Cinematic Era: 1939 Vintage

A documentary looking at the elementary principles, illustrated by means of diagrams and models, of an internal combustion engine.

Short Soviet film: 'a memorial of the epoch.'

The action takes place in February 1937 in Turkmenistan near the Soviet–Afghan border. A detachment of Basmachi fighters must cover a saboteur’s crossing into Soviet territory…

An Educational film made for Japanese children about Railways. At the time, Japan was suffering from a shortage of Oil and their railways were incredibly important.

Stop-motion version of the Grimm fairy tale from the Nazi era.

Spanish war propaganda documentary.

Focusing on Cracow's Jewish quarter, this film intermingles old and new, using music to enhance the images. Streetcars share tree-lined streets with horse-drawn carriages; people conduct business under umbrella-covered markets and arcaded market halls; parks and schoolyards host sports, games and animated discussions. Scenes of the famous Remu Synagogue and the Alte Shul, an orphanage, a hospital, the Jewish Community Council, and several schools convey the vitality of this age-old Jewish community.

Yip Yip Yippy is a 1939 Fleischer Studios animated short film. The short was the final official entry of the "Betty Boop" series. Although this was billed as a Betty Boop cartoon, it didn't feature Betty Boop.

Everyday island life is depicted in the Stockholm archipelago, with work in mining, fishing and a school for children.

The escort vessel with the harpoon searches for whales. The sailor on the observation mast points to a whale. The whale is hit with the harpoon. The prey is pulled into the main ship with winches, where it is cut up and processed immediately.

The butler brings several desserts to the master of the house, who doesn't even have the courtesy to taste them. On the other hand, he's very enthusiastic when he is offered a slice of cheese, but not just any cheese. It is Gruyère from Switzerland.

A man and his family get rich thanks to mysterious promissory notes.

Krazy Kat and Kitty go golfing, pursued by people who want to play through.

Mirele Efros, "the Jewish Queen Lear," was the masterpiece of Ukrainian-born Jacob Gordin, an enormously influential Yiddish playwright whose works sought to describe and promulgate the ethos of mentshlekhkeyt: the practice of honesty, decency, and devotion toward family and community. This sophisticated version of his stage classic faithfully recreates Jewish life in turn-of-the-century Grodno, Poland.

Scientists demonstrate the wonders of magnified objects.

This Traveltalks entry visits the Golden Gate International Exposition. Sponsored by 11 western states of the United States and 28 foreign countries, this "world's Fair of the West" was built on Treasure Island, a man-made island in San Francisco Bay. Viewers see the exteriors of many exhibition halls and the pavilions of foreign nations. The art, sculpture, and flowers on display are also featured.

The last Yiddish feature made in Poland before WWII, this 1939 film is based on a 1907 play by the prolific playwright Jacob Gordin. Living in poverty in Kazimierz Dolny, the Rywkin family sees the father emigrate to the U.S. in search of a better life, where, after years of hard work and loneliness, he meets Bessie, a nightclub singer who helps him reunite with his family from Poland.

Brigitte von Gersdorf became an actress against her parents' wishes. At drama school, she and her friend Erika are now waiting for their big break.

Betty Boop runs out of gas in Feud County, and wins over the initially hostile hillbillies with her dancing.

READIN' RITIN' AND RHYTHM 1939. Here is a neat short featuring some lindy and shag dancing.

Newsreel footage of some of the most outrageous early flying contraptions--some of which even succeeded in lifting off the ground.

The work of the amateur film group of the Moscow Palace of Pioneers. The film was shot in the camp from July to September 1939. The shooting involved pioneers from "Artek" and students from children's theater studios, who were specially invited for the filming.

A Italian documentary about fascist Spain.

A Terrytoons cartoon released 4 May 1939.

Produced shortly before the outbreak of World War II in September 1939, If War Should Come was one of the last films to be produced by the GPO Film Unit before it was re-named the Crown Film Unit and incorporated into the Films Division of the Ministry of Information.

Lady Luck smiles on a reckless secretary who takes a punt on the Irish Sweepstake … but not everyone’s a winner.

