Other titles:NATO DOCUMENTARIES [Allocated Series Title]
Summary: A film study of the condition of present-day Turkey, its successive cultures through the ages, its technical and economic development and its military contribution to Western collective security.
Description: Film shows Turkey as a mixture of tradition and progress: aerial views of old towns, new residential areas and factories in the Anatolian plane. The increase of population in Turkey is key to the development of steel factories. Urban scenes of Ankara. Group of Turkish jets F 100 Super Sabre on flight. Political and military authorities pay tribute to Ataturk, the father of the modern Republic Turkey, at his memorial site. Some of his achievements are listed accompanied with illustrative footage: Latin alphabet was adopted: books or signs on the streets and in public buildings written in two ways. A pleasant university garden that used to be a religious centre. Students gather in front of the mosque. Another important Ataturk’s reform was the emancipation of women: A female physicist working in the Nuclear research centre. Water in the cooling tanks being checked for radiation. Women in Parliament. Scenes of children in school (as Ataturk gave education a vital role). Turkish history is dealt through the different civilizations it was related with. Footage of the ruins of the city of Pergamon that represents the Greek and Roman past of Turkey. Archaeology students research on the site on a summer day. In the place where Romans built a health centre now stands a spa hotel. The Byzantine Empire which lasted a thousand years and the Christian community of Cappadocia with its original carved in stone houses and churches. The film displays some paintings on the wall inside one of those churches. The Ottoman Empire left his trade mark as well with buildings like the Blue Mosque. Asik Ishani is an example of traditional folk music . He is shown playing in town squares from footage belonging to one of the features films he performed in. Those remnants of Turkish folklore is contrasted with modern methods implemented in agriculture. Grapes are checked by technicians and exported abroad to countries such as United Kingdom. Traditional commerce still exists: fishermen activity at the port, old-style bakery and fruit stall. The elderly teaching Turkish checkers to kids. Women carry on with traditions as well: female sewers add traditional prints onto fabrics. Also a modern fashion show inside a store. Scenes inside a theatre where classic and contemporary dance students practice, soon after contrasted with Bursa sword dance. Old customs are revived as old pieces for new generations: soldiers in ancient uniforms down the old walls of Anadolu fortress in Istambul. Modern Turkish army: Latest missile launcher Patih. Barbwire and fences in the border with USSR and Bulgaria: a small train from the Turkish National Rail reaches the end of the line. This train as a “gesture of good will” steps 300 yards into the Soviet territory before starting the journey back. Footage shows these manoeuvres. Nearby stands an armoured division headquarters with soldiers from different NATO countries. Tank manoeuvres during a NATO military exercise. Turkish Navy destroyers TCG Gaziantep D-344 and TCG Giresun D-345 (ex-Gleaves from US Navy) are shown together with images of the Bosphoros. The commentary states the need for a development program for Turkey and to maintain its defence forces to keep the country free from Soviet interference.
Alternative Title:NATO DOCUMENTARIES [Allocated Series Title]
Colour:Colour
Digitised:Yes
Object_Number:NAT 2042
Sound:Sound
Access Conditions:IWM NATO
Featured Period:
Production Date:1964
Production Country: Turkey
Production Details: NORTH ATLANTIC TREATY ORGANIZATION. INFORMATION SERVICE (Production company)
Turkish Ministry of Tourism and Information (Production sponsor)
Sandoz, Henry (Production individual)
Curtis, Jack (Production individual)
Palfrey, Jacques (Production individual)
Ihsani, Asik (Production individual)
Rohozinski, Jean de (Production individual)
