Association of American Railroads: Song of Norway TV show, 1950s

Genre: Commercial

Year Published: 1950s

Creator: Association of American Railroads D'Arcy Masius Benton & Bowles (DMB&B)

Format: 16mm

Description: Transcription: Announcer Ladies and gentlemen, The Railroad Hour. 0:00 (instrumental and vocalizing) 0:03 ("I've Been Working on the Railroad") 0:04 It's the Railroad Hour, brought to you 0:09 by the Association of American Railroads. 0:11 Tonight, "The Song of Norway" starting Byron Palmer, 0:14 Dorothy Warrenskjold, Mona Paulee, Gilbert Russell. 0:18 The orchestra directed by Carmen Dragon. 0:25 Television adaptation by Lawrence and Lee. 0:28 Chorus directed by Norman Luboff 0:31 with choreography by Matt Mattox. 0:35 (train wheels rolling down track) 0:38 Yes, your American railroads bring you 0:40 most of the food you eat, 0:42 the clothes you wear, 0:44 the fuel you burn, 0:46 and the other things you use in daily life. 0:49 And here comes your show train 0:52 with our Railroad Hour host Myron Palmer! 0:54 (applause) 0:57 - Good evening, ladies and gentlemen. 1:02 Tonight, Dorothy Warrenskjold, Mona Paulee, Gil Russell 1:04 join me for our Railroad Houe impression 1:08 of the great operetta "Song of Norway". 1:10 As you can see, I'm already in the costume 1:14 of the man who wrote: 1:17 (plays piano intro) 1:19 - Hello! 1:48 - Well, Edvard! 1:49 - Edvard Grieg, we're waiting for you! 1:50 - Nina, Rik! 1:52 - Up here on our hill of dreams! 1:53 - Have you forgotten, Edvard? 1:54 - It's Midsummer's Eve. Hurry! 1:56 - You're late! 1:58 - Edvard, even when we were children, 1:59 you were always late. 2:01 - Forgive me. 2:02 Rik, my old friend! 2:04 And Nina! 2:06 This may be the last time we meet on our hill of dreams. 2:07 - Edvard, you're not going away! 2:11 - Norway is not the world. 2:14 - The best part of it, Edvard. 2:15 - Why, with Rick's poems and your music, Edvard, 2:17 we can bring the world to Norway! 2:19 You could do so much, Edvard! 2:21 A man whose music is as Norwegian as that fjord. 2:23 - (chuckles) Rick still waving his flaming sword. 2:27 So what Fjord? 2:30 I've made a rhyme! 2:31 (laughs) 2:32 - But you're not supposed to, Edvard. 2:33 Rik has always been the poet. 2:35 Ever since we were children. 2:36 ♪ - Again, we stand on youth's green hill ♪ 2:38 ♪ - A poet ♪ 2:42 ♪- A minstrel ♪ 2:43 ♪ - The princess still ♪ 2:44 ♪ And who will swear that no matter where ♪ 2:46 ♪ Fortune takes us will always be ♪ 2:50 ♪ With me? ♪ 2:55 ♪ We will be with ♪ 2:57 - I will. 3:00 - I will. 3:01 ♪ - And I will ♪ 3:02 - ♪ I will right the world of its wrongs ♪ 3:07 ♪ If you are near me ♪ 3:10 ♪- I'll be near you ♪ 3:13 ♪ - I'll sing such wonderful songs ♪ 3:17 ♪ If you can hear me ♪ 3:20 ♪- I will hear you ♪ 3:22 ♪ - Here, here on our hill of dreams, ♪ 3:26 ♪ Fast hand, put your hand in mine ♪ 3:29 ♪ I see a horizon shining and clear ♪ 3:32 ♪ When we're together ♪ 3:39 ♪ - I'll find a place in the sun ♪ 3:48 ♪ With you to guide me ♪ 3:51 ♪ -I will guide you ♪ 3:54 ♪ - My darkest battle is won ♪ 3:58 ♪ If you're beside me ♪ 4:00 ♪ I'm beside you ♪ 4:04 ♪ - We're