In Search of Switzerland

A holiday in the Swiss Alps.

Holiday footage taken by Laurie and Stuart Day during a fortnight’s break in the Swiss Alps prefaced by, and concluding with, scenes involving Laurie and Stuart Day at home in Stoke on Trent. The film begins as the couple plan their holiday at home. Sitting at a table in their lounge, they look at maps of Switzerland. Stuart Day suggests that they should make Interlaken their base and they agree on the places they wish to visit. Deciding to plan the holiday in detail, beginning at Bâle [Basel, Basle], footage of the actual holiday follows. The footage shot in the Alps is followed by another scene in the Days' lounge as the couple, having agreed on their holiday plans, write to Thomas Cook & Sons to make the appropriate arrangements. The holiday film includes footage of sightseeing attractions in the Alps, as well as street scenes, and people encountered during the journey. Sequences in the holiday film include shots taken of: alpine scenery during rail journeys from Bâle to Interlaken, from Interlaken to Harder Kulm; from Harder Kulm to Scheidegg, and down from the mountain peaks to Grindelwald; a snowball fight outside the Jungfrau Bahn; a visit to the village of Habkern on foot, where the Days with their friends [Margaret, and Mrs Belsham presumably] talk to villagers; street scenes and alpine views in Mürren; boat trips on Lake Brienz to and from the Giessbach Falls; street scenes in Thun, including shots of fish in tanks at a local restaurant; views from the Schynige Platte; Stuart Day at the Interlaken Swimming Pool; a female host modelling the Swiss national costume in Brienz; the journey by road through the Grimsel Pass and Gletsch Valley, with shots of heavy snowfalls; an encounter with an unidentified neighbour from home; farewells from hotel staff before the return journey; other ferry passengers. Shots in colour include scenes in Kandersteg, at the Interlaken Swimming Pool and in Brienz, including the female host modelling the Swiss national costume.

Featured Buildings

Interlaken Bahnhof Interlaken Swimming Pool Schloss Thun [Thun Castle] Hotel Furka

Keywords

Swiss Alps; Alps; Alpine scenery; Mountains; Mountain railways; Travel; Inter-war continental tourism; Thomas Cook

Intertitles

A KIWI PRODUCTION Scene: The lounge of Windyways. As the curtain rises the the [sic] travellers are discovered planning their summer holiday. Gown by Mme Cutanbastit. Suit by instalments. Furniture by plain Van. Leaflets by Scrounge unLtd. “Let’s make Interlaken our headquarters. It’s ideally situated and Mrs Belsham and Margaret will be there.” “Where shall we go from there?” “LET’S PLAN IT ALL BEGINNING AT BÂLE.” 6.30AM Buffet breakfast at Bâle [Basel, Basle]. Quite in the best school treat tradition. The Campbells are coming! Hurrah. Hurrah. A room with a view of the Jungfrau. Harder Kulm will be our first rise in the world. Up the lovely Lauterbrunnen Valley to Scheidegg (6,700 ft) The Swiss have a hard job to keep a roof over their heads. Among the giants – Wetterhorn, Eiger, Mönch, Jungfrau, Breithorn. Then down into the shadow of the Wetterhorn where flowers star the valley like celestial confetti. We might explore the tiny village of Habkern. Margaret shall demonstrate her technique at orange sucking …. … and cat burgling. Changing plates. Yes, but photographic or dental? (No prize offered for a correct solution) Mürren (5,415 ft) perched like an eagle’s eyrie 1,000ft above the valley. Three generations of lace-makers. By “dampfschiff” across Lake Brienz to the Giessbach Falls. WASH & LICK-UP 2d. The picturesque streets of THUN The fish menu at Thun restaurants. On Sunday evenings the Interlaken athletes return from neighbouring contests with much pomp and circumstance. Schynige Platte, not so impressive but it’s only180ft less than Scheidegg. Down in the valley “the lowing herd winds slowly” on it’s [sic] way. Kandersteg, the Blue Lake and Brienz should make beautiful subjects for a colour film. Interlaken Swimming Pool. BRIENZ. The Swiss national costume is seldom seen now but if we can persuade our hostess to don her grandmother’s we shall see the real thing, spun, woven, and sewn by it’s [sic] original owner. AFTERGLOW If the Grimsel Pass is clear we could go through, down the hair-raising zigzag road into the Gletsch valley and up again to the Rhone Glacier and Furka Pass. From Furka’s snowy sides two rivers rise The Rhone to wind through vineyards to a southern sea The Rhine caressing sweeter vines flows northerly. THE ROOF OF EUROPE. Just the place in fact to bump into a neighbour from home! If we’re lucky we may hear the Swiss National Anthem played on the giant mountain horn. You don’t know the Swiss National Anthem? It’s – “God Alps those who Alps themselves!” But all good things must come to an end so one day … … with a last grateful look at the Jungfrau, our happy interlude will rush to a close. “That settles it! We must go.” “With Cook as our shepherd we shall not want.” A KIWI PRODUCTION

Other Places

Stoke on Trent; Bâle; Harder Kulm; Scheidegg; Grindelwald; Habkern; Mürren; Giessbach; Thun; Schynige Platte; Brienz; Grimsel Pass; Gletsch Valley; Rhone Glacier; Furka Pass