Out At Ott's / Miracle of the Bulb

Cfa collection: John Nash Ott Collection
Notes: This film begins in John Ott's home studio where he and his son Henry plant bulbs. He explains to Henry that the bulbs must go through a winter dormant period in order to produce flowers in the spring.; A flashback sequence follows Ott as he plants bulbs outside, later excavates them on a cold winter day, and even retrieves cans of snow from the freezer to simulate outdoor plant growth inside his studio.; The remainder of the film presents time-lapse footage of Dutch spring bulb flowers including the crocus, daffodil, hyacinth and tulip as they grow rhythmically to songs like Felix Godin's "Valse Septembre," Samuel Coleridge-Taylor's "Demande Et Response," Herman Finck's "Laughing Eyes," Wilfrid Sanderson's "June is Calling," and Haydn Wood's "The Laughing Cavalier" and "Bird of Love Divine."; The film concludes as John and Henry Ott bid the audience farewell from the studio.; The film was produced over a three year period for the Associated Bulb Growers of Holland. Upon the film's release, bookings were coordinated by the non-profit company, Films of the Nations. In 1958, a 20-minute version of the film screened on BBC Television.
Distributed by: Films of the Nations
Subjects: Flowers; Ice Skating; Plants; Nature; Time
Places: North America > United States > Illinois > Winnetka
Language: English
Cfa elements: Reversal Positive Print, 325 feet
Cfa records: https://collections.chicagofilmarchives.org/Detail/objects/35996