All Films

Wales

1958 • 25 min

Wales prides herself in her wealth of natural resources, foundries, mills, and factories. Beyond this modern facade lies another treasure—a rich historical background and ancient lore. The great granite fortresses still remain as reminders that from the struggle and strife was born a pure and distinctive national culture.

The Broken Mask

1958 • 30 min • United States of America

A young white collegian and a fellow black student struggling for understanding come to realize that living together harmoniously is a two-way street.

The First Night

1958 • 23 min • France

A residential area schoolboy discovers the odd universe of the Parisian metro. At one point, he glimpses the beautiful face of a blond-haired girl. Later on, he falls asleep and possibly dreams his first love dream…

Three Plays by Tennessee Williams

1958 • 60 min • United States of America

A presentation of Tennessee Williams' three one-act plays: "Moony's Kid Don't Cry", "The Last of My Solid Gold Watches", and "This Property Is Condemned".

Islands of the Frozen Sea

1958 • 29 min • Canada

This short documentary offers a look at the life forms on the Queen Elizabeth Islands within the Arctic Circle. Even in this frigid zone of icebergs and glaciers a surprising variety of wildlife and vegetation is seen. Writings from the logbooks of early explorers provide vivid descriptions of scenes as arresting to them in their century as to today's explorer. Note: Originally produced for the television series Perspective, this film was distributed separately on 16mm for schools and libraries, qualifying it as a standalone documentary.

Exchange Rate 1:4

1958 • 12 min • East Germany, Germany

On October 13, 1957, cash was exchanged in the GDR (old bills 1:1 for new bills). The film reports on this event.

The Venetian

1958 • 56 min • Sweden

A young beautiful man from Milan arrives at the carnival in Venice. He meets two flirtatious women.

Setting Fires for Science

1958 • 20 min • Canada

This film shows the scientific study of fires set to buildings in Aultsville, Ontario, a town evacuated for flooding by the St. Lawrence Seaway. Scientists at Canada's National Research Council devised instruments for recording the progress of a fire in all its stages, to help the country's fire fighters lessen fire's tragic toll.

Clouds of Glass

1958 • 18 min • Czechoslovakia

A young boy’s infatuation with flight is the subject of Vláčil’s poetic, prize-winning early short, made for the Czechoslovak Army’s film unit.

Butterflies Do Not Live Here

1958 • 13 min • Czechoslovakia

A documentary about the life of Jewish children forced to live in the Theresienstadt concentration camp.

Happy End

1958 • 10 min • Yugoslavia

After destruction of the world, life returns slowly and in convulsions. The being finds its home on the exact place where it was before the catastrophe, and this is the happy end.

The Cat's House

1958 • 30 min • Soviet Union

A rich and ignorant cat loses her big house in a fire. Only then she realizes that a friend in need is a friend indeed.

Obsessive Snake

1958 • 52 min • Japan

Utaji heard that her ex-lover Seijirou would get married to Ochiyo a daughter of Ise-ya. She murdered Ochiyo and took over the Ise-ya's shop with Hikoroku a head clerk of Ise-ya. Moreover Utaji killed Hikoroku. But...

Tales of Frankenstein

1958 • 28 min • United Kingdom, United States of America

In this pilot for a series that was never picked up, Dr. Frankenstein has just finished rebuilding his creation, but the monster is unresponsive. He needs to try something different to make it work, perhaps some new parts. Enter a terminally ill sculptor and his assertive wife…

Sergei Eisenstein

1958 • 46 min • Soviet Union

Documentary made for the 60th anniversary of Soviet director Sergei Eisenstein.

The Snob

1958 • 14 min • United States of America

Former childhood friends Sarah Inman and Ron Johnson have drifted apart in high school. Ron hosts open parties every Friday, but Sarah never attends, preferring to stay home with her homework and dismissing her classmates—especially popular class president Bill Tyler—as shallow. Her aloofness has earned her a reputation as a snob, though she doesn’t realize it. When Ron reluctantly invites her at his mother’s urging, Sarah agrees to go, setting the stage for a clash between her world of isolation and Ron’s world of popularity.

Hōryū-ji

1958 • 23 min • Japan

This celebrated documentary, filmed in colour, depicts one of the most famous of all Japanese temples. Horyu-ji, in the small town of Ikaruga outside Japan’s ancient capital of Nara, was one of the first Buddhist places of worship established in Japan, and contains the oldest surviving wooden buildings in the world, dating from the seventh century.

The Great Achievement

1958 • 32 min • New Zealand

A documentary about New Zealanders in Antarctica: researching International Geophysical Year, and supporting the Trans-Antarctic Expedition by laying supply depots for Vivian Fuchs’ overland crossing.

A Chilly Reception

1958 • 6 min • United States of America

In the Antarctic Ocean, the icebreaker USS Icepick is busy clearing the sea lanes.

Hey, Nakamura-kun

1958 • 44 min • Japan

Bridges-Go-Round 1

1958 • 4 min • United States of America

New York City's various bridges transform into an urban jungle (jazz version) or an alien landscape (electro-acoustic version).

Shōjo to fūsen

1958 • 48 min • Japan

1958 Japanese movie

Akado Suzunosuke: Dokuro dentaiji

1958 • 60 min • Japan

1958 Japanese movie

The Days Before Christmas

1958 • 30 min • Canada

This short documentary depicts Christmastime in Montreal. The milling crowds, department store Santas, Brink's messengers, kindergarten angels and boisterous nightclubs all combine to make a vivid portrait of the holidays.