Summary: Film presented by the Syndicate of French Mechanical Industries 'to the glory of the French Mechanic'.
Description: Caption states that 'this is not a war-time film; it was planned and finished just before war broke out and its object is to show the stupendous strides made in the development of French Mechanical Industries during these last hundred years. So it is a peaceful, smiling countryside that forms the background of this most remarkable presentation of an essentially national industry, faithful protector of the security and independence of France'. The following items are shown: underground mining for basic metals; the production of iron and steel; the timber industry; the textile industry (wools, cottons and linens); electricity and some of the changes it has brought about; the importance of printing, comparing the nineteenth and twentieth centuries; the cinema, with emphasis on the slow-motion process and reference to the Lumière brothers. The final reel of the film shows specialised work and laboratories, the year being 1939. It shows tests on large-scale models of aeroplanes and locomotives, the development of modern appliances and many other areas of industry. The film concludes by showing battleships, merchant ships and liners.
Production Details: Syndicate of French Mechanical Industries (Production sponsor)
Viva Film Productions (Production company)
Stein, Louis (Production individual)
Stein, Louis (Production individual)
Falk, Julien (Production individual)
Personalities, Units and Organisations:
Keywords: agriculture, French - arable (object name)
industry, French - general (object name)
industry, French - primary: iron and steel (object name)
industry, French - primary: extraction of ore (object name)
recreation, French civilian - cinema (object name)
France (geography)
Physical Characteristics: Colour format: B&W
Sound format: Sound
Soundtrack language: English
Title language: English
Subtitle language: English
Technical Details: Format: 35mm
Number of items/reels/tapes: 3
Footage: 2329 ft; Running time: 26 mins
