AMERICAN CONGRESSMEN VISIT FRANCE [Main Title]

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  • Title: AMERICAN CONGRESSMEN VISIT FRANCE [Main Title]
  • Film Number: IWM 142
  • Other titles:
  • Summary: Visit of some American congressmen to Vimy Ridge and the Somme battlefield, Western Front, 9-10 November 1917.
  • Description: Seven congressmen with a British officer escort walk through an ordnance workshop with a light railway terminal, past 6-inch howitzers (presumably being repaired). They go on to tour Vimy Ridge on foot, wearing shrapnel helmets, walking up the ridge to see the view from the top described by their escort. The group visits the inside of the damaged Arras Cathedral and Albert Cathedral (showing the Leaning Virgin very clearly). In civilian clothes they tour the Somme battlefield close to Fricourt Farm, including a visit to Péronne. The film ends with a shot of the US flag flying in the wind.
  • Access Conditions: IWM Attribution: © IWM
  • Featured Period: 1914-1918
  • Production Date: 1918
  • Production Country: GB
  • Production Details: War Office Cinema Committee (Production sponsor) Topical Film Company (Production company)
  • Personalities, Units and Organisations: British Army (regiment/service) United States Congress (regiment/service)
  • Keywords: delegations, United States international - political (object name) weapons, British - gun: 6-inch 26cwt howitzer & [damaged] (object name) transport, British military - rail: narrow gauge train (object name) buildings, French - religious: cathedral (object name) 01/3(4-15).7 (event) Vimy Ridge, Pas-de-Calais, France (geography) Albert, Somme, France (geography) Péronne, Somme, France (geography) Fricourt, Somme, France (geography)
  • Physical Characteristics: Colour format: B&W Sound format: Silent Soundtrack language: None Title language: None Subtitle language: None
  • Technical Details: Format: 35mm Number of items/reels/tapes: 1 Footage: 398 ft; Running time: 7 mins
  • HD Media:Yes
  • Notes: Title: this is taken from the shotsheet. Summary: none of the congressmen can be identified. They may be part of Colonel House's mission to Europe, but the main body of this mission did not leave London for Paris until 23 November.
  • Link to IWM Collections page:

    IWM 142

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