Paris: The City And The People (1960)

la [Music] I'm sorry I don't speak French means welcome to Paris may I show you the city where I live my Paris yes I'd really like to know Paris it's so big where shall We Begin well let's begin with the river the sand you can see it there it flows through the heart of our city now we are on the same and you recognize that don't you yes the Cathedral of notredam isn't it correct the cathedral stands on this small island in the middle of the S this is where Paris began as a Roman town more than 2,000 years ago centuries later about 1290 when the cathedral was finished the the City of Paris occupied the island and both banks of the River today the city has spread far beyond this so the cathedral is in the oldest part of Paris on the island in the sa yes and from the top of the cathedral we can see how far the city extends Paris is very old then a long history of more than 2,000 years history oh yes the history of Paris is also the history of France let me show you the ark the Triumph the Arch of Triumph reminds us of the great place France won in world history beneath the arch is the eternal flame that honors the Unknown Soldier of France and now more history in this building lean valid is the tomb of one of France's greatest soldiers Napoleon who created a great French Empire here today our government as you know is a republic our Senate meets here in the luxur palace it was once the home of the kings of France this is another former Royal residence Le P bbon it is here that our National Assembly meets Paris has many government buildings then yes and many thousands of parisians work for the government but Paris is more than a government City it is also the financial center of France this is our Stock Exchange it is called labur the word means purse in French businessmen from all over the world come to Paris to deal with French companies so Paris is a city of Commerce very much so let me explain by showing you this the Eiffel Tower this is a beautiful view yes but do you know why it was built you see it was built in 1889 for a World's fair an exposition of trade and commerce and Paris is still a display center for French products in particular our city is famous for women's Fashions that's one of your famous dress shops isn't it yes it is one of many such shops in Paris for we clothing is a big industry here and thousands of parisians work in the special trades such as designing and making dresses other workers make accessories for which Paris is also famous the right hat is important and so is a fine fur piece to set off a parisan gown we are famous too for our fine perfumes and cosmetics and our exquisite jewelry and Paris offers things to beautify the home to such as fine porcelin were that reminds me Paris is famous as an art center too isn't it of course what would Paris be without art or without the art students who come here from all parts of the world many of them go to the lou to study some of the finest art masterpieces ever collected the Lou is our Palace of Fine Arts the Paris Opera is the home of music and ballet if it is drama you prefer we have many theaters including our famous comedi Fran Paris like New York and other big cities has many theaters and of course movie houses too but but perhaps you are interested in literature along the S we will find literature in our open book stalls it looks like a pleasant way to browse through books we will often see students here because you see we are not far from the University of Paris it is one of the oldest in Europe students from France and other lands come here to study a variety of subjects in the art Arts and Sciences the university also offers courses in such things as engineering perhaps these young men may someday design a piece of Machinery to be used in our heavy Industries heavy Industries I never thought of Paris as an industrial city oh yes we have many factories in the city and nearby suburbs chemicals and Machinery are two kinds of Industrial Products we make Railway equipment is another and as with other great cities Paris is a Transportation Center especially for railroads our city is a central point for railroads that link all parts of France to Paris our railroad stations handle many thousands of passengers every day I know that station it's the gar s Lazar where I came into Paris from here I took a taxi and had my first drive in your city did you know that our Boulevard and the bridges that cross the S are all part of the national highway system that comes together in Paris of course the S is also part of our transportation system barges carry many products to and from Paris some of the boatmen and their families live on their barges Al bet that's great fun for the kids I imagine but the main reason for barges on the S is to to bring Paris its products for example food this is one of our produced markets this is a different kind of Market a flower market to most parisians beauty is as important as food could we see more of the way parisians really live of course here is madine the girl with the flowers and her friend after work many parisians go home by bus others may take the metro the subway just as meline is doing the Metro leads from the city into the residential neighborhoods and the suburbs madlan Walks from the station to her home madan's neighborhood perhaps like hers has its small shops and stores like many parisians madin lives in an apartment building can we visit her home of course we will meet her family too madin GRE her father first [Music] listen for [Music] [Music] [Music] whether they speak French or your own language a family is a family is it not and now at the end of the day one last look at our city but we haven't seen it all no there is much more the quiet elegant suburbs the old sections of the city with their narrow streets the sidewalk cafes where parishan love to sit and talk and the parks where we take our children on Sunday yes all this is Paris and more I hope that you have enjoyed this brief visit I have I feel I'm getting to know Paris and why it is a great and important city Mercy thank thank you and now here on one of our grand boulevards I will say orir until we meet again [Music]