“Understanding Movies” (1971) is a color, educational short film directed by William Van Praag and his namesake production company in association with the New York Times and Arno Press. The film seeks to explain the way movies work specifically regarding the manipulation of time and space which the film achieves by breaking down a short, scripted espionage film. Nonetheless, the film’s intention goes beyond that simple message – to urge viewers to think more critically about what they watch and to not be so easily influenced by its content.

Perspective Films logo, synth music (0:08). Traffic along New York City avenue, camera pans skyscrapers and high rise apartment buildings while narration details some sort of espionage mission (0:16). Man looks down at miniature black and white portrait of man wearing black beret and tan top coat, narration detailing instructions of espionage mission continue (0:40). Tape with details of mission play on Columbia Portable Reel to Reel Tape Recorder Model C-690T (0:49). Perhaps green AMC Javelin drives over bridge, through back alleys while action music plays (0:53). Protagonist surveys abandoned warehouse from the street, figures out best point of entry into building to complete mission – camera pans fire escape along facade of brick building (1:10). Protagonist uses flashlight to scan room, locates combination safe on the floor (1:25). Close-up of combination lock, protagonist removes gloves and slowly moves dial, camera footage cuts between details of protagonist’s face while focussing and lock pad moving (1:37). Man with beret from photo leans against the parked green AMC Javelin (2:18). Protagonist proceeds to open safe and alarm blares, protagonist escapes through window, scrambles down fire escape, and runs down empty back streets of perhaps Meatpacking District/ Chelsea in Manhattan (2:23). Sounds of dogs barking as protagonist runs through trees in barren forest, protagonist runs towards camera and slowly falls to the ground (3:38). Footage of traffic along New York City avenue and protagonist in apartment looking at image from opening of film repeats, narration now details process of making this espionage film (4:27). Illustrated image of timer overlaid footage from opening of film of AMC Javelin traveling through city, protagonist breaking into apartment to show how much time has passed (5:15). Illustrated image of timer overlaid footage from opening of film of AMC Javelin traveling through city, protagonist breaking into apartment to show how much time has passed in real non-movie time (6:08). Example of compression of time – image of protagonist running through desolate streets slowly fades into footage of him running through forest (7:21). Example of expanding and stopping time – protagonist runs towards camera (7:51). Another example of expansion of time – protagonist attempts to open combination safe (8:08). Expansion of distance – protagonist falls slowly to ground from fire escape (8:46). More examples of things movies do that are unnatural – see things in close-up and with more sound than usual, close-up of combination lock and sound of numbers in lock ticking as protagonist attempts to open safe (9:21). Narrator examines journey of audience member and how their perception of what is natural is challenged while footage from film plays (10:13). Safe opens to reveal Columbia Portable Reel to Reel Tape Recorder Model C-690T with message about audience responsibility to discern what is reality and what is not (12:26). Closing credits (12:52).

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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