Routes of American Airlines

Year Published: 1966

Creator: American Airlines

Complete Record: Promotional film designed for the purpose of encouraging tourism in San Simeon, San Francisco, and Hollywood, California using American Airlines routes. Map of the State of California zooms in on San Simeon, California, with the word San Simeon appearing over map. MS of zebras on grazing on a hillside landscape on the grounds of the Hearst Castle. CU shot of Hearst Castle exteriors, including CU and MS of floral, gates, sculptures, and outdoor swimming pool with Doric Columns surrounding the pool. Interior shots of artwork, furniture, archways, indoor swimming pool. Film moves to exterior shots of CU of garden statues, palm trees, well maintained bushes and flowers, tourists. Fade out shot of statue with hill side landscape in the background. Narration describes that the Hearst Castle can be accessed by American Airlines. Map of State of California zooms in on Chinatown in San Francisco, with the word “Chinatown” appearing over the map. CU of cable cars, Grant St. and California St. sign, MS of motor powered pedicab on a street. Numerous CU shots of faces of Chinese population, CU of tourist faces, and CU of merchandise typically found in souvenir shops of Chinatown. CU of Middle aged Chinese woman wearing traditional Chinese outfit during a cultural performance. CU of exterior of Buddhist temple, interior CU’s in the temple of Buddha sculptures, and CU of young Chinese woman’s face. Montage of nightlife scene in Chinatown including, CU’s of martini neon signs, cocktail lounges, restaurants, nightclub with women dancing in bright colored dresses. Aerial shot of downtown San Francisco looking Northeast with Coit Tower in the foreground with San Francisco Bay, Marin County, and Alcatraz in the background. Shot zooms down to MS of playground scene with Chinese school children on a merry go round and playing with a ball. CU of old Chinese men’s faces board game Go. CU of a cable car going up California St. hill. Map of State of California zooms in on Hollywood, California, with the word “Hollywood” appearing over the map. MS of a Western being filmed on set of a movie lot. Universal Studio tourist trolley appears full of tourists. Pan shot of set construction with construction vehicles, set facades and props, including Abraham Lincoln prop statue. Montage scene of movie lot action including MS fight scene, scrapped military vehicles, staged rain sequence, burning torches, CU shots of Roman, Greek, Southwest, Chinese, and Egyptian cultural film sets. CU of a microphone attached to a boom arm, and western town film set. MS of knife fight sequence during Western shoot. The film ends with onlooking tourists applauding the shoot, and a LS of Hollywood.