weaving our guilded schemes ♪ 4:08 ♪ Here, high on our hill of dreams ♪ 4:10 ♪ Soon we'll bring them all ♪ 4:13 ♪ To view the big road ♪ 4:17 ♪ If I have you, ♪ 4:21 ♪ And we're together, ♪ 4:26 ♪ I'll be near you ♪ 4:34 ♪ I will hear you ♪ 4:43 ♪ - I'll climb every height I've climbed ♪ 4:48 ♪ - I'll rhyme every rhyme I've rhymed ♪ 4:51 ♪ - I'll show to you ♪ 4:54 ♪ All I've been hiding as well ♪ 4:57 ♪ - And you'll be there ♪ 5:02 ♪ - I will be there ♪ 5:04 ♪ - And you'll be there ♪ 5:06 ♪ Forever ♪ 5:10 ♪ Forever ♪ 5:13 (soft piano music) 5:24 Edvard Nina, Rik, 5:33 and I together. 5:36 Rik would write their words and I would write the music. 5:38 Music of Midsummer's Eve 5:42 and all the other warm and lovely moments 5:45 of our beloved country. 5:47 Moments like our festivals in the square 5:49 where one lone fiddle player 5:53 could get the whole town dancing! 5:55 (fast fiddle music) 5:57 - Freddy and his fiddle! 5:59 (crowd exclaiming) 5:59 - Freddy and his fiddle. 6:00 Bah! 6:01 (groans) 6:02 - Oh, he's the Finnish hero! 6:03 Play the tune Edvard Grieg wrote for us, Freddy, 6:04 the one he wrote especially for our feet. 6:07 (jaunty music) 6:10 ♪- I can't dance ♪ 6:24 ♪ You can't dance ♪ 6:25 ♪ But let's admit ♪ 6:27 ♪ We're definitely dancing ♪ 6:28 ♪ We are just a couple of slaves to his whim ♪ 6:30 ♪ Lucky to be couple of moths on a flame ♪ 6:33 ♪ Freddy and his fiddle ♪ 6:37 ♪ Will keep it up until they're dead ♪ 6:38 ♪ And Freddy in the middle of wear and tear ♪ 6:40 ♪ Freddy and his fiddle ♪ 6:43 ♪ Are at it in the square ♪ 6:45 (jaunty music) 6:47 ♪ Freddy, Freddy, Freddy, Freddy! ♪ 7:05 ♪ Freddy and the fiddle at it in the square ♪ 7:08 (clapping) 7:14 How quaint. 7:17 How droll. 7:19 And how handsome! 7:22 Well, we welcome you to our festival, 7:25 but you seem to be a stranger here. 7:27 - Then may I introduce myself? 7:28 I am the Countess Louisa Javan. 7:31 - The famous opera singer? 7:33 Why, this is an honor. 7:35 My friends, 7:37 the countess is one of the great premadonnas 7:37 of the European opera state. 7:39 - Oh, I've given up the opera. 7:40 All that screaming, all those fat leading man. 7:42 I'm going on a concert tour where I can 7:47 sing alone and please myself. 7:49 You see, I do not believe in postponing pleasures. 7:53 To me, all that matters is 7:57 ♪ Now, now ♪ 8:00 ♪ Not tomorrow, but now ♪ 8:03 ♪ I have my heart's desire ♪ 8:06 ♪ Now, now ♪ 8:12 ♪ Nevermind about how I pay the piper ♪ 8:15 ♪ My heart wants this moment ♪ 8:24 ♪ I have not taught my heart ♪ 8:29 ♪ What no, no, no, no, no, meant ♪ 8:33 ♪ Love, love, ♪ 8:38 ♪ How I covet you now ♪ 8:41 ♪ But all has changed ♪ 8:44 ♪ In loving you ♪ 8:47 ♪ Now, now ♪ 8:51 ♪ Not forever but now, ♪ 8:54 ♪ I'm yours ♪ 8:57 ♪ - Now, now ♪ 9:03 ♪ Not forever ♪ 9:05 ♪ But now I have my heart's desire ♪ 9:06 ♪ Love, love ♪ 9:14 ♪ How I covet you now ♪ 9:16 ♪ But all has changed ♪ 9:19 ♪ Since loving you ♪ 9:22 ♪ Now, now ♪ 9:26 ♪ Not forever ♪ 9:30 ♪ But now, ♪ 9:31 ♪ I'm yours ♪ 9:34 - Now, tell me who wrote the beautiful dance music 9:42 I heard a few minutes ago? 9:44 Girls Why, Edvard Grieg! 