Really Surprised!

one of my absolute favorites!

While it is a pity that the story wasn't told with more visual finesse, this is trivial compared to our real-world problems. It takes a good movie to put that into perspective.

It really made me laugh, but for some moments I was tearing up because I could relate so much.

Visiting Italy (1951) ** 1/2 (out of 4)James FitzPatrick and MGM take their cameras to Italy to capture some beautiful images in this entry in their TravelTalks series. Rome, Assisi, Pisa and Florence are the cities visited as we get to learn about their art, farming and various other subjects including shopping. Considering these sites are among the most visited in the world, the film does a pretty good job at packing everything into its 9-minutes but at the same time you have to expect that they can't go into great details about any of them. The print shown on Turner Classic Movies is a tad bit worn but that doesn't take away from any of the entertainment.

Another in the James A. FitzPatrick Traveltalk series photographed in color with views of Italy's Eternal City, Rome.It starts along the Tiber river, gives a short tour of Roman ruins like the Coloseum, St. Peter's, the Roman countryside in Tuscany, the picturesque village of Assissi (home of St. Francis of Assissi who was born there in 1182), a public fountain that serves as a common meeting ground, some colorful shops, the leaning Tower of Pisa and finally, the Cathedral of Florence with its intricately paneled bronze door.These were the kind of travel shorts that FitzPatrick produced and narrated in the '30s and '40s and seen in many a school auditorium as a learning experience.Summing up: Of passable interest, nothing more.

I like FitzPatrick's TravelTalks series. In the few minutes this short travelogue lasts, we get to see some of the sites of Rome, Vatican City, Assisi, Pisa, and Florence. Although I have visited Italy in the past, I've never been this far south. As someone who tried seeing much of Verona in an afternoon and Milan in less than 24 hours - I realize how difficult it is to show many sites in a short period of time. For comparisons, watch episodes of Passport to Europe, Globe Trekker, Rick Steves', or any other similar show. For many people this was possibly the closest that they ever were to seeing Italy, which may have been the land their parents or grandparents left to come to the US. Watching "Visiting Italy" made me want to go back there someday and try to see more of Italy. At the time I was there, it was a pretty long train ride to go from Northern Italy to the city's shown here.But, as a travelogue, it did what they all hope to do, make you want to go there and see these sites for yourself. Not all travelogues or FitzPatrick's TravelTalks succeed, but this one definitely does.Now, if they could just put these out on DVD, there are many people who would be happy. Rome in 1951 is not the same city as it was fifty years later in 2001.

An MGM TRAVELTALK Short Subject.This colorful little film takes the viewer VISITING ITALY, quickly looking at the highlights in the cities of Rome, Assisi, Pisa & Florence. The beautiful Italian countryside is also glimpsed in passing.This is one of a large series of succinct travelogues turned out by MGM, beginning in the 1930's. They featured Technicolor views of beautiful & unusual sights around the globe, as well as vivid, concise commentary. These films were produced & narrated by James A. FitzPatrick.