Holidays Abroad 1963

A travelogue of the Hodkinsons' holiday to Austria & Italy in 1963.

The film begins with a shot from an airport window of planes readying to depart then of passengers waiting to board a plane. Next there are views from the window of the engine on the wing as the plane takes off, shots of Keith Hodgkinson’s wife, the interior of the plane and looking into the cockpit. The next section shows a sign for Seefeld stating it will be the site of the winter games during the 1964 Innsbruck Olympics. There are shots from around the town showing different examples of architecture and landscape. The next section shows views from riding on a ski lift, a panoramic from part way up the mountain side then from a cable car climbing further up the mountain. Shots showing their descent on the ski lift followed by various neon shop signs, a doll shop and clock shop. The following sequence shows views from on board a coach, visit to a castle, crossing the German border, Neuschwanstein Castle and the Passionstheater in the village of Oberammergau. There is a shot of a train approaching and at level crossing, then views from the moving train. Shots of Innsbruck show a busy street, narrow side streets, stylish building facades and landmarks. There is a long shot showing one of the sites of the 1964 Olympic games. In the next section Keith and his wife board a bus to Lido di Jesolo near Venice, Italy, there are shots of the surrounding mountains viewed from the vehicle followed by tourists relaxing along the sandy shore line and from the street of Lido di Jesolo. A number of different neon signs are shown. There are shots from on board a ferry headed to Venice, followed by a sequence of shots of famous landmarks including St Mark’s Square, Bridge of Sighs and Rialto Bridge, and water ways. There are shots of Venice at night. The final section shows Keith and his wife’s visit to Burano, including visits to the San Martino church and Scuola Merletti, a school teaching the ancient tradition of lace making, and viewing glass making. Shots from a bus ride on a mountain road, of an Olympic ski slope and mountain settlements. A shot of the plane they will be returning on and of the wing engine.

Featured Buildings

Neuschwanstein Castle, Germany; Passionstheater, Oberammergau; Spitalskirche, Innsbruck; Helblinghaus, Innsbruck; Piazza San Marco, Venice; Doge’s Palace, Venice; Basilica di San Marco, Venice; Bridge of Sighs, Venice; Rialto Bridge, Venice; Santa Maria della Salute, Venice; San Martino church, Buarno

Keywords

Holiday; Tourism

Other Places

Oberammergau, Bavarian Alps, Germany; Innsbruck, Austrian Alps; Venice, Italy; Burano, Italy.

Background Information

Oberammergau is famous for its productions of the ‘Passion Play’, depicting Jesus’ trial and death.