The Marshall Plan at Work in Italy Part 1

Description

This film is a report on the contributions of the Marshall Plan to the efforts of the Italian people in achieving economic recovery. The film begins with overviews of the Bay of Naples, and references are made to the troubles faced in Italian history, including the destruction of Pompeii and the wartime destruction suffered in World War II. Shots of children in dirty streets are followed by a view of people at a cafe, with remarks suggesting that those benefitting from wealth may be doing so illegitimately. Scenes of building work illustrate how funds from the Marshall Plan are assisting in the rebuilding of Italy’s housing stock and road networks. The facade and interior of Roma Termini railway station are shown, with a sign indicating it was built with funding from the European Recovery Program (ERP). Track maintenance is achieved through a combination of Italian labor and machinery from the United States, and irrigation works bring more land in to productive use, combating poverty and hunger. The film indicates that Italy needs to boost exports to balance import needs, and that the Manifatture Cotoniere Meridionali (textile) business benefits from Marshall Plan funding through new machinery and training. At a Fiat factory, a long tracking shot highlights the extent of the manufacturing process, as well as newly-acquired equipment. Marshall Plan aid is also shown to provide assistance to the nascent scooter industry, helping to boost production. Scooters are then seen driving in Rome toward Via della Conciliazione and St. Peter’s Basilica. Several of Rome’s fountains appear, including Trevi and the Fountain of the Naiads on Piazza della Repubblica, followed by shots of the Colosseum, the Tower of Pisa, Teatro alla Scala, and the Ponte Vecchio in Florence. The film draws to a close on the replica of David in the Piazzale Michelangelo while the possibility of a future Italian-led European renaissance is suggested. This is a Marshall Plan Film, presented by Editorial Films Productions, Ltd., London, for ECA/OSR, produced by Jim Mellor, directed by James Hill, and narrated by Jack Ralph.

Collection

Records of the U.S. Information Agency

Series

Moving Images Relating to U.S. Domestic and International Activities