Archival movie on the Graf Zeppelin LZ-127

[Varese2002]

On November 22, 2009 a new movie will be premiered in Amsterdam on the IDFA documentary festival. The complete movie is based on the round the world trip of the Graf Zeppelin (LZ-127) in 1929, just a few weeks before the Wall Street Crash.
The special thing of this movie (90 minutes) is that it is completely made of (composed of ?) contemporary footage.

The trailer can be found

YouTube- Movietrailer ***FAREWELL***

YouTube- Movietrailer ***FAREWELL***

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Kees

[Gregvan]

Thanks for that, Kees. It looks marvelous! I certainly hope it comes out on DVD, as I doubt if if it will get very much (if any) time in American cinemas. It sounds, and looks, much too dignified and intellectual for the American movie audience.

I'm always more impressed by actual contemporary footage like this, than by hi-tech computer-generated stuff. You know it's real.

Greg

[bristol scout]

Originally Posted by Gregvan

Thanks for that, Kees. It looks marvelous! I certainly hope it comes out on DVD, as I doubt if if it will get very much (if any) time in American cinemas. It sounds, and looks, much too dignified and intellectual for the American movie audience.

I'm always more impressed by actual contemporary footage like this, than by hi-tech computer-generated stuff. You know it's real.

Greg

Are no American moviegoers 'dignified' or 'intellectual' then?

Dave.

[VtwinVince]

Great footage of the world's most successful airship. As for American 'culture', my feelings on that subject are best left unsaid.

[Catfish]

Hello Kees,
thanks very much for posting this - very interesting !
Thanks and greetings,
Catfish

[Varese2002]

A few days ago I saw an interview with the researcher of the film, who discovered all this footage from archives worldwide. The around the world journey of the Graf Zeppelin was sponsored by the US newspaper tycoon Hearst, so there was a full load of journalists, photographers and film operators on board.

The researcher was most proud of the shot where in full sea the Graf Zeppelin flew over a passenger ship, where the camera (filming downwards) registrated the shadow of the Graf Zeppelin advancing over the ship.
This was combined with another picture from a boat where you see the Graf Zeppelin coming over the boat. Of course this was not the boat of the first sequence, but another one. The zeppelin was the Graf Zeppelin though.

Viewing in (small ?) cinemas in Europe will start in March 2010. If and when / where the movie will be shown in the USA is in the hands of the US distributors. I think there is a real possibility that the documentary will be released in time on DVD.

Kees

[whatisart]

This looks wonderful and the score sounds gorgeous. I can't wait to see it.

I know there are plenty of people in the US who will lap this up – maybe not as a theatrical release, but certainly on DVD, iTunes or PBS. Ken Burns keeps himself busy making what I would consider dignified and intellectual documentaries. Can you believe The Civil War was first shown nearly 20 years ago. Time flies.

[bristol scout]

HI whatisart,

Look at my post 3,--little respect here for the 'American' dignity or intellect it seems-----and how right you are about Ken Burns' CIVIL WAR---I've got it on DVD and the score on CD (ASHOKAN FAREWELL is hauntingly beautiful) and the book---masterpiece to rank with the 1960's B.B.C. series GREAT WAR.

T.V. history at it's very best.

Dave.

[Rod_Filan]

I watched a full-length video of the LZ-127's round the world voyage on google-video a few months ago -- entirely of contemporary footage and based on the reporting of Grace Marguerite Hay Drummond-Hay. I'll try and find it and post a link but it sounds like the same one and has probably been taken down now.
-
Cheers

*edit* Just watched the trailer Kees posted and it sure looks and sounds like same one... maybe it was pre-release version or something.