9:46 - Well. 9:48 Young man, I need a pianist for my concert tour. 9:50 How would you like to be my accompanist? 9:54 - I don't know. 9:58 It would be a wonderful opportunity. 9:59 - Think about it. 10:02 Meanwhile, you must show me more of your quaint customs. 10:03 - Excuse me, Countess. 10:06 But I've got to tell Nina the good news! 10:07 Nina? 10:09 And I must tell her about this. 10:10 Nina, Nina! 10:12 Here I am, Edvard. 10:13 I made it myself! 10:18 It's my surprise for you. 10:22 - Why, Nina. 10:24 I've never seen you like this before. 10:26 Listen. 10:34 Can you hear that? 10:36 - Hear what? 10:37 - The music. 10:38 - Oh, you mean the music of the wind and the trees. 10:40 ♪ Summer winds are flying ♪ 10:53 ♪ - No, not the winds ♪ 10:55 ♪ But magic violins from all around you ♪ 10:59 ♪ I can hear the close wings ♪ 11:05 ♪ on the pounding grass ♪ 11:07 ♪ That seem to say "I've found you" ♪ 11:10 ♪ I've found you ♪ 11:17 ♪ I've found you ♪ 11:22 ♪ Strange music in my ears ♪ 11:33 ♪ Only now as you spoke did it start ♪ 11:38 ♪ Strange music on the spheres ♪ 11:45 ♪ With it's lovely thumping calling from my heart ♪ 11:51 ♪ You appear and I hear song sublime ♪ 11:59 ♪ Songs that I'm incapable of ♪ 12:05 ♪ Oh dear, ♪ 12:14 ♪ let me hold you near ♪ 12:17 ♪ While we trace your every measure ♪ 12:21 ♪ So that time can never change ♪ 12:25 ♪ The strange new ♪ 12:31 ♪ Music ♪ 12:35 ♪ Of love ♪ 12:38 ♪ - Strange music in my ear ♪ 12:44 ♪ Only now as you spoke did it start ♪ 12:48 - Nina. 12:57 Will you marry me? 12:58 - Oh, yes, Edvard! 13:00 - Oh, darling! 13:01 I must ask your parents' consent. 13:03 - Oh, I've already asked them. 13:04 - What did they say? 13:08 - That you're a nobody. 13:09 - Perhaps they're right, Nina. 13:12 - Oh, Edvard, I don't think you're a nobody. 13:14 I think you were a very, very great man. 13:17 ♪- You appear ♪ 13:22 ♪ - You appear ♪ 13:23 ♪ - And I hear song sublime ♪ 13:25 ♪ - Songs that I'm incapable of ♪ 13:29 ♪ - Dear, let me hold you near ♪ 13:38 ♪ While we trace your every measure ♪ 13:45 ♪ So that time may never change ♪ 13:49 ♪ The strange new ♪ 13:55 ♪ Music ♪ 13:59 ♪ Of ♪ 14:02 ♪ Love ♪ 14:04 - Listen! 14:14 I know a way to prove to you and to everybody 14:15 that my music means something. 14:17 A lady arrived today, a countess. 14:19 She offered me a position as her accompanist. 14:21 - Edvard... 14:24 - It means being away for a long time. 14:25 - It's a great opportunity. 14:28 You can travel and you can meet great people with music, 14:31 and they will hear your music. 14:34 Oh, Edvard, but what about Rik's poems? 14:37 - Well, I'll take them with me. 14:40 A whole chief of them! 14:41 (townspeople singing in the background) 14:44 - Oh, I'm enchanted by your charming celebration! 14:47 - Oh, my friends, I really have something to celebrate! 14:50 Nina has consented to be my wife. 14:53 All Awww. 14:55 - And you have decided to turn down my offer, Edvard Grieg. 15:00 - Oh no, countess. 15:04 I wish to accept. 15:05 - You understand we must leave at once. 15:07 Tonight. 15:09 I have many concert engagements to fulfill. 15:11 - What about the wedding? 