Alice’s Birthday Party

Genre: home movie

Year Published: 1956

Description: This 1956-57 silent home movie titled "Alice’s Birthday Party" captures not one but two birthday celebrations for a lucky young girl named Alice, who turns 7 and 8 years old respectively. The nostalgic film showcases a variety of scenes, including the presentation of birthday cakes, the unwrapping of presents, festive dinners with guests, and a magician's performance, and clips portraying the atmosphere of the parties. Views of Alice opening a present, surrounded by her guests (00:08). The camera captures footage of the other children (00:15). Alice grabs a woman’s hand and gestures for her to follow (00:30). Alice smiles while holding the handlebars of a new bicycle (00:39), then sits on the bike (00:46). Footage of the birthday party guests, showing adults and children standing and conversing (00:56). Children sit at long decorated tables (01:51), while adult guests are seated to the side (02:18). A man brings in Alice’s birthday cake, decorated with a parasol, lit candles, and "Happy Birthday" written on the side (02:27), and places it in front of Alice (02:39). Scenes of the children at the long tables, drinking sodas (02:53). Alice cuts her cake with the help of the girl sitting next to her (03:07). A man in a fire department or police uniform brings a present (03:16), and Alice hugs him (03:23) before opening the gift (03:33). More views of the children sitting at the decorated tables (03:42). A magician performs various magic tricks to entertain the children (04:21). Alice pulls her new bicycle out of the party area (07:46). Additional footage of the children and adult guests standing, sitting, and conversing (08:05). Scenes of children and adults seated for a meal (08:26). Alice, now in a new outfit, opens birthday cards and presents, including a skirt, a pink telephone, and a coloring kit (08:49). She and her friends play with the coloring kit (10:48). Shots of adult guests, including a Black or African American woman (11:04) and a Black chef seated at the dining table (10:53). Various clips portraying the birthday party atmosphere (11:39). A man brings in a birthday cake, this one decorated with a spinning ballerina figure and lit candles (11:50), and places it in front of Alice (12:01). Alice spins the ballerina figure and blows out the candles (12:10). A woman is seen holding a camera (12:19). Alice cuts her birthday cake (12:31). Footage of Alice and her friends eating an ice cream dessert (13:26). Two children smile and wave at the camera outside (13:34). Footage of (presumably) their mother (13:58), who then goes inside with the two children (14:07).

Online Copy: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=8k59zjaF12w

Metadata Source:YouTube