Film Record: Century of Progress

Date produced: 1933

Filmmaker(s):

Herbert H. Johnson

Languages:

English

Length:

800 ft

Format:

16mm

Colour:

Kodacolor

Sound Notes:

Silent

Awards/Recognition:

ACL Ten Best 1933

Description:

"Among the ten best, Century of Progress, in Kodacolor, by Herbert H. Johnson, ACL, is a striking illustration of the degree of perfection that color motion picture photography has attained. Its studied angles and dignified composition are augmented by excellent photography. Mr. Johnson paid careful attention to the very important point of exact exposure in relation to color value and, as a result, brought a new version of the Fair to the one who had never seen it in color before. By taking plenty of time he was able to single out the best camera positions and wait for the lighting that was most favorable. The excellent handling of the camera brought a sense of intimacy to each scene. The film's only fault is an excessive use of lap dissolves which detracted somewhat from the smoothness of the continuity." Movie Makers, Dec. 1933, 499.

Resources:

A Century of Progress was a World's Fair held in Chicago in 1933 and 1934.

Herbert Johnson writes on filming at World's Fairs in "The Fair's Second Year" (Movie Makers, 1934, 240, 254).

Locations:

• Chicago, IL (Filming)

Subjects:

• Art and Recreation
• Ethnology
•      Manners and Customs
•           Fairs
• Nature
•      Geography
• North America
•      United States
•           Illinois

Genre:

• Documentary

Form:

• Short

Screenings:

• Screened by the Atlantic Coast section of the Society of Motion Picture Engineers at the Hotel Pennsylvania on April 11, 1934: New York City, N.Y.
• Herbert Johnson presented the film at the Brooklyn Institute of Arts & Sciences on December 14, 1933: Brooklyn, N.Y.

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