A Dudley Pictures Corp. short, “This World of Ours: Flight to Spain” (1951) is a color travelogue film photographed by Ed Drews and produced by American film director and producer Carl Dudley (1910-1973). The 11-minute film takes the viewer on a trip across Spain highlighting its historic and bustling cities like Cadiz, Grenada, Barcelona, and Madrid while also underscoring important aspects of Spanish culture like olive oil, cork, and wine production in addition to Flamenco dance. The film is one of 30 short films made in the 1950s as part of the “This World of Ours” series.
Parade of Giants and Bigheads in streets of San Fermin ahead of running of the bulls (0:23). Two Spanish women in traditional dress, lace shawls, lace hand fans (0:36). Older peasant woman rides on back of donkey (0:48). Shepherd leads sheep through pasture (0:56). Donkey operates Moorish Waterwheel (1:02). Panoramic view of rooftops, Cádiz, oldest city in Spain (1:12). Scenes from streets of Cadiz: Two men transport a couch, horse-drawn carriages (1:22). Camera pans view of homes in Granada (1:41). Alhambra, details of Moorish architecture and design in Court of the Myrtles (Patio de los Arrayanes), Court of the Lions (1:51). Troop of Andalusian Roma (Gypsies) dance Flamenco on street corner in old quarter of Albaicín (2:15). Barcelona: Panoramic view of Plaça de Catalunya, Banco Español de Credito building beside the plaza (2:59). Plaça de Francesc Macià (3:15). Two children feed bread crumbs to pigeons flocking in public square (3:27). Man drinks from communal botijo (búcaro) on city street (3:36). Camera pans Port of Barcelona, Spain’s most important harbor (3:44). Barcelona major point for import of textiles esp. cotton: Crane slowly lowers parcels of cotton from ship onto pier below (3:56). View of yellow cable car as it makes its way up mountainside to Montserrat Monastery, Santa Maria de Montserrat Abbey (4:10). Aerial view of Montserrat Monastery (4:25). Student monks walk through ancient city (4:40). Facade of Santa Iglesia Catedral Primada de Toledo (Great Cathedral of Toledo) (4:53). Traditional Toledo artisan focuses as he works precious metals into intricate floral design of Damascene box; Woman rotates in hand a finished example of a Damascene box featuring a Moorish-style design (pattern similar to Moroccan zellige tile work) (5:08). View of street in Seville, Giralda bell tower (5:35). Olive oil: Green of olive grove contrasts red soil of rolling hills; Farmer uses horse-drawn plow while another man handpicks olives from trees (5:53). Panoramic view of Valencia city skyline, Plaça de la Reina (6:11). Two farmers use ox-drawn plow to till soil (6:19). Basque farmers use traditional methods to farm, harvest crops like wheat (6:34). Man on ox-drawn reaper (6:47). Wine: Women harvest wine grapes, place them into wicker baskets (7:03). Cork: Two men strip cork oaks of bark; Ox pull wagon filled to top through cork forest at end of harvest day (7:18). Madrid: Plaza de Colón, Columbus Monument (7:48). Church of Saint Manuel and Saint Benedict (8:08). El Retiro Park (8:12). Pedestrian traffic along Puerta del Sol (8:18). Entrance for Madrid Metro (8:25). Metropolis Building at corner of Calle de Alcalá and Gran Vía (8:33). Traffic officer tries to direct traffic at bustling corner (8:41). Female vendor sells pastel-colored wafers from cart, another pedlar sells lottery tickets (8:49). Puerta de Alcalá (8:59). Royal Palace of Madrid (9:08). Equestrian statue, Monument of Philip IV of Spain by Diego Velázquez (9:15). Modernist architecture buildings at University of Madrid (9:23). Packed stands at football stadium, football match (9:46). Las Ventas Bullring (Plaza de Toros Las Ventas) (10:10). Inside bullring, matador puts on performance with bull (10:16). Troup performs traditional Mallorcan folk dance, traditional instruments like guitarra de canya (10:31). The End (11:09).
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