shootout in mountains between rebels and Batista’s forces; Rebel radio reports win (21:03). Batista holds press conference at Presidential Palace (22:21). Gen. Francisco H. “Sillito” Tabernilla prepares tanks, artillery for battle against rebel army (22:39). Che Guevara leads rebel troops against government forces, capture provincial towns; Battle scenes (23:13). Guevara’s men enter Santa Clara, towns people flee to shelters, injured in hospital (24:32). Battle ends, towns people cheer for Guevara, Camilo Cienfuegos (25:33). Batista flees Cuba; Cubans celebrate in streets, other civilian militia’s raid government buildings (26:16). End (27:39).

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