movies_creation
American Movie Archives (美國電影檔案)
- Title
- Panama by Air (Reel 4)
- Year
- 1914
- Abstract
- Part of a six-reel film on the construction of the Panama Canal.
- Notes
-
Produced: Duhem (Ray)
Sponsor: N/A
Run Time: 11:56
Audio/Visual: Si, B&W - Keyword
- Panama Canal;Central America;Civil engineering;Central America;Civil engineering
- Theme
- Panama by Air
- Review
-
This is mostly dull, blurry aerial footage of the newly-built Panama Canal, with historical interest about all that can be said for it. But it has an unexpectedly exciting ending, as the plane runs out of gas and plunges 800 feet into the ocean. Fortunately, the pilot was able to execute a safe water landing and lots of Panamanians help pull the plane out of the water. At the very end, we get to see the Panamanians mugging for the newfangled movie camera. This ending gives us a glimpse of a time when film, airplanes, and the Panama Canal were all new, which makes the film more interesting than it had been up to that point. A 1914 film.
Ratings: Camp/Humor Value: **. Weirdness: ***. Historical Interest: ****. Overall Rating: ***.
(Reviewer: Christine Hennig) - Location
- A/V room, 2/F