This early 1950’s color film presents a travelogue view of Ceylon (Sri Lanka), covering major architectural monuments, exports, and traditional folk arts, while advertising TWA and encouraging western tourism (TRT 16:07). Trans World Airlines began direct commercial air travel service to Colombo, Ceylon in February of 1953. This film was shot by Ed Drews, edited by William Faris, and Produced by Carl Dudley.
Opening credits (0:09). A man uses an elephant to haul a large log. Another elephant plows a field (0:14). A caravan of elephants march, then bathe in a river (0:31). A man scrubs a baby elephant’s ears (1:02). A shipping harbor. Docks, ships, a marina (1:08). Urban city streets and late 1940s automobiles (1:37). A red truck passes an oxcart (1:41). A crossing guard directs traffic. Pedestrians cross the street (1:48). The Lion or “Sinha” Flag waves from the Parliament Building in Colombo, which housed the House of Representatives of Ceylon. This is now the State Council building. (2:04). The Town Hall (2:21). A snake charmer blows and shakes a pungi flute at a cobra in a basket (2:28). Jockeys on horses. Looking at betting forms and watching the race (2:56). Coming down the stretch (3:20). A train billowing black smoke passes a palm tree. A seaside holiday resort (3:31). The Jetavanaramaya stupa or dageba temple in Anuradhapura. Ruwanwelisaya, a cetiya in the city of Anuradhapura (3:47). A rock relief statue of the Buddha at Gal Vihara rock temple in Polonnaruwa. People pray at the seated image’s feet (4:05). The standing image, same location (4:24). Kelaniya Raja Maha Vihara temple and stupa. A band marches by. Women in saris file in. (4:35). Sigiriya rock fortress near Dambulla. Cave art frescos of men and women (5:00). A Tamil woman scrapes the bark of a rubber tree. A man with a bucket collects latex sap drippings (5:19). Sheets of raw rubber are cut and stacked (5:56). Women work shelling piles of coconuts. A coastal landscape (6:12). An Indian elephant at a distance (6:37). A woman weaving rope by hand. Another with a small girl weaves lace (7:06). Basket weaving (7:51). A man weaving a rug on a loom (8:13). Children reading from books outdoors (8:38). A Trans World Airlines (TWA) Lockheed Constellation airliner (9:09). Passengers seated. A flight attendant brings a tray of food. A man sips champagne approvingly (9:15). A woman eats peas daintily. A young girl does the same (9:40). A woman reclines her headrest and adjusts a pillow (9:59). The plane lands and taxis. Smiling passengers deplaning (10:24). Farmers work tea fields. Women pick leaves and put them in baskets on their backs (11:06). Six women encircle a bench raban drum, beating it with their hands (11:48). One man hammers a brass tray. Two men carve and polish ebony elephants (12:17). Shirtless men mining for gems in Ratnapura. They pan rocks in a river (13:10). Gemstone cutting on a hanaporuwa bow machine (13:52). A man in a suit hands a massive blue sapphire to a woman. A shining cat’s eye and a star sapphire are also displayed (14:05). Kandyan dancers outside a smaller stupa. A drummer plays a mridangam (14:34). The dancers leap and spin (15:34). End credits. “A Presentation of TWA” (15:46).
The film is a production of Carl Dudley’s Dudley Pictures Corporation, which was founded in 1944. Dudley is also known for producing and directing the 1958 Cinerama feature, “South Seas Adventure.” Dudley preferred that his films be called “travel adventures,” rather than travelogues.
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