[1963 STATE VISIT OF CZECH PRESIDENT ANTONIN NOVOTNY TO CAMBODIA & NORTH VIETNAM]

Year Published: 1963

Description: This fascinating 8mm home movie shows images from a diplomatic visit to Asia by Czechoslovakian President Antonin Novotny. At the time his official designation was the First Secretary of the Central Committee of the Czechoslovak Communist Party. It's not exactly clear what year these images were captured, but we believe it is almost certainly 1963 as he is known to have visited Cambodia and North Vietnam in January of that year. Apparently in North Vietnam he met with Hồ Chí Minh. (Note: we do not know who shot the film, but whoever they were was probably in the entourage of the President, and might have been a Western journalist as the film originated from an American collection.)

The film starts with events prior to the China visit, when Novotny visited Cambodia, where he apparently met with then Prince Norodom Sihanouk. The film starts with images shot in a car; at :22 a sign is visible welcoming Novotny, and a parade of Czech flags are visible beside the road. At :43 an open convertible car is shown with two military officers escorting Novotny's wife, and also a woman who might be Norodom Monineath aka "Queen Monique" of Cambodia. At 1:09, long ceremonial boats are seen on what might be the Mekong River. At 1:20, young female soldiers hold Czech flags and pose for the camera. At 1:43, a large group moves down to greet the assembled boats. At 1:57, President Novotny strides past the camera. At 2:01, the Royal Palace of Phnom Penh is shown, followed by images shot at the airport from inside a passenger aircraft. A large ceremonial tent is seen in the background. President Novotny and his party on a state visit to North Vietnam. At 2:24, Fouga CM.170 Magister jet trainers, developed by the French, escort the plane on its way to North Vietnam. At 2:40, reception in North Vietnam by a large crowd holding photos of Novotny, who grins at the camera at 2:56. At 3:09, members of the press escort a North Vietnamese delegation; it's not clear who these dignitaries are.

Note: Cambodia's Royal Cambodian Air Force operated four Fouga CM.170 Magisters from 1961. They were used initially only for training purposes, but were later also used as light strike aircraft. Allegedly, Cambodian Magisters were very active in the Khmer Air Force from 1970.

Online Copy: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_7KGGePbG9Y

Metadata Source:YouTube