“ WORK AND PLAY IN BELGIUM ” 1950 TOURISM TRAVELOGUE BRUSSELS, GHENT, BRUGES XD45504

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This 1950 color film, issued by the Belgian Government Information Center of New York City and released as part of the Films of the Nations series, takes a travelogue view of Brussels, Ghent, Bruges, and other Belgian cities’ historic architecture and national export industries during the post-World War II era (21:01). It is narrated by Peter Allen and produced by DPM Productions, and directed by Maurice T. Groen. The film served both an educational function and serves as a tourist promo piece.

Opening titles. Logo for “F.O.N.” Films of the Nations, New York City. “Work and Play In Belgium” over an illustrated map of the country (0:09). Historic urban architecture in Brussels. The Cathedral of St. Michael and St. Gudula (0:56). The Royal Palace of Brussels. Le Palais de Justice. Grand Place, aka the Grand Market square: Le Roy d’Espagne, La Brouette, Le Sac, La Louve, Le Cornet, and Le Renard. The tower of Town Hall (1:24). A statuary fountain in regal dress making water (2:07). A streetcar, automobiles, and bicyclists. Signs for various businesses and brands, including Cointreau liqueur. A peaceful pond with geese and overhanging trees. Modern high-rise apartment buildings (2:12). The campus of the University of Brussels (2:43). The seaport of Antwerp. Docked ships and a truck piled high with cargo. An ice cream vendor (2:47). Gothic architecture. In the background, the Cathedral of Our Lady. A tunnel and passing automobiles. Baroque architecture. The Peter Paul Rubens House in Antwerp (3:10). Pedestrians and automobiles (3:45). Tractors and cargo ships. Miles of docks and cranes lifting cargo (4:00). Historic buildings on the Graslei aka the Grass Quay in Ghent: De Beerie, Den Witten Leeuw, Den Enghel, Eerste Korenmetershuis, Spijker, Tolhuisje, Tweede Korenmetershuis, Vrije Schippers Guildhall. St. Bavo’s Cathedral. Gravensteen castle (4:44). Ghent’s harbor. More footage of cranes loading and unloading cargo (5:04). A man on a barge looks at chickens (5:29). An archery competition (5:41). A swing carousel and a carnival. A dance in a public square, decorated with electric lights (6:09). Bruges City Hall and surrounding areas. Bruges city ramparts and town gate house. The Market Square in Bruges, with 17th century architecture featuring stepped gables (6:44). Young girls and an elderly woman making lace, rapidly manipulating bobbins of thread (7:24). The North Sea Coast and seaside resorts. Tourists on tandem bicycles, in swimsuits, bathing, enjoying meals. An amphibious boat (7:47). A casino. Tennis, miniature golf, and pedal cars (8:44). Agricultural regions of Belgium. A farmer and a horse-drawn flax harvester. A young man, a young boy, and a woman in a textile mill, making linen (9:06). Cows at pasture. A windmill. Horses at rest and work (10:09). Local parades (11:07). Industrial areas and Belgian factories. Railway yards. A coal mine. A horse pulls mining carts piled high with coal (11:33). Heavy industry. A steel mill and smelting operations (12:48). A potter spins clay on a potter’s wheel (13:33). A steam locomotive. Boy scouts. The Citadel of Namur and Namur Bridge (13:54). Tourist pedestrians during regatta. Men row canoes. Bicyclists (14:20). Tent camping. Rod fishing (15:02). Dinant, along la Meuse River and Bayard Rock. La cathédrale Notre Dame de Dinant and the Citadel. Views from the fort (15:43). The Ardennes Mountain region. A caravan of buses. Rustic rural farms. The Chateau d’Ardennes and landscaped gardens (16:27). The Hotel des Ardennes and local countrysides (17:41). The town of Spa. The city of Liège. A glassmaking studio. Blowing and polishing glass (18:01). Peaches and grapes growing in a greenhouse (19:14). The Université catholique de Louvain, aka the Catholic University of Louvain. College athletes run and jump. Review of previous scenes (19:43). “The End” (20:45).

This film was photographed by Earl B. Brink, written by Dorothy P. Maulsby, and narrated by Peter Allen.


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This film is part of the Periscope Film LLC archive, one of the largest historic military, transportation, and aviation stock footage collections in the USA. Entirely film backed, this material is available for licensing in 24p HD, 2k and 4k. For more information visit http://www.PeriscopeFilm.com