| The City | ||
|---|---|---|
| This clip is not available for streaming at this time. Please contact WPA. | Tape Master: | 11284 |
| Catalog #: | 490318 | |
| Clip Number: | 490318-1 | |
| Orginal Film: | NTOWNS-007 | |
| Timecode: | ||
| Location: | New England small town | |
| Year Shot: | 1986 (Actual Year) | |
| Audio: | Yes | |
| Color: | No | |
| Headings: | CITY PLANNING: New Towns | |
| Description: | WETA "NEW TOWNS" [Film Transfer for Footage used in "New Towns"] 1940's film decrying the pollution and congestion of industrial cities, advocating the development of carefully designed "New Cities" outside the existing metropolises, an early expression of the Suburban ideal, also has early advocacy of Automobile Culture. IN 17.19.30 B/W film stock used for "NEW TOWNS". Credit to Museum of Modern Art Film Library. Credit of American Institute of Planners. Title "THE CITY". Among Credits is Music by AARON COPLAND, commentary by Sociologist Lewis Mumford. Shots of buildings in rural setting under credits. Titles say that cities are getting unlivable, urges redesigning communities. Very cool shot of a millrace being opened, water pours over a waterwheel of a mill, pushing it into motion. Shot of a farmhouse, shot of a wooden dam, shot of boys leaping off a riverbank to swim. Shot of boy riding on back of horsedrawn cart, shot of sky overhead through trees. Shot of old colonial-era stone milepost. Shots of the wagon passing a farmhouse. The driver sells some squashes and a spare wheel to a farmer. The farmer and the driver use a contraption to fix the iron loop of the wagon wheel. Very idyllic pastoral mood. Shot of towering white steeple of a church. 17.23.53-Shots of a New England-Style "Town Meeting", with a rather crusty old Yankee-type man delivering his opinion. Shot of woman quilting, woman weaving on an old hand-loom. Shot of a man basketweaving. Shot of WATERWHEEL on side of old wood mill house. Shot of large wooden gears turning in the mill. Shot of man with corn kernels in mill, c/s of cornmeal falling into a vat, c/s the mill machinery. Shot of three men mowing a field with scythes. V.O. announcer discussing the ideal of the small town (largely this is a mythic description). Shots of old TOMBSONES in a small cemetery. Shot of small white church. | |
WPA FILM LIBRARY
