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America's Presidents

0720 PA8941 America's Presidents


This movie is part of the collection: Prelinger Archives

Audio/Visual: sound, color

Creative Commons license: Public Domain

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Reviewer: Gryphon - - September 8, 2006
Subject: 1953 theater short, rare 1897 footage
This short piece, produced by Warner for Travelers Insurance, appears to have been a prestige piece that played in theaters along with the news reels. It covers its subject as well as any piece this short possibly could, 9 minutes for 33 presidents.

The film contains rare early footage from McKinley's inauguration in DC on 4 March 1897 (windy that day).

This copy is missing the usual title shot with copyright date. Judging from what little it says about Eisenhower's presidency, it must have been released just as he took office in January, 1953.

Image and audio quality are just average, but the film deserves higher marks thanks to its rare footage.

SIDEBAR: The narrator refers to 'the archives of America's history' as shrines. And aren't movie theaters the temples of our time, and moving images our new scrolls of glory and (at times) truth?

This theme also goes well with the Internet Archive logo you see at upper left. Good going, archive.org!

Reviewer: Ja30fitz - - July 24, 2005
Subject: America's Presidents
This is a pretty decent film from the early 50s I presume. The film goes too quickly over the presidents up to McKinley, and then they are given a lengthier treatment. The film footage of Presidents like Theodore Roosevelt and Calvin Coolidge are worth the download!

Reviewer: Spuzz - - October 12, 2003
Subject: Night of a 101 Presidents!
Pretty amazing overview of all the American presidents, up to Ike. I say amazing as the film skips over presidents pretty fast, pausing to reflect on some (aka Harry Truman) while some get the 3 second treatment (aka George Washington). Nevertheless, a fairly interesting rush through of history, using pictures of the prezÃÂôs up to Teddy Roosevelt, then actual film footage thereafter. That Calvin Coolidge, man, needed some serious media savvy....

Reviewer: Christine Hennig - - July 11, 2003
Subject: America's Presidents
This film quickly (sometimes very quickly) summarizes the careers of America's presidents from Washington to Eisenhower. For most of them, this is done in voice-over, over a picture of the president in question, but from McKinley onward, film clips of the presidents are shown. It's kind of fun, actually, to trip down the line, especially if you're a person who likes lists. Mostly, though, it's just what you'd expect.
Ratings: Camp/Humor Value: **. Weirdness: **. Historical Interest: ****. Overall Rating: ***.