Day Dreams

A package tour of Italy, including a trip to the island of Capri.

Film record of a 14-day tour of Italian cities by train, including a day excursion to the island of Capri. Sequences include shots of sightseeing attractions in Venice, Florence, Rome and Pompeii; street scenes in these cities; encounters with the local population, notably interactions with local children. Prefaced and concluded by domestic scenes at the Day’s home in Stoke on Trent, the film is a travel record of a trip to Italy in 1936/37. As noted in Laurie Day’s descriptions of the making of the film, the film’s narrative was inspired by the song 'Isle of Capri'. The travelogue contains humorous incidents involving Stuart and Laurie Day, culminating with the aborted assignation on Capri.

Featured Buildings

The garden at the Day home, Stoke on Trent, Staffordshire Church of San Giorgio Maggiore, Venice Campanile, Venice The Rialto Bridge, Venice St Mark’s Square, Venice St Mark’s Basilica [Patriarchal Cathedral Basilica of Saint Mark, Basilica Cattedrale Patriarcale di San Marco, Chiesa d'Oro], Venice The Bridge of Sighs Basilica di Santa Maria della Salute Tower of the Palazzo Vecchio, Florence Ponte Santa Trìnita [Holy Trinity Bridge], Florence Ponte Vecchio Bridge, Florence Cattedrale di Santa Maria del Fiore [Il Duomo di Firenze, Florence Cathedral], Florence Piazza della Signoria, Florence Leaning Tower, Pisa Dome of Pisa Cathedral Dome of the Baptistry of St. John, Pisa Piazza San Pietro [Forum Sancti Petri, St Peter’s Square], Vatican City St Peter’s Square Colonnades, Vatican City Basilica, St Peter’s Square, Vatican City Musei Vaticani [Vatican Museum], Vatican City Cimitero Acattolico [Cimitero dei protestanti, Cimitero degli Inglesi, The Englishmen’s Cemetery], Rome Piazza del Popolo, Rome Piazza Venezia, Rome Palazzo di Venezia, Rome The Forum, Rome Gate, Colosseum, Rome Colosseum, Rome [unidentified Abbey ruins], Wales Mount Vesuvius San Michele [home of Dr Axel Munthe], Capri

Keywords

Italy; Holiday; Train tour; Italian tourist attractions; Inter-war continental tourism; Historic Monuments; Ukele; Roman Antiquities; Vatican City

Intertitles

[Music sheet] Isle of Capri [Brochure] [Grand] Tour of Central Europe [Brochure] [Grand] Tour of Scandinavia [Music sheet cover] Isle of Capri [Music sheet] ‘Twas on the Isle of Capri that I found her [Brochure] Grand Tour of Italy [Brochure] 12th day: Whole day excursion to Pompeii and Vesuvius. 13th day: In Naples. Optional Excursion to Capri. 14th day: return journey via Genoa. [Brochure] 13th day: In Naples. Optional Excursion to Capri. [Luggage Label] Cook’s Grand Tour of Italy Name Mr & Mrs HS Day Hotel Regina et du Rome, Venice. Venice The Rialto Bridge. Shades of “The Merchant of Venice” The Bridge of Sighs. [Luggage Label] Cook’s Grand Tour of Italy Name Mr & Mrs HS Day Hotel De Rome, Florence] The bridge where Dante met Beatrice. [Luggage Label] Cook’s Grand Tour of Italy Name Mr & Mrs HS Day Hotel Savoy, Rome] Via Pisa. Rome. According to the guide: “New Popes are desecrated at the Vatican and concentrated at St John’s!” “All ROMA for a bobba!” The English Cemetery where lie Keats and Shelley. Two thousand years old causeways lie buried beneath the new. A Roman matron disapproves. Mussolini’s headquarters from the balcony of which he delivers his stirring orations. The Forum was begun in BC 753, used for twelve centuries, and then abandoned to fire and earthquake. The rostra where Anthony harangued the people over the body of Caesar. A modern use for ruins. Two of the ruins that Rome had knocked about a bit. It was not the threat of lions that disturbed these Christians. [Luggage Label] Cook’s Grand Tour of Italy Name Mr & Mrs HS Day Hotel Santa Lucia, Naples] Naples At this point Mussolini’s minions became so menacing about the camera that we retired to the comparative safety of Vesuvius’ crater! Thar she blows! The Bay of Naples, and in the distance the misty outline of the morrow’s goal, Capri. In the shadow of Vesuvius lies Pompeii emerging slowly from the lava that engulfed it in AD 79. Next day – Capri. San Michele, the home of Dr Axel Munthe who made Capri a bird sanctuary. If you can’t get what you want. Want what you can get. [Music sheet] Isle of Capri [Music sheet] There’s Always To-morrow. Them Days Is Gorn The End [Book: The Clicking of Cuthbert]

Other Places

Stoke on Trent, Saffordshire; Venice; Florence; Pisa; Rome; [unidentified Abbey, Wales]; Naples; Mount Vesuvius; Bay of Naples; Pompeii; Capri