“ WINTER OLYMPICS 1948 ” V WINTER OLYMPICS GAMES ST. MORITZ, SWITZERLAND XD65714
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This documentary film shows the Winter Olympics of 1948 held in St. Moritz, Switzerland. These were the first games to be celebrated after the Second World War. Switzerland was chosen as a neutral country in order to soothe the political atmosphere of the post war world. One of the major issues presenting this Olympics game was that much of the country’s human and financial resources had been depleted during the war effort. The film was written and directed by Hans Thorner (:16). It opens with skiers running down a snowy slope (:23). The Alps rise covered in frosty snow (1:13) near the host town. The Olympic torch burns (2:12). The flags of 28 participating nations wave (2:45). The hockey game opens (3:20). The American team face the Swiss (3:27). The Swiss take the win of the first game (4:42). Crowds light up as a goal is hit (4:37). The Canadians take a turn against the Swiss team (5:02). Canada wins (5:42) putting Czechoslovakia in second and the Swiss in third (5:42). A rider takes a close call in the finals of the bobsleigh race (6:54). Spectators rush over to investigate (7:04). An American athlete took second (7:21) and the Italian athlete takes the win (7:38). The 18 kilometer cross country ski begins (8:06). The teams from Finland and Sweden were leading contenders for this event (8:22). Skiers bump down a slope over an 11 mile long track (8:40). The athlete from Finland takes fourth place (9:03). The race ends after an hour and thirteen minutes (10:07). Martin Lundstrom of Sweden takes the win (10:13). Another Swedish athlete places as nearly all fifteen medals were won by Sweden, Norway or Finland (10:53). Two skiers, a Swedish man and Swiss raced side by side (12:23) down the final stretch. Speed skaters take to the 500 meter race (13:02). The winner; Riedar Liaklev of Norway is pictured celebrating the win (14:05). A three way tie existed between the Americans (14:11); Fitzgerald and Bartholomew, and Byberg of Sweden for second place. Forty contestants competed in the 5,000 meter race (14:26). Two athletes are pulled off the race after injury (14:45). Another skater is scooped up by medics (15:04). The gold goes to Norway (15:17). Norway and Sweden were awarded second and third place respectively (15:39). The 10,000 meter race follows (15:50). Contestants change track as the flagman drops a signal (16:25). A Swedish athlete (16:40) finishes with a tie of 17 minutes and 26.3 seconds. The magnificent Alps are captured again (16:48) from a location known as the ‘Big Dip’. Skiers plummet down a terrifying slope (17:27). A Canadian athlete takes a tumble (18:12). A female rider from France finishes sixth (18:50). Austria wins second place (19:03). Switzerland (19:14) takes the win. Italy lands in fourth (19:30). Hedy Schlunegger of Switzerland is pictured celebrating her win (20:56). Henri Oreiller of France begins his run (22:18). A skier from Utah jumps into his run (23:16) of the special slalom. Karl Molitor of Switzerland (24:08) runs between flag posts. Franz Gabl of Austria appears (24:15). Edy Reinalter takes the gold medal (24:22). A skier from Colorado follows (24:34) crossing the finish. Jack Reddish from the United States (24:55) slides under the finish banner as the film concludes (25:04). This film was distributed by Sterling Television (25:04).
Jack Nichol Reddish was an American alpine ski racer who competed in the Winter Olympics in 1948 and 1952. Known as “Red Dog“ during his racing days, he later worked in the entertainment industry, behind the cameras in film and television.
This film is part of the Periscope Film LLC archive, one of the largest historic military, transportation, and aviation stock footage collections in the USA. Entirely film backed, this material is available for licensing in 24p HD, 2k and 4k. For more information visit