15:14 - They're going to get married! 15:15 - Could we postpone our departure a week? 15:17 Until tomorrow perhaps? 15:19 - Now. 15:21 Now. 15:22 - ♪ [Crowd] Not tomorrow but now ♪ 15:23 - I am so sorry, my dear. 15:27 But the life of an artist... 15:29 is like this. 15:32 - Rik, I haven't forgotten about our work together. 15:39 No matter what I am, I'll write the music of Norway. 15:43 - Yes, sir. 15:46 - And we'll meet, the three of us, 15:47 at the same place next Midsummer's Eve. 15:49 - Yes, Edvardo. 15:52 - That will always be thing, Nina, 15:53 Yours and mine. 15:55 And Rik's. 15:57 ♪ Ringing with the sound of joy ♪ 15:59 ♪ The sound of one for all ♪ 16:03 ♪ And I'll cry to heaven above ♪ 16:06 ♪ - Dear ♪ 16:14 ♪ - Let me hold you near ♪ 16:16 ♪ - And ever nearer ♪ 16:18 ♪ - While we treasure every measure ♪ 16:22 ♪ So that time may never change ♪ 16:28 ♪ The strange new ♪ 16:32 ♪ Music ♪ 16:36 ♪ Of ♪ 16:39 ♪ Love ♪ 16:41 - We must go now. 16:58 ♪- I'll be with you ♪ 17:09 ♪ On Midsummer's Eve ♪ 17:12 ♪ Midsummer's Eve ♪ 17:18 ♪ I'll never leave ♪ 17:23 ♪ I know the magic ♪ 17:29 ♪ Of love ♪ 17:34 ♪ I will wait ♪ 17:36 ♪ Midsummer's Eve ♪ 17:44 ♪ I will be with you ♪ 17:54 (applause) 18:00 Announcer Little household staples are often bigger 18:11 than they seem. 18:14 An ordinary loaf of bread, for instance. 18:15 Just wait until you see how much was done 18:18 to bring it into your kitchen. 18:20 Here is bread on the way to your home coming 18:22 from the Great Plains where every year, 18:24 farmers on railroads team up 18:27 to harvest and move millions of acres of precious grain. 18:28 While the farmer reaps, 18:32 the railroads prepare for the world's biggest 18:33 single transportation job. 18:35 Thousands upon thousands of cars must be assembled, 18:38 ready at the right place at the right time. 18:41 Skill and experience are needed, 18:44 to say nothing of the equipment required 18:45 to move more than one billion bushels 18:48 of grain a year. 18:50 First to the great grain elevators 18:51 then on to the flour mill, 18:54 and finally, to your neighborhood baker 18:56 and to you. 18:58 Now, this tremendous job of railroad transportation, 19:00 how much does it cost? 19:03 The total railroad charge for moving 19:05 all the ingredients in a loaf of bread 19:06 averages is less than one cent. 19:09 That's less than one slice per load. 19:11 That cure is low cost transportation 19:14 and then some! 19:16 While at the same time, 19:17 the wheat is being moved. 19:19 America's railroads must carry on 19:20 with many other big important jobs. 19:22 Hauling coal. 19:25 Steel, 19:26 Oil. 19:28 Cement. 19:29 Lumber. 19:31 Fruit. 19:32 Meat. 19:34 And countless items essential to our personal wellbeing 19:35 and our nation's welfare and defense. 19:39 You see, America's railroads can and do haul 19:42 an average of a million tons a mile 19:45 every minute of the day and night. 19:48 That's one big reason why Americans live better 19:50 and produce more than any other country on earth 19:53 because they have a backbone of steel rails 19:56 for essential transportation. 