movies_creation

American Movie Archives (美國電影檔案)

Title
This Is My Railroad (Part II)
Year
1940
Abstract
Operations of the Southern Pacific Railroad, with many images of the territory that it serves. With excellent footage of snow management and removal operations in the Sierra Nevada mountains.
Notes
Produced: Unknown
Sponsor: Southern Pacific Railroad
Run Time: 11:01
Audio/Visual: Sd, C
Keyword
Transportation: Railroad;U.S.: West;California: History and culture;U.S.: West;California: History and culture
Theme
Southern Pacific
Review
This film is shot in the late 1940s or maybe early 1950s, just as railroads were transitioning to the diesel era and more modern rail controls. The audience for this film is hard to determine; possibly as an introduction film for new employees, maybe something to show to investors, maybe a little of both. But the film gives an excellent overview of the various jobs in the period railroad and some wonderful cinemotography, serving almost as a travelogue for the Southwest and West. There is an interesting subtext of how we, as a country, are free to travel and exchange goods, a subtle reference to the building Cold War. There are also numerous assurances that despite the increase in technology used by the railroad, that the job is still labour intensive.
(Reviewer: Wilford B. Wolf)
Location
A/V room, 2/F