This World of Ours: Flight to Spain

Year Published: 1951

Description: A Dudley Pictures Corp. short, “This World of Ours: Flight to Spain” (1951) is a color travelogue film photographed by Ed Drews and produced by American film director and producer Carl Dudley (1910-1973). The 11-minute film takes the viewer on a trip across Spain highlighting its historic and bustling cities like Cadiz, Grenada, Barcelona, and Madrid while also underscoring important aspects of Spanish culture like olive oil, cork, and wine production in addition to Flamenco dance. The film is one of 30 short films made in the 1950s as part of the "This World of Ours" series. Parade of Giants and Bigheads in streets of San Fermin ahead of running of the bulls (0:23). Two Spanish women in traditional dress, lace shawls, lace hand fans (0:36). Older peasant woman rides on back of donkey (0:48). Shepherd leads sheep through pasture (0:56). Donkey operates Moorish Waterwheel (1:02). Panoramic view of rooftops, Cádiz, oldest city in Spain (1:12). Scenes from streets of Cadiz: Two men transport a couch, horse-drawn carriages (1:22). Camera pans view of homes in Granada (1:41). Alhambra, details of Moorish architecture and design in Court of the Myrtles (Patio de los Arrayanes), Court of the Lions (1:51). Troop of Andalusian Roma (Gypsies) dance Flamenco on street corner in old quarter of Albaicín (2:15). Barcelona: Panoramic view of Plaça de Catalunya, Banco Español de Credito building beside the plaza (2:59). Plaça de Francesc Macià (3:15). Two children feed bread crumbs to pigeons flocking in public square (3:27). Man drinks from communal botijo (búcaro) on city street (3:36). Camera pans Port of Barcelona, Spain’s most important harbor (3:44). Barcelona major point for import of textiles esp. cotton: Crane slowly lowers parcels of cotton from ship onto pier below (3:56). View of yellow cable car as it makes its way up mountainside to Montserrat Monastery, Santa Maria de Montserrat Abbey (4:10). Aerial view of Montserrat Monastery (4:25). Student monks walk through ancient city (4:40). Facade of Santa Iglesia Catedral Primada de Toledo (Great Cathedral of Toledo) (4:53). Traditional Toledo artisan focuses as he works precious metals into intricate floral design of Damascene box; Woman rotates in hand a finished example of a Damascene box featuring a Moorish-style design (pattern similar to Moroccan zellige tile work) (5:08). View of street in Seville, Giralda bell tower (5:35). Olive oil: Green of olive grove contrasts red soil of rolling hills; Farmer uses horse-drawn plow while another man handpicks olives from trees (5:53). Panoramic view of Valencia city skyline, Plaça de la Reina (6:11). Two farmers use ox-drawn plow to till soil (6:19). Basque farmers use traditional methods to farm, harvest crops like wheat (6:34). Man on ox-drawn reaper (6:47). Wine: Women harvest wine grapes, place them into wicker baskets (7:03). Cork: Two men strip cork oaks of bark; Ox pull wagon filled to top through cork forest at end of harvest day (7:18). Madrid: Plaza de Colón, Columbus Monument (7:48). Church of Saint Manuel and Saint Benedict (8:08). El Retiro Park (8:12). Pedestrian traffic along Puerta del Sol (8:18). Entrance for Madrid Metro (8:25). Metropolis Building at corner of Calle de Alcalá and Gran Vía (8:33). Traffic officer tries to direct traffic at bustling corner (8:41). Female vendor sells pastel-colored wafers from cart, another pedlar sells lottery tickets (8:49). Puerta de Alcalá (8:59). Royal Palace of Madrid (9:08). Equestrian statue, Monument of Philip IV of Spain by Diego Velázquez (9:15). Modernist architecture buildings at University of Madrid (9:23). Packed stands at football stadium, football match (9:46). Las Ventas Bullring (Plaza de Toros Las Ventas) (10:10). Inside bullring, matador puts on performance with bull (10:16). Troup performs traditional Mallorcan folk dance, traditional instruments like guitarra de canya (10:31). The End (11:09).

