DEW Line Story
DEW Line Story is a short film from 1958 released on 16mm. It is held in the Prelinger Archives collection.
Why and how the Distant Early Warning (DEW Line) system of attack detection was devised. How radar principles and specially devised techniques were used by the Bell System. The logistics and construction in Arctic wastelands which are now open to further development.
"ATTENTION PROJECTIONISTS: This chart will help you make sure that your picture will be focused properly before the show starts. Adjust the lens so that the bells in the corners and the two words are all sharply focused. Now adjust the sound volume. That's all! When this Bell System seal fades out, shut off the projector. Everything will be properly set for your show to begin."
"We all live at the edge of the same ocean. The air ocean which envelops the globe. And in the Air Age, geography has new meanings for the safety of the American and Canadian people. What was once the impassable Arctic, now provides the quickest routes for attack from a wide sector of Europe and Asia."
This film documents the involved and enormous process of The Distant Early Warning Line project. It explains the need for this line of satellite dishes and radar equipment around the Arctic Circle and the combined efforts of the military and Bell Company employees involved in the transport of materials and skilled labor and the construction and assembly of the sites themselves.
The Arctic -- ice and snow in the winter, a swamp-like summer environment Aerial shot of caribou running across the snow Aerial shot of icy mountainous territory Aerial shot of a town, panning into the air, moves back down through the air to icy land Animation of the globe -- arrows shooting around it from above, to an explosion -- with outline of the Arctic circle -- "DISTANT EARLY WARNING LINE" The White House Northern Alaskan experimental station United States Department of Defense Close-up of a type-written page, with semi-transparent text superimposed over it. Close-up of a secretary writing month names on a gridded page, using ruler to mark a line over the rest of the grid -- secretary crossing off a month Lineman, climbing down a telephone pole with snowy ground around. Men shaking hands in a Bell line center Men in the Arctic in heavy clothing -- writing "DEW LINE" in the snow, surveyor equipment Planes in the Arctic Tractors on the snow Wind storms A tractor being dropped by a parachute -- tractor destroyed, crashed in the snow Tractor being dropped by four parachutes Large airplane landing on the snow A crane lifting gravel into a dump truck Assembly of equipment Women seated in a line at typewriters Animation of the U.S. with dots covering it, dashes flying into the map Man gesturing at a map of the northern U.S. and Canada Fork lifts carrying crates Petroleum barrels piled in Long Beach, CA -- petroleum barrels being lifted The unloading of ships Three cargo ships on the ocean Man looking through a telescope Aerial animation of ship paths from the East and West Coasts ships moving through heavily iced water Seals jumping off ice glaciers into the water Ice breaking into the water Prefabricated structures being put in place Rocks on conveyor belts, being turned into gravel A rough dirt road moving along a body of water A person walking through a blizzard A military helicopter slowly lowering a large cargo A medium sized blast underground Snow being shaken off a satellite dish Radio towers being constructed Shot of the ground from a jet taking off on a rugged snowy airstrip that ends with a cliff Young men in small electronic lab setting, turning dials, looking at each other for confirmation, nodding to each other and turning dials Man using an electric shaver Man buttoning his shirt, rolling up his sleeves Man pulling a mitt out of a cubbyhole and tossing a baseball A chef Men playing ping-pong Four men playing poker Men choosing a book from a bookshelf Man wearing a headset, pointing with a pencil at a radar display Radar satellites spinning Shot from the ocean of satellite and radar equipment base
Aerial shot of satellite base, another shot at sunset| DEW Line Story | |
|---|---|
| Produced by | Audio Productions |
Production company | Audio Productions |
| Distributed by | Audio Productions |
Release date | 1958 |
Running time | 28:22 |
| Language | English |
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