Author Archive: Retro

Dir. Stuart Blackton’s rare and priceless film record of the history of motion pictures, from Egyptian wall-paintings to early films of the 1900s. Written and
Produced by J. Stuart Blackton.

Explorers Martin and Osa Johnson set out an an expedition that takes them to Hawaii, the little explored South Pacific regions of the Solomon Islands and the New Hebrides Islands, Australia, then through the Suez Canal, down the Nile River to Tanganyika, a safari to the Belgian Congo–where they observe a large variety of wildlife and meet up with a tribe of pygmies–and finally wind up in Uganda.

The Spider and the Fly is set in Paris during the cloud-cuckoo days before WW I. The storyline intertwines the destinies of three people. Guy Rolfe plays Phillipe de Ledocq, a resourceful safecracker who always manages to elude arrest. Eric Portman is cast as police-chief Maubert, who will not rest until Ledocq is behind bars. And Nadia Gray is Madeleine, the woman beloved by both Ledocq and Maubert. Just as Maubert has managed to capture his man, Ledocq is released at the behest of the government, who wants him to steal secrets from the German embassy revealing the whereabouts of the Kaiser’s secret agents. And just how does Madeleine figure into all of this? Spider and the Fly is a diverting precursor to the 1960s TV series It Takes a Thief.

A foreign spy is arrested in a city park by FBI agents.

The papers read, “two American citizens were key figures in the spy network. Further arrests are expected shortly.” That’s one strike against the daily enemy.

The Daily Enemy, an early 1960’s anti-spy film produced by the US Department of Defense, is a warning message to all contractors involved in sensitive defense projects.

Saturated in technicolor accompanied with a lush soundtrack, dangerous scenarios play out with classic mid-twentieth century characters that could have been conjured to life out of a 1950’s clip art book.

How could a decent American sell his country down the river?

However, spy craft is not always so spectacular, and even the everyday citizen can become a target. Engineers in Detroit, secretaries in Connecticut, and machinists in California are all vulnerable if they are working on high security clearance projects.

Don’t let vanity get in the [...]

Produced to convince Depression-weary Americans that new frontiers still lay ahead. Excellent compilation of stock shots of 1930s-era manufacturing, research laboratories and industry.

This marvelous and illuminating history of America from the end of World War I to the Great Crash of 1929 offers a look at the historical, social, music and cultural events that took place in this exciting era. Narrated by Fred Allen.

Great shot of movie cameraman in woods shooting birds at close range.
Describes insect pests. Birds are “nature’s check against these hardened criminals.”
Children building bird houses under direction of Audubon societies.
“Building and renting bird houses encourages children in the study of civics.”
“A delegation from the schools of Portland, Oregon, organizing a colonization scheme for their home woods.” Children seen in front of Multnomah Falls.