OUR WORLD (TV)
Summary
This special is the first live around-the-world telecast, an "electronic international experiment in communication" in which nations on five continents contribute segments via satellite about "some of the delights and some of the dilemmas of our world." Narrator Paul Niven opens the broadcast by explaining that the Soviet Union dropped out of the program following a recent exchange of "vintage Cold War rhetoric."
The first segment, "this moment's world," shows babies just born in Sapporo, Japan; Aarhus, Denmark; Mexico City, Mexico; and Edmonton, Canada. Next, in Linz, Austria, a steel worker explains the duties of his job, after which a worker in Paris, France, is seen in his position as a helicopter-based traffic reporter. In Tunis, Tunisia, a reporter gives a tour of his city and its assets, followed by a visit to Huelva, Spain, where deep sea fishing is spotlighted. In Glassboro, New Jersey, the house is shown where President Lyndon B. Johnson and Soviet Premier Alexey Kosygin are holding a summit conference. Next, the focus moves to the workings of a Canadian farm in Ghost Lake, Alberta. A Point Grey beach in Vancouver, British Columbia, is visited, after which the international dateline is crossed to Tokyo, Japan, where workers are constructing a subway system. In Melbourne, Australia, streetcar conductors are shown at work, with the segment ending in a return to the streets of Paris.
The following segment concerns solutions to world hunger and overcrowding being worked out in New York City, New York (affordable housing in skyscrapers); Canberrra, Australia (a greenhouse with varied climate-controls); Arlington, Wisconsin (technology-geared farming); Takamatsu, Japan (a shrimp farm with artificial breeding); Montreal, Canada (Habitat housing complex at Expo '67); and Cumbernauld, Scotland (a "utopian" community without a need for cars.)
The next segment focuses on "aspirations of excellence," in which feats of physical prowess are featured in Vancouver (swimming), and Castellazzo di Bollate, Italy (horse riding), Soderfors, Sweden (kayaking); and Marseille, France (a submersible experiment.)
The next subject is artistic skill, exemplified first in the Church of St. Peter in Tuscania, Italy, where director Franco Zeffirelli instructs actors Milo O'Shea, Leonard Whiting, and Olivia Hussey as he films "Romeo and Juliet." Next, in Bayreuth, Germany, a rehearsal of Richard Wagner's opera "Lohengrin" is held at the Bayreuth Festival Theatre, with director Wolfgang Wagner critiquing the performances of singers Heather Harper and Grace Hoffman. In Saint-Paul de Vence, France, a modern ballet is performed, overseen by artist Joan Miro and costumer Alexander Calder, whose works in it are augmented by those of sculptor Alberto Giacometti and artist Marc Chagall. In Mexico City, Mexico, the folk opera "Sons from Mexico" is performed, accompanied by views of the city and its residents. At Lincoln Center's Philharmonic Hall in New York City, New York, conductor Leonard Bernstein rehearses Rachmaninoff's "Piano Concerto No. 3" with soloist Van Cliburn. Next, the Beatles record their new song "Love Is All You Need" in London, England, as "friends" Mick Jagger, Eric Clapton, Marianne Faithfull, Keith Moon, and Graham Nash observe.
The broadcast's last segment looks at "the world beyond," starting at Cape Kennedy in Florida as the center's director, Dr. Kurt H. Debus, continues his plans to put a man on the moon by overseeing the assembly of the Saturn V and Apollo spacecraft. Finally, in Parkes, Australia, a radio telescope receives signals from the farthest known point in the universe. Niven provides concluding remarks about the television audience having "jumped around the world" for two hours, acknowledging efforts by Luca di Schiena, Alexandre Tarta, and Norman Taylor which helped make it possible. Tape ends abruptly.
Details
- NETWORK: NET National Educational Television / PBS forerunner
- DATE: June 25, 1967 3:00 PM
- RUNNING TIME: 2:01:31
- COLOR/B&W: B&W
- CATALOG ID: B:06999
- GENRE: Specials
- SUBJECT HEADING: Globalization
- SERIES RUN: NET - TV, 1967
- COMMERCIALS: N/A
CREDITS
- Robert Squier … Executive Producer
- Paul Niven … Narrator
- Georges Delerue … Music by
- The Beatles
- Leonard Bernstein
- Alexander Calder
- Marc Chagall
- Eric Clapton
- Van Cliburn
- Kurt H. Debus
- Luca di Schiena
- Marianne Faithfull
- Alberto Giacometti
- Heather Harper
- George Harrison
- Grace Hoffman
- Olivia Hussey
- Mick Jagger
- Lyndon B. Johnson
- Alexey Kosygin
- John Lennon
- Paul McCartney
- Joan Miro
- Keith Moon
- Graham Nash
- Milo O'Shea
- Sergei Rachmaninoff
- Ringo Starr
- Alexandre Tarta
- Norman Taylor
- Richard Wagner
- Wolfgang Wagner
- Leonard Whiting
- Franco Zeffirelli