All Films

Collisions Ocurring during Simulated Combat

1949 • 5 min • United States of America

Dating to the immediate post-WWII period, this U.S. Navy cartoon "Collisions Occurring During Simulated Combat" was likely made by the UPA Studio. The cartoon features three fatal incidents in which naval aviators broke the rules and ended up in mid-air collisions.

The Desert

1949 • 57 min

Documentary funded by the Harmon Foundation. It follows their road trip through the deserts of Utah and Arizona in a wood-frame station wagon. Along the way, they camp and film dramatic desert landscapes.The film features iconic locations like Arches National Monument, Monument Valley, and Canyonlands. It includes scenes of desert wildlife (lizards, insects, a scorpion), plants (cacti), Native American petroglyphs and ruins (e.g., Newspaper Rock, Salt Creek, and possibly Beef Basin).Outdoor activities such as camping, boating on the Colorado River, off-road Jeep travel, rock climbing, and rappelling are also shown—along with small aircraft operations in remote areas.Garner’s signature visual style—long, quiet landscape shots capturing shifting light and shadow—is central to the film, which reflects his deep appreciation for nature, history, and exploration.

October 11th

1949 • 15 min • Yugoslavia

The theme of the film is the celebration of October 11, 1948 in Prilep, Kumanovo, Kichevo and the commemoration of the day of the liberation of Debar. In honor of the holiday, in Skopje, in Daut - Pashin Amam, an exhibition about the Revolution and the National Liberation War is opened. Then, the holding of folk fairs, agricultural exhibitions and a book exhibition on the occasion of the "Book Week" are shown.

Stuff for Stuff

1949 • 11 min • United States of America

A short economic history of the world from Neolithic man through the present day which espouses free trade and global economics.

Mouse Mazurka

1949 • 7 min • United States of America

In the Slobovian mountains, Sylvester Cat and a mouse move to the tune of East European folk music as this chase cartoon is propelled to an explosive climax.

A Chance to Live

1949 • 18 min

1949 documentary short that won an Oscar in a tie with "So Much For So Little". Preserved by the Academy Film Archive in 2005.

Woodenhead

1949 • 2 min • United Kingdom

Short road safety film.

Copenhagen Boogie

1949 • 4 min • Denmark

Recordings of light and shadow patterns in water surfaces, moiré patterns of waves and sunspots in water ripples, accompanied by Albert Ammon's "Boogie Woogie Stomp" from 1939. (DFI)

Dust or Destiny

1949 • 41 min

Earth's natural wonders give testimony to the creative work of a majestic God.

Power of Plants

1949 • 15 min

Uses time-lapse photography to show the physical power of plants in their efforts to receive sunlight and fulfill their growth.

The Reformation of St. Jules

1949 • 13 min • United Kingdom

Author Algernon Blackwood (1869-1951) casually narrates his uncanny 1937 tale. 'Audible skywriting' and its unintended consequences are the unlikely subject, effectively undercut by a surprise ending. The camera angles are eccentric, but it's a rare opportunity to see Blackwood onscreen.

Newfoundland: Atlantic Province

1949 • 18 min • Canada

With simple ceremony on Parliament Hill, Ottawa, Newfoundlanders are welcomed as fellow-Canadians. Prime Minister St. Laurent starting off the carving of Newfoundland's coat of arms in the tenth and formerly blank shield over the entrance to the Parliament Buildings, writing in stone another chapter of Confederation. So begins this survey of Canada's tenth province, Newfoundland, its resources and how its people live. The film takes us to St. John's, Corner Brook, Bell Island, and includes a visit to Labrador where we see the giant airport at Gander.

The Pearlers

1949 • 11 min • Australia

Beautifully filmed in black and white, this classic short film looks at pearling in the late 1940s. It goes on board the boats that work off the coast of Broome, Western Australia, from March to December each year. Crewed mainly by Aboriginal, Malay and Chinese men, they work six days a week from sun up to sun down—replenished occasionally by supply boats that also take away their hauls of pearl shell. The film captures the atmosphere, the detail and the danger involved in the search for shell as the divers in huge metal helmets and layers of clothing under their suits dive two at a time, each with one person tending their airhose and another their lifeline.

The Baby Sitter

1949 • 15 min

Young America Films presents an instructional short detailing good baby sitter behavior for 1949.

Pupil and a Bad Mark

1949 • 12 min • Yugoslavia

A puppet animation.

Drawing For Beginners: The Square

1949 • 10 min

A short which teaches you how to draw a square.

Adventures of Esparadrapo

1949 • 60 min • Spain

Puppet animation film based on the tales 'Red Riding Hood' and 'The Witch Pirula'.

Let's Go To The Circus

1949 • 8 min

From ringside seats at the circus, children see aerial ballerinas, acrobats, clowns, horses and elephants.

Cidade do Rio de Janeiro

1949 • 32 min • Brazil

A Brighter Day in Your Kitchen

1949 • 19 min

Homemakers are shown how to more effectively and efficiently plan family meals, with a focus on the benefits of dairy products.

Oslofilm: Det gror mellom steinene

1949 • 15 min • Norway

A film about Oslo's parks. We visit Studenterlunden, Stensparken, Slottsparken, Frognerparken with Vigeland's children's ferry, St. Hanshaugen and Botanisk Hage on Tøyen. We see part of the new given to give Oslo a facelift: the "groundbreaking areas" in Iladalen and Torshov, with sheep projects, concerts and open-air theater for children.

Mobile Telephones

1949 • 11 min • United States of America

How the mobile telephone system works, and how mobile phones can benefit businesses such as trucking and construction companies.

How to Play Cricket

1949 • 20 min

Sir Donald Bradman gives an instruction on how to play the perfect Cricket shots.

Pierwsze etiudy

1949 • 19 min • Poland

Short documentary on first short films by students of the Łódź film school.