Town That Came Back, The
Town That Came Back, The is a short film from 1954 released on 16mm. It is held in the Prelinger Archives collection.
A nameless midwestern town rediscovers its pre-war community spirit through 4-H. Enacted by the people of a small Missouri town, this film shows how citizens working together can breathe new life into a town.
Includes excellent shots of a sack race, a watermelon eating contest, square dancing, and an old fashioned community barn raising! Small town Americana, rural togetherness
Contains a bunch of shots to be logged.
02:24:24:00 POV from car driving down long straight strip of country road; possibly in Pennsylvania.
02:25:25:14 VS woman walks through overgrown front yard of rural school house; walks around inside abandoned school in ruins, runs hand along dusty table top, hits keys on rundown out of tune piano.
02:26:20:11 Pan over interior of abandoned rural school house in ruins.
02:28:15:16 Two farmers discuss 4-H club; one of the man sharpens the blade of his scythe while talking.
02:28:31:15 Rural girl leans up against hood of man�s car as man in cars asks teenage girl if she plans to join the 4-H club; girl answers �I don�t think there will be any use in my joining 4-H because I am going to leave here as soon as I�m 18.� Man in car responds �Oh you are. Where�re you going Anne.� �Oh I don�t know, St. Louis or Kansas City, or someplace, there�s nothing to do around here.� �We�ll sure miss you Anne. Sorry you can�t be in 4-H��
02:29:00:06 Two women seated at table, one peals potatoes into bowl, the other with cup of coffee, talk about community and the 4-H club. Woman peeling potatoes says her daughter hasn�t gotten to know kids her own age and just mopes around the house, cuts to girl with arms crossed listening in on her mother�s conversation.
02:31:41:23 1950s rural children stand and deliver the 4-H pledge.
02:32:17:11 Two women stand over refreshments table, one of the women says �Don�t be bashful children c�mon�; VS fruit plate, cupcakes, orange soda bottles on table, and children grabbing treats.
02:32:53:03 CU cute brunette girl with bangs, between 7 and 10 years old, shakes head no with serious look on face when she is asked �honey, don�t you want to come and play with the boys and girls�; mother tells girl �I wish you would Mary�; CU shy girl shakes head no.
02:33:53:11 Man feels drops of water on head, runs hand through hair; CU hole in roof dripping water; CU wood floor with water dripping on it and little pieces of plaster.
02:34:07:09 CU tray of cupcakes and cookies with water dripping on it from leaky ceiling.
02:34:22:06 Camera pans up from behind woman cutting overgrown grass on side of old school house; man on ladder hammering roof; boys on roof pulling up old rain gutter; VS members of community fixing up old school house.
02:35:21:24 Mother runs out of farm house to bring boy on horse glass of milk and sandwich, boy grabs sandwich and rides off in a hurry.
02:35:50:16 CU sheep�s mouth held open to receive food or medicine injected from large metal tube.
02:36:11:06 Rural girls learning to sew in sewing workshop; little girl being instructed at sewing machine.
02:36:52:04 Group of rural boys and several me checking out new tractor; boy�s are instructed on tractor maintenance; VS CU tractor parts.
02:38:19:11 Man inside shop looks out store window of Muff�s Lunch.
02:38:46:05 Rural kids painting base of trees white.
02:39:09:13 Pan down from stained-glass window with Jesus as Shepard to 1950s people in church; VS church congregation sings Faith of Our Fathers.
02:40:42:00 Field of golden grain blowing in wind.
02:41:50:21 Kids in potato sack race hopping in burlap sacks with rural farmers and their families watching on.
02:42:00:05 Two somewhat overweight farmers, one in overalls, running footrace down dirt path while rural audience of 4-H clubs cheers them on.
02:42:05:15 Young boys in watermelon eating contest.
02:42:20:16 Kids in merry-go-round.
02:42:37:19 Rural boy pets large tame grey cow lying down in barn.
02:42:28:16 Two boys sit atop beam supporting large bell.
02:43:14:02 teenage men and women doing dance in circle on stage at 4-H event; VS little kids watching in audience.
02:43:51:11 Boy pulling robe of large bell; VS people running and cars speeding off on road; boy continues to ring bell; LS barn completely engulfed in flames off in distance.
02:44:22:05 Barn completely ablaze, enormous bright red fire and black smoke; CU police officer taking down report from farmer.
02:45:29:14 VS town community building barn together; raising walls, hammering nails, sawing wood; women laying out food on table for men at work. (Barn-raising / barnraising sequence).
02:46:32:13 VS kids working on building barn; CU hammering nails.
02:46:48:19 VS barn walls are raised.
02:47:28:15 Pan over rural men and boys with heads down in prayer and down over table covered with food; VS farmers and rural folk eating at picnic, camera pans over countryside.| Town That Came Back, The | |
|---|---|
| Produced by | MPO Productions |
Production company | MPO Productions |
| Distributed by | MPO Productions |
Release date | 1954 |
Running time | 26:15 |
| Language | English |
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