This film is part of Free

Title of error

See Help

Thumbs Up Texas!

Ten-gallon hats, a rich history, endless oil-fields, vast herds of cattle, and a giant statue of Popeye: in Texas size really does matter.

1941 19 mins

Overview

This enthusiastic appraisal of the Lone Star state begins with a wry look at the 1941 ‘invasion’ of Washington DC by Texans. They are seen here arriving en masse to join the swelling ranks of armed forces and civilians in the nation’s capital. By poking gentle fun at the Texan character but also emphasising the state’s huge contribution as America prepares for war, this morale-boosting film manages to have its cake - or steak - and eat it.

Although America did not enter the Second World War until December 1941, by August of that year preparations were well under way for a conflict which seemed inevitable to all but the most ardent isolationist. The opening shots of Washington DC give a real sense of the nation’s capital in a frenzy of preparation and footage of prominent Texans, such as Admiral Chester Nimitz, is highlighted. The film’s middle section parades images of Texas - the Alamo, rodeos and cattle - which, although familiar to the point of cliche, deliberately foreground a history of conflict and struggle so that we understand why young Texans are joining the armed forces in greater proportion than any other state in the union.

Original title

The March of Time 7th Year No. 5

Country

USA

Language

English

Subjects

Texas

Watch for free

Inside Nazi Germany Inside Nazi Germany

Documentary 1938 16 mins

A genuinely historic film, which caused much controversy at the time: the first commercially -released American motion picture to explicitly attack Hitler and Nazism.

Watch for free

Presidential Year Presidential Year

Documentary 1948 15 mins

‘Crisp and sincere’,‘carefully trained’ or ’resonant and vibrant’? Which voice would appeal to you if you had to pick the Republican candidate for the 1948 Presidential Election?

Watch for free

Great Britain Coronation Great Britain Coronation

Anthology 1937 24 mins

Weatherproof bunting, fog, clockwork dolls and a Hollywood exodus to London: this sideways look at preparations for the Coronation of George VI provides a wry American take on a very British ceremony.

Watch for free

Metropolis Metropolis

Documentary 1939 18 mins

This ode to New York from March of Time shows us how seven and half million people from every race and nationality in the world, live, work and play together in ‘the greatest metropolis of the New World’.