California Home Movies, B&W Commercials and “Feature Story” 1953 Pontiac film

Duration: 800 ft.

Genre: home movie

Year Published: 1953

Creator: Oddball Reel

Complete Record: 1. Pontiac Automobile, “Destination: ‘Dotted Line’”. B&W, 1953. An industrial narrative showcasing 1953 Pontiac details of grill, speedometer, light switches, air conditioning, steering wheel. Comparison of 1952 model to 1953. Outside shots of cars driving around. Diagram and animation of car on shocks. New model car on spinning show wheel. Demonstration outside of interior, etc. Woodie woody cars, various models. 2. Various U.S. state travelogues. B&W, est. early 1950s. a. “California” travelogue. Shot of oncoming train at dusk. CU of chugga chugga choo choo wheels. Superimposition of train conductor smiling and saluting camera over bg of moving train tracks. Pan of speeding locomotive w/ smoke. Mountainous and hilly landscapes. Train passes cars on parallel road. b. Salt Lake City, Utah. Shot of lake from POV of car on bridge. [this sequence is clipped, ends abruptly]. 3. Home movies, California. Color, est. early 1950s. Town of Carmel, beach, homes, Inns, coastline, cliffs, breakers, waves. 4. Travelogues, Pasadena, CA. B&W, est. early 1950s. a. “Christmas tree Lane”. Quick shot from interior of car going down a lane lined w/ pine trees. b. “Remains of Rose Parade”. Dinosaur sculptures in front of building, a la Route 66. Ends on title card for next segment that is clipped off: “The Mongs of California”. 4. Home Movie of older couple in garden and backyard, sipping coffee. B&W, est. late 1940s. 5. Travelogue. B&W, est. early 1950s. a. “War Equipment, Oakland, Cal.” Moving landscapes, marsh lands, mililtary housing. b. “San Francisco, California”. Sailors, traffic, cable cars on roundabout on Market Street. c. “City Building, San Francisco”. City Hall. Kids feeding pigeons. d. “Cable Car”. Powell & Market cable car shots. men turning cable car on roundabout. e. “Fisherman’s Wharf”. Sail boats at wharf. Tugboat. Food vendor of some kind. f. “Coit Tower”. Tilt up of tower. Shots of and pan of bay w/ sail boats, Alcatraz, cityscape. g. “Nob Hill”. Doorman, Fairmont Hotel. Old cars coming up hill h. “Top of the Mark”. shots of city from above. distant shot of Coit tower. i. “Chinatown”. Kids and school, people on street, dead DOG for store. Chinese signs. Chinese temples. Aerial shots of congested freeways and lots and lots of traffic speeding by and under. Interior shots from car on freeway. 3a) Various scenes from San Francisco in the 1940’s. Fisherman’s Wharf, Coit Tower, Nob Hill, etc. Different street scenes, cars, people, houses, buildings. Aerial views of the city. Chinatown. Small children with their families in Chinatown, merchants, street life. Several aerial shots of freeways, how they all intersect and wind together. Lots of traffic. POV shots from the car. 3b) MS of man on phone. Sign saying “Splendid Performance...” in background. Neon Pontiac sign. Old Pontiac driving up to window. MS of two men talking about cars, the 1953 Pontiac. Man sells different features of the ‘53 Pontiac. Convenience and Safety. New design--doors, seats, windows, etc. More comfort and roominess. Spotlight highlights special features. Gas gage and money window shown to illustrate the economic benefits of this new car. Bigger trunk too. CU of hand pulling emergency brake (with only two fingers!) Animated cutout of car with wheels, shows how the shocks work better and wheels hold straighter on curve. Takes corners better. Giant spotlight shines on Pontiac that spins around to show all it’s glory. Exterior shots of ‘53 Pontiac’s in different colors and models. CU of different features (seats, windows, trunk, engine, etc.) Shows car in action on the road. Finishes with LS of Neon Pontiac sign. 3c) Rain shield for women’s shoes. 3d) Texaco spot 3e) Allstate Insurance talking heads 3f) Mennen after shave /girl 3g) Texaco spot with winter weather 3h)True Temper Hardware, rakes, sprinklers 3i) watch spot w/ pistol shots