Friday, February 1, 2008

Rhapsody of Steel (1959)


Many readers sent me a link to these great images from the ASIFA - Hollywood Animation Archive site. The images are from the children's book adaptation of the 1959 industrial film, Rhapsody of Steel.

While I haven't yet found a copy of the film online, you can view the film at the Rivers of Steel National Heritage Area in Homestead, Pennsylvania. Their description appears below.
WONDERS OF STEEL (showtimes 11:00 am & 1:30 pm) brings steel making to life through music and animation in a masterpiece, Rhapsody of Steel (1959). Produced by John Sutherland, the film features Gary Merrill as the narrator and three-time Academy Award-winner Dimitri Tiomkin conducting the Pittsburgh Symphony in his own composition. An exhibit case holds the original press release, promotional images and other artifacts documenting the United States Steel Corporation's release of this 23-minute film.



See also:
Man and the Moon (1955)
Mars and Beyond (1957)
The Future was Built on Steel
Wernher von Braun's Space Shuttle (1950s)
Animal Life on Mars (1957)
Plant Life on Mars (1957)

2 comments:

Anonymous said...

Too bad for them, the future has a decreasingly prominent role for steel... fiberglass, carbon-fiber composites, aluminum, and ultimately gold-pressed latinum all will be much more important to the future.

Anonymous said...

I think "wutzke" is underestimating the future use of steel. Yes, for exotic applications new materials will be required but, steel is an inexpensive way to quickly and cheaply produce a strong industrial material.