Complete Record: A Dudley Pictures Corp. short, “This World of Ours: Flight to Spain” (1951) is a color travelogue film photographed by Ed Drews and produced by American film director and producer Carl Dudley (1910-1973). The 11-minute film takes the viewer on a trip across Spain highlighting its historic and bustling cities like Cadiz, Grenada, Barcelona, and Madrid while also underscoring important aspects of Spanish culture like olive oil, cork, and wine production in addition to Flamenco dance. The film is one of 30 short films made in the 1950s as part of the "This World of Ours" series. Parade of Giants and Bigheads in streets of San Fermin ahead of running of the bulls (0:23). Two Spanish women in traditional dress, lace shawls, lace hand fans (0:36). Older peasant woman rides on back of donkey (0:48). Shepherd leads sheep through pasture (0:56). Donkey operates Moorish Waterwheel (1:02). Panoramic view of rooftops, Cádiz, oldest city in Spain (1:12). Scenes from streets of Cadiz: Two men transport a couch, horse-drawn carriages (1:22). Camera pans view of homes in Granada (1:41). Alhambra, details of Moorish architecture and design in Court of the Myrtles (Patio de los Arrayanes), Court of the Lions (1:51). Troop of Andalusian Roma (Gypsies) dance Flamenco on street corner in old quarter of Albaicín (2:15). Barcelona: Panoramic view of Plaça de Catalunya, Banco Español de Credito building beside the plaza (2:59). Plaça de Francesc Macià (3:15). Two children feed bread crumbs to pigeons flocking in public square (3:27). Man drinks from communal botijo (búcaro) on city street (3:36). Camera pans Port of Barcelona, Spain’s most important harbor (3:44). Barcelona major point for import of textiles esp. cotton: Crane slowly lowers parcels of cotton from ship onto pier below (3:56). View of yellow cable car as it makes its way up mountainside to Montserrat Monastery, Santa Maria de Montserrat Abbey (4:10). Aerial view of Montserrat Monastery (4:25). Student monks walk through ancient city (4:40). Facade of Santa Iglesia Catedral Primada de Toledo (Great Cathedral of Toledo) (4:53). Traditional Toledo artisan focuses as he works precious metals into intricate floral design of Damascene box; Woman rotates in hand a finished example of a Damascene box featuring a Moorish-style design (pattern similar to Moroccan zellige tile work) (5:08). View of street in Seville, Giralda bell tower (5:35). Olive oil: Green of olive grove contrasts red soil of rolling hills; Farmer uses horse-drawn plow while another man handpicks olives from trees (5:53). Panoramic view of Valencia city skyline, Plaça de la Reina (6:11). Two farmers use ox-drawn plow to till soil (6:19). Basque farmers use traditional methods to farm, harvest crops like wheat (6:34). Man on ox-drawn reaper (6:47). Wine: Women harvest wine grapes, place them into wicker baskets (7:03). Cork: Two men strip cork oaks of bark; Ox pull wagon filled to top through cork forest at end of harvest day (7:18). Madrid: Plaza de Colón, Columbus Monument (7:48). Church of Saint Manuel and Saint Benedict (8:08). El Retiro Park (8:12). Pedestrian traffic along Puerta del Sol (8:18). Entrance for Madrid Metro (8:25). Metropolis Building at corner of Calle de Alcalá and Gran Vía (8:33). Traffic officer tries to direct traffic at bustling corner (8:41). Female vendor sells pastel-colored wafers from cart, another pedlar sells lottery tickets (8:49). Puerta de Alcalá (8:59). Royal Palace of Madrid (9:08). Equestrian statue, Monument of Philip IV of Spain by Diego Velázquez (9:15). Modernist architecture buildings at University of Madrid (9:23). Packed stands at football stadium, football match (9:46). Las Ventas Bullring (Plaza de Toros Las Ventas) (10:10). Inside bullring, matador puts on performance with bull (10:16). Troup performs traditional Mallorcan folk dance, traditional instruments like guitarra de canya (10:31). The End (11:09).

