Inter American Highway: Bridge of The Americas (1965) Pan American Highway Documentary

Originally released by NBC News in 1965, this film "Inter American Highway Bridge of the Americas" presents the Central American section of the Pan American Highway spanning 5,470 kilometers between Mexico and Panama. It is narrated by Frank McGee. The film opens with flags waving in Laredo, Texas (:20). The road's route crosses seven countries (:46). Incan produced gold relics appear at (:59). The Church of Santa Prisca de Taxco (:59) was constructed sometime between 1751 and 1759. A jeweled statue of Christ appears (1:05). A colorful Latin parade erupts on the streets (1:10). The highway connects Laredo with Mexico’s city of the same name over the Rio Grande (1:44). President Lincoln statue, a symbol of friendship (3:05). An iguana runs across the road (3:35). A rattlesnake hisses (3:56). The collard peccary follows (4:01). The Cerro de la Silla range lines the city of Monterrey (4:18). The Arc of Independence appears (4:43). The Bishop's Palace (5:08) is riddled with gunshots from 1846. A Mexican horseman bends his horse down (5:39) in a perfect dressage maneuver. He practices with a fake (5:47) and real bull (5:56). A matador takes center ring with his red cape (6:28). Cascading waters in El Salto appear (7:08). A farmer works on the mountain slopes (8:10). The Angel of Independence sits in the center of a traffic circle in Mexico City (8:24). Chapultepec castle appears (8:36). A diorama of the Battle of the Puebla (9:03). Another monument dedicated to Juarez (9:53) stands in Mexico City. The Mexican City Metropolitan Cathedral (10:19). The Aztec ruins of Teotihuacan (10:35) are visited. The feathered serpent is carved into the structure (11:43). Mexican worshippers stand at the steps of the Basilica of Our Lady Guadeloupe (11:57). A Mexican woman praying on her knees (12:29). The Basilica is gradually sinking (12:39). The University of Mexico's famous library (13:04). The tour exits the city along Paseo de la Reforma (13:37). A flamenco guitarist (14:03). An aerial shot pans over the city (16:33). Guatemalans perform a pagan ritual (17:41) in Chichicastenango. The holy man heads the ritual (18:13). The Central Plaza is jammed (19:03) with vendors selling goods (19:12). A man paints a mask (19:38) honoring the patron saint, St. Thomas. Dancers wearing freshly painted masks celebrate (19:50). Two men climb the flying pole (21:08). They swing from the top (21:24). Candles burn (22:29) within the Church of St. Thomas. Worshippers carry a tall Christ statue (23:35) in the procession headed for the church (23:40). They set off fireworks (25:13). The Easter Festival begins (26:25). The Antigua Easter Festival shows Roman ties (28:20). The procession pauses as prisoners from the local jail (29:50) cry for mercy. One prisoner is freed (30:19). The highway enters El Salvador (31:22). A polo game swings onto the screen (31:29). Sister Maria works for the social welfare arm of the Catholic Church (32:12). The poor visit the clinic of Lourdes (33:08). The dining room of Our Lady of Perpetual Health (34:27) is set up outside. The children drink milk with coffee and sugar (34:51) provided by the Food for Peace Plan (35:18). Prison near San Vicente (36:03). Guitars made by the prisoners for sale (36:17). On to Honduras (37:04) and the Copan ruins (37:25). The ball court (37:49) and death heads (38:07). The road goes to Nicaragua (39:47). Wheels spin in Masaya (39:53) to produce hemp. A fisherman pulls in his catch (40:32) in Lake Nicaragua. Women smoke and wash clothes (41:57). The border crosses into Costa Rica (42:15). Motorcycles run down the road for a bicycle race (42:19). Little league players carry their supplies (42:41). In San Jose (43:12) slum shacks are set aflame (43:31). Francisco Bolmarcich stretches for a handshake from a poor woman (43:52). Night life is explored at Monte Carlo (44:10). Smoke clouds billow up from Irazu (44:52). Two men stand by the rim showing its grandeur (45:30). The Bridge of the Americas (46:20) to Panama City (46:25). The French monument to Casco Viejo (46:48). The bust of French conqueror Ferdinand de Lesseps (46:54). A ship crosses the continental divide (47:46). An aerial view captures the locks (48:25). A car nears the village of Chepo (49:35). The film was produced by Lou Hazam (51:29).

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