A Trip Down Memory Lane
Encyclopedia
A Trip Down Memory Lane is a 1965 experimental film
by Arthur Lipsett
, created by editing together images and sound clips from over fifty years of newsreel
footage.
The film was intended as an audiovisual tour of the post-war
technocracy. In his notes for producer Donald Brittain
about the film, Lipsett wrote that “as science grows, religious belief seems to have diminished... The new machines (of every description) are now invested with spiritual qualities. They have become ritualistic implements.” Lipsett envisioned his film as a kind of cinematic time capsule
for future generations, and sub-titled the film accordingly, as "Additional Material for a Time-Capsule."
A Trip Down Memory Lane combines footage from a beauty contest
, religious procession, failed airflight, automotive and science experiments, animal experimentation, skyscraper
construction, military paraphernalia, John D. Rockefeller and scenes of leisure, Richard Nixon
and scenes of war, blimps and hot air balloons, and a sword swallower.
To create the film, Lipsett travelled from Montreal
to New York City
to obtain stock footage in 35mm which he had reduced to 16mm. He then drew new edge code on it by hand. Finally, he had it blown up to 35mm for release.
Experimental film
Experimental film or experimental cinema is a type of cinema. Experimental film is an artistic practice relieving both of visual arts and cinema. Its origins can be found in European avant-garde movements of the twenties. Experimental cinema has built its history through the texts of theoreticians...
by Arthur Lipsett
Arthur Lipsett
Arthur Lipsett was a Canadian avant-garde director of short experimental films.In the 1960s he was employed as an animator by the National Film Board of Canada . Lipsett's particular passion was sound. He collected pieces of sound from a variety of sources and fit them together to create an...
, created by editing together images and sound clips from over fifty years of newsreel
Newsreel
A newsreel was a form of short documentary film prevalent in the first half of the 20th century, regularly released in a public presentation place and containing filmed news stories and items of topical interest. It was a source of news, current affairs and entertainment for millions of moviegoers...
footage.
The film was intended as an audiovisual tour of the post-war
Post-war
A post-war period or postwar period is the interval immediately following the ending of a war and enduring as long as war does not resume. A post-war period can become an interwar period or interbellum when a war between the same parties resumes at a later date...
technocracy. In his notes for producer Donald Brittain
Donald Brittain
Donald Brittain, O.C. was a film director and producer with the National Film Board of Canada.Fields of Sacrifice is considered Brittain's first major film as director....
about the film, Lipsett wrote that “as science grows, religious belief seems to have diminished... The new machines (of every description) are now invested with spiritual qualities. They have become ritualistic implements.” Lipsett envisioned his film as a kind of cinematic time capsule
Time capsule
A time capsule is an historic cache of goods or information, usually intended as a method of communication with future people and to help future archaeologists, anthropologists, or historians...
for future generations, and sub-titled the film accordingly, as "Additional Material for a Time-Capsule."
A Trip Down Memory Lane combines footage from a beauty contest
Beauty contest
A beauty pageant or beauty contest, is a competition that mainly focuses on the physical beauty of its contestants, although such contests often incorporate personality, talent, and answers to judges' questions as judged criteria...
, religious procession, failed airflight, automotive and science experiments, animal experimentation, skyscraper
Skyscraper
A skyscraper is a tall, continuously habitable building of many stories, often designed for office and commercial use. There is no official definition or height above which a building may be classified as a skyscraper...
construction, military paraphernalia, John D. Rockefeller and scenes of leisure, Richard Nixon
Richard Nixon
Richard Milhous Nixon was the 37th President of the United States, serving from 1969 to 1974. The only president to resign the office, Nixon had previously served as a US representative and senator from California and as the 36th Vice President of the United States from 1953 to 1961 under...
and scenes of war, blimps and hot air balloons, and a sword swallower.
To create the film, Lipsett travelled from Montreal
Montreal
Montreal is a city in Canada. It is the largest city in the province of Quebec, the second-largest city in Canada and the seventh largest in North America...
to New York City
New York City
New York is the most populous city in the United States and the center of the New York Metropolitan Area, one of the most populous metropolitan areas in the world. New York exerts a significant impact upon global commerce, finance, media, art, fashion, research, technology, education, and...
to obtain stock footage in 35mm which he had reduced to 16mm. He then drew new edge code on it by hand. Finally, he had it blown up to 35mm for release.