COLLECTION NAME:
Leroy H. Miller Collection
Record
Collection Name:
Leroy H. Miller collection
Title:
China Revire
Resource Type:
Moving image
Genre:
silent films
Genre:
travelog (performed works genre)
Genre:
Amateur films
Date Created:
1922
Language Term:
English
Extent:
1 film reel (12 min., 56 sec.)
Form:
16mm (photographic film size)
Form:
black-and-white film (film, material)
Abstract:
Title from film container. Title on screen, "Old China and New." Photographer, Charles Hugo; producer, C.L. Chester productions. Travel footage with descriptive intertitles in Orientalist font from the perspective of an American or European traveler. Includes footage of Grand Canal, Royal Arch Bridge, and Pagoda of "Su-Chow." Scenes show workers making "junk" ships, people washing pots in the canal, pottery workers, loggers, rice field workers, and people using cormorant birds to catch fish.
Note Type:
Segment sequence
Note:
As original, historical material, some of the language used and opinions shared in these films - especially regarding topics of race, gender, class religion, and ability - do not reflect the current preferred terminology of individuals of marginalized identities, or the values and norms of the CU Boulder Archives.
Note:
00:00:00 Chester Outings Old China And New Photographed by Charles Hugo Titled by Beth Brown 00:00:04 When the Tand of cherry bloom stirs your senses into a strange wanderlusts, know that it is the spell of the Orient calling! 00:00:48 The far away buffalo bells tinkle drowsily as you bicker and barter for passage along the Grand Canal, old since 486 B.C. yet ever new with its fresh delights. 00:01:13 For not less than the vast sum of 20,000 cash will the boatman show you the mystery of a thousand miles of water. Do not let this startle you, it is only a matter of seven genuine dollars. 00:02:17 What a lot of junk! But of a certainty! This is the workshop where junks are made mended and sent a stream in search of adventure. 00:03:10 Every day is washday - for no respectable pot fancies a blackened reputation. 00:04:11 Lazy paddle-strokes led us past the pottery yards, where world-famous curios where dreamily stunning themselves, speculating, perhaps, a trip to that wonder-America. 00:04:42 Dignity mothers all occupations - even the logs are slow-moving in their journey to market. 00:05:33 And the ducks are nowise anxious to compete. To the Chinese, there is no devil worshipper as green-eyed as the God Haste. From sunrise to sundown twinkling toes pitter-patter tirelessly upon the Royal Arch Bridge. Built for a mighty emperor in the Ninth Century, it is 1200 feet long with all of 53 arches. 00:07:18 A tight squeeze is only an evidence of the great affection found in the archful Canal mistress. 00:07:49 At times traveling as accomplished by running ropes abank, tugged man-fashion along the skirted shore. 00:08:03 Like graceful swans the junks sail by --- their paper wings open to the vagabond breeze. 00:08:24 Thirsty are the rice-fields and of a great generosity indeed the Grand Canal which irrigates far lands and whips the lillies into bloom for paper making. 00:09:03 What ho! The Cormorants, trained fishing birds. A ring is slipped around their necks which prevents their swallowing the catch. Su-chow turns its back upon the Canal. It would not be fitting modesty for vain houses to grow the vainer preening in their own reflections. 00:10:59 Even the youngsters scamper off like frightened lambs, tho one young maiden was undecided between propriety and a proffered peppermint stick. 00:11:31 Midstream a temple of worship for boatmen. We straightway sympathized with the sinful landlubber who boasted no craft to convey this black soul across. 00:12:02 The leaning Pagoda of Su-chow where the emerald God brings luck to the deserving and ill to those who visit him gift-less. 00:12:34 Even the sun seeks a dignified level, bringing peace upon the land and calm into the hearts of the turbulent. For only in the Orient can man lean over and sip the brimming cup of Fulfilled Desire. 00:12:56 End of recording.
Subject Topic:
City and town life
Subject Topic:
Canals
Subject Topic:
Boats and boating
Subject Topic:
Markets
Subject Topic:
Pagodas
Subject Topic:
Cormorants
Subject Topic:
Temples
Subject Geographic:
China--Suzhou (Jiangsu Sheng)
Subject Temporal:
Ninth century
Identifier:
U183051011038_narv_millerLeroy_6-12_chinaRevire_a.mp4
Internet Media Type:
video/mp4
Digital Origin:
reformatted digital
Access Condition:
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