20:00 (train rolling down the track) 20:02 (old timey music intro) 20:06 Announcer And now act two of the Railroad Hour, 20:18 starting Byron Palmer as Edvard Grieg, 20:20 Dorothy Warrenskjold as Nina, 20:23 Mona Paulee as the countess, and Gill Russell 20:25 as Rik. 20:28 (fast piano music) 20:30 Edvard So I toured the continent for the countess. 20:51 We played all the capitols of Europe. 20:54 In Paris. 20:57 London. 21:03 Vienna. 21:08 And then in a fashionable salon in the capital of Denmark. 21:15 (smooth piano finish) 21:20 - Magnificent. 21:36 - Wonderful! 21:37 - Grieg, you're marvelous! 21:38 - My protege, my Norwegian discovery. 21:39 - Edvard, forgive me. 21:44 I must leave now. 21:47 - I'm sorry. 21:49 - Excuse me just a moment. 21:50 - Oh, Nina, I'm sorry 21:52 I haven't been able to see more of you 21:54 since you've been in Copenhagen. 21:56 You understand the concerts, my work... 21:58 - Oh, of course I understand, Edvard. 22:00 Only, I... 22:03 - Yes. 22:04 What did you want to say, Nina? 22:06 - It's just that Rick poems still need your music, Edvard. 22:08 - Oh yes. 22:11 Yes. 22:12 Thank you for reminding me. 22:13 - Now come. 22:14 You must play for us again. 22:15 - I must get to them the very next thing. 22:16 - You promise? 22:19 Oh yes, of course. 22:20 (piano music) 22:23 Edvard Budapest. 22:36 Venice. 22:40 Amsterdam. 22:45 Edvard Grieg saw the world. 22:49 And the world saw Edvard Grieg. 22:52 (showy piano music finish) 22:55 (applause) 23:13 - He is a discovery. 23:19 Yes, this Edvard Grieg. 23:20 But wait, I have wonderful news. 23:23 The great playwright, Henry Ibsen 23:26 has commissioned our Edvard 23:29 to write the music for his new play "Peer Gynt". 23:32 (crowd murmuring) 23:35 And now, my friends, I invite you all to dance. 23:36 (waltz music) 23:40 - I cannot dance. 24:14 And I cannot stay with you any longer. 24:16 - Yesterday, you are a boy who wrote music 24:18 in a village, but today, the name of a man is heard. 24:20 You can become great. 24:24 - I belong at home, Countess. 24:26 Long ago, I made a promise to write the music of Norway, 24:28 but I've not written a single note. 24:33 - You're being foolish. 24:35 Now, dance with me? 24:36 - Herr Grieg,there is a young lady 24:40 in the ante room inquiring for you. 24:42 A young lady? 24:45 All right, I'll see her. 24:47 (applause) 24:48 - Nina! 24:56 Nina, what are you doing in Holland? 24:57 - I brought you a message from Rik. 24:59 - "Dear Edvard, 25:08 The day is passing in our lovely fjord, 25:10 sparks over the last light of a dying sun. 25:13 It is so with me and my life, 25:17 for I can hear God whisper..." 25:19 "To you, Edvard, I leave Norway. 25:23 The maid so fair like crystal to behold." 25:26 - Oh, Rik is gone. 25:31 - Nina, I failed him as I failed you! 25:33 - Oh no, Edvard. 25:36 - Take me back home, back to Trollveggen. 25:39 I need you, Nina. 25:42 I love you. 25:44 - Oh, Edvard! 25:46 Do you love me enough to give up the whole world? 25:46 - Norway is my world. 