movies_creation
American Movie Archives (美國電影檔案)
- Title
- [Besler Corporation Promo Film: Steam-Driven Vehicles]
- Year
- 1932
- Abstract
- Demonstrates the practicality of steam-driven automobiles, airplanes and trains.
- Notes
-
Produced: Besler Corporation
Sponsor: Besler Corporation
Run Time: 15:39
Audio/Visual: Si, B&W - Keyword
- Transportation: Steam
- Theme
- The Latest Technological Marvel: Steam!
- Review
-
This early-30s film looks like it was probably an anachronism in its own time. It’s all about the wonders of that latest technological marvel, steam power. Not only that, it’s a silent film, even though talkies had been around for several years by that point. The first part of the film is the most interesting, as we see a steam driven car that can go up to 85 miles per hour (wow!). It’s bizarre to see a car occasionally emit puffs of steam from its side like an old-fashioned locomotive. I bet that would have gone over real well on city streets. Then we get to see a steam-powered airplane, which I admit threw me for a loop––I’d never heard of such a thing. But we see it flying, emitting puffs of steam all the while. Then it settles into its real subject matter, commuter trains, and then it gets dull. Still, there’s a pathetic wistfulness about this, as if it were an industrial film about improved buggy-whips. It’s as if the film is saying, “Please, Mr. Diesel, steam is a wonderful thing. Please don’t run over us with your technological juggernaut!” Sad, really.
Ratings: Camp/Humor Value: ***. Weirdness: ****. Historical Interest: ****. Overall Rating: ***.
(Reviewer: Christine Hennig) - Location
- A/V room, 2/F