Castle Films presents “The Allure of France” (0:07), a 1964 film promoting the many varieties of holiday excitement that can be had in France, from alpine adventures, sunny beaches of the French Riviera, to the oft-romanticized nightlife of Paris.
The film opens with sweeping views of the snowy French Alps (0:17); glaciers at 0:33. At 0:43, three climbers trek on with walking sticks and mountaineering equipment. Mont Blanc is nearly 16,000 feet high. One climber holds onto a rope, helping the climber behind him (1:02), the third not far behind. The first successful ascent to the summit was made in 1786 by a native of Chamonix. From 1:10 are intermittent close-up shots and long shots showing the climbers ascending steep slopes amidst breathtaking alpine grandeur. A climber stops momentarily to admire the glorious mountain range below him (1:58).
A steam train crosses a railway bridge, evergreen trees in the foreground (2:06). The white, overexposed faces of passengers are seen at 2:21.
Apartments in Cannes feature large balconies full of flowers (2:23). The camera pans over a busy beach crowded with beach parasols (2:39). There are “overdressed” ladies in full dress coats and hats (2:56), and a “barely dressed” woman in a bikini (3:01).
Camera cuts to an aerial shot of Monaco, arriving on the Prince’s Palace overlooking the Mediterranean Sea (3:04). Monaco is the smallest sovereign principality in Europe, just over one half of a square mile in total area. A megayacht sits in the harbor at 3:16. It is the vessel of Monaco’s prince. At 3:21 the camera pans over a harbor full of smaller, nonroyal yachts. A Red Ensign flaps in the wind (3:27). A French flag waves over another beach at 3:36. From 3:47, sunbathers lie and sleep in the sun, as the narrator stutters comically over the sight of bikini-clad women. At 3:56, a zoom-in shot of the Prince’s Palace.
From 4:09, the narrator discusses Paris. The camera tilts up to reveal the Eiffel Tower, then an aerial shot of the Seine (4:13), and *a triumphal arch—likely the Arc de Triomphe de l’Étoile at the Place Charles de Gaulle (4:23).*
From 4:27, we see the Arc de Triomphe du Carrousel from various angles with gardens and water fountains in the foreground. Built in 1806, it celebrates the French victory at the Battle of Austerlitz.
Well-dressed patrons mingle at the Café de la Paix, located in the Place de l’Opéra, in the 9th Arrondissement (4:38). A woman enjoys her dessert (4:53), before fixing her lipstick using a handheld mirror (4:99). A Christian Dior fashion show from 5:02. Model after model in elegant dresses cinched in at the waist, delicate hats, and satin evening gloves.
Paris is known for its beautiful gardens and parks. An artist paints flowers in a garden (5:27). A couple (5:36) and three ladies (5:40) sit on benches. Parisians walk home with their baguettes (5:43). A kissing couple passes by at 5:54, and we get a quick glimpse of the Cathédrale Notre-Dame de Paris, set on the Île de la Cité.
From 6:01 diners enjoy French cuisine at the historic restaurant, La Tour d’Argent, in operation since 1542. Sitting on the Quai de la Tournelle, the Seine and the Notre-Dame can be seen behind the diners. A clearer shot of the Seine and the Notre-Dame at 6:17.
Neon lights flash at the Moulin Rouge on the Boulevard de Clichy (6:23). Can-can dancers twirl and kick up their lavish skirts (6:32). A sign reads “Maison des Oubliettes” (6:49). A woman in a lace-up black corset performs on stage (7:05). Here, French singers specialize in 12th century songs in the tradition of ancient troubadours. Audience applauds. At 7:17, another woman performs with a lorgnette, then more applause.
At 7:26 the camera tilts down to reveal the Folies Bergère cabaret theater. On stage is a grand spectacle with a great cast of performers, some elevated by onstage lifts (7:34). A multi-level stage piece slowly rotates, displaying posing dancers and extravagant candelabra. Paris is a sentimental city about which men have written more poems, more songs, more everything, than any other city in the world. The film ends with one last shot of the Tour Eiffel at 8:01.
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