A bohemian protects several people in his house, which is why he gets involved with some swindlers to keep them.

The architect András is at an auction bidding for an old period furniture, an armchair.

After his father's death, a prosperous banker, Fernando, takes over the bank with the support of his family and shareholders. But his actions lead to bankruptcy, and he faces the family's hardship. With his assets auctioned off, Fernando lives in a boarding house until he faces bankruptcy proceedings and is arrested.

A corporate history of the Coca-Cola Company.

Stylish women promenade through modern Lwow's thriving market squares to a piano-and-violin accompaniment suggesting urban rhythms. Also known as Lemberg and home to an old, well-established Jewish community, this city nestled in a valley projects an aura of prosperity. Parks and pavilions punctuate its public spaces as trucks, pushcarts and bicycles ply its busy streets. Among the Jewish community landmarks shown are the Yad Haruzim Trade Union Building, the Old Ghetto, the softly curving exterior of the Modern Temple, the orthodox school, the Moorish-looking Lazarus Hospital and the grave of the "Golden Rose"-filmed in warm, dappled light-and the Nowosci Theater.

A journalistic survey of Britain's road traffic problems and a plea for the adoption of a National Road Plan.

The needy Pedro Céspedes finds a coat that implies for those who wear it a mysterious prodigality of money and jewelry.

Ray Whitley and his Six-Bar Cowboys Band are working for a rancher named Pop, who has a weakness for goldmines. He trades his ranch for a worthless mine, but Ray and his boys, with the aid of a chorus girl named Mitzi, manage to get his ranch deed back.

Cineguf-sponsored Fascist propaganda film about the Spanish Civil War.

An advertisement for Franck Aroma brand coffee.

The story of Syphilis and the methods used to detect and fight it. No details about the symptoms though. No mention of penicillin.

Shows hobbies of people who do an ordinary job in the day. Made for New York Fair.

Krajewski, a young bank clerk, is a romantic and dreams of perfect love. One day, he accidentally meets a beautiful girl whom he helps dry her clothes in his apartment after she falls into a puddle while getting off the tram. Enchanted by her beauty and delicacy, he falls madly in love with her, believing that he has found the love of his life. Frania, as the girl is called, disappears every evening, claiming that as a seamstress she has a lot of work and has to work at night as well. In reality, under the assumed name of Irena, she spends her nights as an escort at the Orfeum cabaret. Afraid of losing her beloved, she does not reveal the truth to him. However, the idyll does not last long.

The love triangle of a journalist, a political leader and his wife.

Beverage commercial, made as an animated film.

A Cartune cartoon featuring Baby Face Mouse.

The life story of Franciszek Murka, a municipal official. He is dismissed from his job as a result of unfounded slander about his alleged left-wing political past. After losing his government job, he assumes the identity of a foreigner named Franz Klamm and makes a career for himself in the aristocratic salons of Warsaw as a master of the occult.

Short subject about futuristic fashion styles.

In his first cartoon, Sourpuss has bright colored fur. He romances an Owl and takes her out on his boat, like the nursery rhyme has it. She seems mesmerised by him just as long as he strums his guitar. Her real boyfriend is so dejected he tries doing himself in, but soon he stops their wedding just in time.

At Betty Boop's Auto Hospital, the cars are treated for various humanlike ailments.

short by Clarissa Dreyer-Patrix

The wealthy factory owner Osten has achieved his position thanks to his energy and diligence. However, he has one weakness - he cannot admit that he too must grow old one day. What scares him most is the thought of becoming a grandfather. To prevent this, he is willing to become a rival in love with his own son. One day, Jiří has ​​had enough of his father's actions and decides to leave his house and his comfortable life. He even changes his name and starts working in a competing factory as an ordinary worker to prove to his father that he too is capable of working his way up from scratch. That is when Jiří meets the energetic seamstress Tonička, who is studying in the evenings to become an office worker. The young people are happy together, but the factory owner Osten comes between them. He offers Tonička a position as a secretary and is ready to win her over...