" TROPICAL MOUNTAIN ISLAND " JAVA INDONESIA 1948 EDUCATIONAL FILM 53904

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"Tropical Mountain Island" is a vintage travelogue taking viewers on a tour through Java, Indonesia. Java is a part of the Greater Sunda Islands. It displays the island's production of quinine bark, tea, sugar cane, rice, kapok and rubber; all major crops of the island. It concludes with a visit to the major port city of Batavia noting popular sites in the area. The travelogue swings in covering location and landscape (:40); mineral rich soil and spindly palms spring up amid volcanic lands (:49). Agriculture is a major industry of the area (:58), much of the crop production is exported. They also feed fifty million local mouths (1:06). Java local’s mill through an open air market (1:12). The warm climate enables open air workshops for women spinning thread (1:26). Close shots follow a young woman hand crafting a piece (1:38). Local hands produce intricately designed Japanese silver (1:50). A server sets out serving dish at a local restaurant (2:11). Rice is a main dish set out at each meal (2:14). Ancient instruments ring out traditional tunes (2:42). A small Buddha sits criss-crossed outside of the world’s largest Buddhist temple of Borobudur (3:05). Close shots capture stunning architecture and statues carved into it (3:14). An aerial shot of a foaming volcanic crater appears (3:44). Molten lava bubbles up from cracks (4:16). A train runs through (4:27) the highlands countryside (4:34).  A lack of farm lands forced the construction of terraces (4:54). Pick axes cut into soft tropical lands (5:17). Hands pluck at the grasses along the sides of the vegetable gardens (5:27). Women pick at crops under wide brimmed hats (5:36). The train runs up the mountain (5:58). The production of quinine begins in the forest (6:08). Java is a major global producer of quinine (6:23). Quinine bark is hacked off (6:41) tree limbs. Once the grove is harvested, another is raised (6:54). Java women smash the bark into powder down in wooden sheds (7:31). Sacks of the powder are carted off for distribution in factories in the city (8:09). The railroad runs by a tea plantation (8:44). Women pluck waxy leaves (9:20) to send to the processing plants (9:48). Leaves are rolled and dried in factory ovens (9:53). Packed tea leaves (10:36) are distributed to the city (10:46). The train sinks to a lower altitude where the climate is warmer (11:05). The production of sisan begins at the plant base (11:12). Leaves are gathered in a wooden cart (11:39) to a factory (11:48). The leaves are machine stripped (12:05), fibers are trimmed (12:25) and the twine is formed (12:25). The train pushes past a coca plantation (12:38). Beans hang from the trees (12:47). Workers tap on the fat pods (12:49) and crack open the bean pods (13:15) to scoop free the beans and cover them with a sugary pulp (13:34). Pulp dries under the sun (13:40). Kapok is plucked (14:06) for use as stuffing. Fibers are separated from seed in a snowy cascade (14:33). Java farmers march forward chopping at the fibers (14:46). The train reaches the muggy lowlands (15:05). Rice is harvested in the field (15:10). Women cut stalks (15:20), hand thresh them (15:25) and stuff them into neat sacks (15:43). Oxen help to irrigate the field (15:59). Fish wade in the rice paddies (16:22) soon to be swept up by net. Sugar cane stalks are tipped forward (16:54). Production for the rubber industry begins in the forest (17:32). Rubber trees are tapped (17:39). The tom tom signals workers (18:10) near the collection station. Latex is strained (18:45) and materials are added (18:45). Rubber is hacked off into chunks (18:51) to be taken to the sea. A map shows the connection of the rail roads in the city (19:45). A ground view of Batavia (19:58) follows. House boats fill the waterway in the historic portion of the city (20:03). The modern sector was greatly influenced by the Dutch (20:20). Historic buildings are toured including The Saint Peter Cathedral of Bandung (20:22) and the Museum Mandiri (20:29). A city bus passes through the government sector (20:35). Merchant vessels (21:07) cart goods to all corners of the world. 

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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