1 Film reel (10 minutes, black-and-white sound; 877 feet, 35mm)
Type:
Collection descriptions
Archival materials
Film reels
Sound films
Place:
Oceania
Papua New Guinea
Date:
1921
Scope and Contents:
Incomplete edited film is believed to be a reel from a later version of PEARLS AND SAVAGES shot in New Guinea in 1921. Footage includes: on and over the Fly and Strickland rivers and around Lake Murray, overviews of native settlements, Gogodala people of the Fly River Delta paddling canoes, males in cockatoo and cassowary plumed headdresses, large river houses and big houses thatched with sago palm, and local people around sea plane. Reel concludes with scenes of European adventurers standing next to human skulls on post near riverbank. This version contains a fictional narration of the heart-of-darkness genre not originally associated with the Hurley film.
Dwellings Papua New Guinea ; Villages Fly River New Guinea ; Adornment headwear Papua New Guinea ; Aerial photography Paupa New Guinea ; Canoes Papua New Guinea ; Airplanes for exploration Papua New Guinea ; Cannibalism skulls Papua New Guinea ; Language and culture
Please note that the contents of the collection and the language and terminology used reflect the context and culture of the time of its creation. As an historical document, its contents may be at odds with contemporary views and terminology and considered offensive today. The information within this collection does not reflect the views of the Smithsonian Institution or Anthropology Archives, but is available in its original form to facilitate research.
Local Number:
HSFA 1989.1.1
Provenance:
Received from The American Film Institute (National Center for Film and Video Preservation) in 1989.
Restrictions:
The collection is open for research. Please contact the archives for information on availability of access copies of audiovisual recordings. Original audiovisual material in the Human Studies Film Archives may not be played.