25:50 You are my world, Nina! 25:53 ♪ I hear you ask if I am yours ♪ 25:57 ♪ For keeping ♪ 26:01 ♪ Shame that a doubt should ever ♪ 26:06 ♪ Pass your lips ♪ 26:11 ♪ - I say it waking ♪ 26:21 ♪ Shall I say it sleeping? ♪ 26:24 ♪ I love your lips ♪ 26:29 ♪ I love your laugh ♪ 26:32 ♪ I love the tear that's dancing ♪ 26:35 ♪ On you eye ♪ 26:39 ♪ - I love you, dear ♪ 26:41 ♪ And there, ♪ 26:52 ♪ Your ♪ 26:54 ♪ Answer ♪ 26:56 ♪ Lies ♪ 26:59 (piano music) 27:19 Edvard Back in Trollvaggen, 27:29 Nina and I were married. 27:31 And quietly, like the falling of the snow, 27:33 we found our happiness. 27:37 - Edvard. 27:46 Come, my darling. 27:47 Look at the lovely snow. 27:48 - The mountains are asleep like giants 28:00 in their white blankets. 28:02 - Yes. 28:03 Yes, when you live among mountains, you feel their strength. 28:04 You remember, Edvard? 28:08 How Rik used to write about mountains? 28:11 - Yes, Nina. 28:14 His poem. 28:17 "The nature of beauty, Edvard," he said. 28:19 - "You'll find and make it live. 28:22 "Beyond. 28:25 Far beyond the span and space of all place north. 28:27 And before--oh, long before the face of time 28:31 fell among the pure. 28:35 The mountains loved the sky. 28:37 The sun knew the earth, 28:40 And the land bore spring." 28:43 (male voice vocalizing) 28:47 (fast piano music) 29:05 ♪ - Once long ago, ♪ 29:24 ♪ Long, long ago ♪ 29:31 ♪ In these hills dwelled a maid ♪ 29:35 ♪ A full well full of native clay for Norway ♪ 29:41 ♪ - So fair, like crystal to behold ♪ 29:49 ♪ Trolls and men alike entranced ♪ 29:54 ♪ When Norway danced ♪ 29:58 - His words. 30:01 Rik's words! 30:03 - And your music, Edvard. 30:04 Joined just as you promised long ago 30:05 on Midsummer's Eve! 30:07 ♪- And Norway will answer his call with her own ♪ 30:14 ♪ The song of Norway ringing clear ♪ 30:22 ♪ Through the hills ♪ 30:26 ♪ We'll stand hopeful and proud with our own ♪ 30:57 ♪ Our own ♪ 31:06 (applause) 31:12 - And now if you'll join us aboard the Show Train, 31:20 we want to thank Dorothy Warrendkjold, Mona Paulie, 31:22 Gil Russell, and all our Railroad Hour cast and orchestra. 31:25 We hope he'll be with us on the Show Train 31:30 two weeks from tonight 31:31 when we'll bring you a bright new musical story 31:32 written especially for the Railroad Hour: 31:35 "Springtime in Paris". 31:37 Now, before we leave, 31:42 we want you to meet some wheels 31:44 that are very important to all of us. 31:46 Yes. The wheels of a mighty railroad. 31:50 On these wheels roll 31:52 most of the things you eat, wear and use every day. 31:53 Let's see just how efficient and dependable 31:56 these wheels really are. 31:59 America's railroads haul more tons 32:00 more miles 32:02 than all other kinds of transportation put together. 32:03 At a lower average charge than any other form 32:06 of general transportation. 32:09 No wonder then this basic service is so vitally important 32:11 to every American and his country. 32:14 Tune in again, two weeks from tonight, 32:18 for another great musical: 32:20 "Springtime in Paris" 32:21 brought to you by the American railroad: 32:23 the basic transportation for you and your country. 32:25 (instrumental of "I've Been Working on the Railroad") 32:29 (applause) 32:33