Transcription

[Music] beyond the Spanish Pyrenees lies a land of sun and song and Fiesta where today keeps Eternal rendevu with yesterday Spain holds a thousand strange enchantments she is the Exotic mystery of a dark-eyed senorita fiery and fascinating enchantress of romantic Andalucia flicking her painted fan a patient old peasant woman following on plotting donkey the Timeless Trails of centuries that are gone she is The Shepherd of the Lonely plain tending countless roming flocks down through many generations she is the ancient water wheel of the nomadic Moors whose Muslim culture has left its indelible imprint upon her art and [Music] architecture she is the golden Splendor of historic cadis oldest city in Western Europe founded long before Rome was even a dream this famous pearl of Andalusia was a thriving Seaport during the days of the Phoenicians some 1500 years before the Advent of Christianity here The Perennial Paths of History weave their mystic patterns here the Antiquated and the modern mingle in fascinating Harmony Eastward now to romantic Granada last of the Mish strong holds on the Iberian Peninsula and home of the famous alhamra in this ancient Arabian Palace on the Granada Heights the beautiful Court of the myrtles reflects the genius of its artisans while the court of the Lions is reminiscent of those days when the Moors ruled this land of the Southern Sun those colorful days immortalized in Washington Irvings tales of the [Music] alhamra the gypsies of Granada living in Mountainside caves in the picturesque old quarter of el albasin still dance through the Tim haunted streets of their ancestors [Music] the siren song of gypsy music and flashing feet beating out the rhythm of the throbbing Temple it's all a part of the Vivid pageantry and Strange Magic of Spain [Music] now it's beautiful Barcelona on the Mediterranean and the imposing Plaza de catalunia largest Square in Spain this colorful capital of the Catalan provinces also combines the past with the present but if much of her architecture is dated Barcelona today definitely epitomizes the progressive Spirit of modern Spain these Barcelona youngsters are as Blonde as their Nordic cousins and just as eye appealing the poro or water jug is definitely an old Spanish custom the true artist never touches his lips to the spout Barcelona is one of Spain's largest cities and also her most important Harbor a Mediterranean Port of Call for vessels from the seven seeds cotton is an important commodity to this city of the North and she is the nation's textile Capital Spain is first in European wool production but Imports large quantities of cotton just outside Barcelona high in the craggy catalonian Hills stands one of the Catholic world's most celebrated shrines monserat a cable car is a necessary means of conveyance here where the only way is up literally clinging to the face of the precipitous Hillside the monastery is not only a far Fame religious Center but an engineering Miracle as well a miniature city of the Soaring Heights student monks are known as the pages of the mother of God an appropriate appalation considering their sacred calling and the Heavenly Grandeur of their environment Spain is a land of magnificent shrines the great Cathedral of Toledo begun in the 13th century when San Fernando himself laid the first stone is another Soul inspiring Masterpiece of the ages just as old Toledo was once renowned for The Temper of the Toledo Blade so today do her Artisans enjoy equal Fame for a more intricate handicraft working precious metals into minute designs here gold thread is hammered into steel later to be fired for permanence the result may be a decorative Jewel box like this an art which Toledo can truly call her own South once more and now the ever shifting scene is sevil ralda Tower this lofty moish minet erected in the 12th century remains one of the great monuments of Muslim architecture and a symbol of sevil outside the stored City Olive Groves spread their green across Rolling Hills and Valleys this section of southern Spain produces much of the olive oil which long been one of the country's profitable exports now it's Valena city of song and story spreading her golden fan across the sunswept landscape but the Spain of the city is not the Spain of the country where time and tradition set the changeless tempo and the farmer of today still follows many of the Antiquated customs of his forebears basks like these still prefer the old ways harvesting their crops after the manner of their farming ancestors this method of harvesting wheat does have its modern aspects but it's a far cry from the mechanized deficiency of today's world here mule power does the farmer's threshing much like method of those ancient Phoenicians from farming wheat to growing grapes another popular and profitable old Spanish custom Spain is fourth in World wine production almost every section famous for its grapes and its own special vintage cork is another product of this productive Nation Spain is second only to neighboring Portugal in the production of this versatile and highly useful material the cork Oaks are stripped of their bark at regular intervals each tree has a productive life of over 100 years Spain's cork forests cover millions of Acres from which she annually harvests and exports thousands of tons of bark on this Spanish Adventure is magnificent Madrid capital of Europe's oldest state Madrid is a comparatively young City yet her historical landmarks are many in the plaza cologne the Columbus Monument rises in reverent dedication to the great Discoverer a city of classic charm from her many churches to her lovely rtio park where a Sunday prominade is always the fashion clad Del Soul the Time Square of Madrid is another familiar landmark in this Metropolis where the modern way of life mingles with a Cosmopolitan at [Music] atmosphere here in the central part of the city the cay de Alca and the grand via join in carrying the surging traffic's Flowing Tide the big city symphony beating out its ceaseless [Music] Rhythm KingSize sugar Wafers Bard Sweet Tooth and challenge his sales resistance while the traditional lottery ticket solicits his pus the poed Alcala reminiscent of the Arch of Triumph was built by a Spanish Monarch just as the Royal Palace once the home of princely dynasties symbolizes the Madrid of another nostalgic yesterday this imposing equestrian statue is the only known sculpture ever designed by the great painter Vasquez the University of Madrid completely rebuilt since the Spanish Civil War stands as an impressive example of the Modern Trend both in culture and custom which is influencing Spain the strikingly modernistic architecture of this beautiful University significantly reflects that [Music] Trend soccer is a national sport and huge stadiums have been built to accommodate his enthusiastic followers here the game is played with typical Spanish Zeal with two hard charging teams fighting for the victory International contests are always highly exciting events especially when the partisanship is as spirited as the sportsmanship the plaza de Toros and another famous Latin sport the bull ring has its own fiery drama with man and animal fighting for Supremacy and the favor of the crowd El Toro loses his footing but not his [Music] temper from Modern Madrid to ancient mayorca story Spanish Isle of the blue Mediterranean in the Pastoral peace of their Rolling Hills myars perform a folk dance of their [Music] ancestors such is Spain land of sun and song and Fiesta Eternal land of strange enchantments in this world of ours [Music]

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