Friends; Sightseeing in Venice
Creator(s)
- Walter Hausner (Camera Operator)
- Elizabeth Hausner
Biographical History
Walter Hausner (April 24, 1914-February 5, 2003) was a member of the Austrian amateur film society in Vienna. His father, Ferdinand (1883-1957) owned a firm for fabrics and fashion articles with factories in Vienna and Jihlava, Czechoslovakia with business partner Siegfried Furst. Walter’s mother, Wilhelmina Bloch, died from cancer in 1937. Walter and Ferdinand managed to leave Vienna together just before the plebiscite in March 1938 on a plane which was brought down in Berlin. The Nazis required Ferdinand to supply an inventory of his assets. His friend and fashion designer, Claire Rennai, had a visa to go to the United States and married Ferdinand to help him get out of Austria. Walter made it to England where he had planned to establish another factory for the family textile firm. He was interned as an enemy alien. Walter later served in the British Army, where he met a singer, Irene Jones (1921-2014) performing for the troops. They married and emigrated to the New York region in 1948.
Scope and Content
Brief shot of a group, some seated, outdoors, gathered for an event. Lake, sign for boat rental (“vermieten”) slightly in view. Woman swims towards the camera. Brief CU, young woman sits and smiles, with Franz Hausner (?). Men play tennis. Young men row a boat. Scenic overview, rabbits in the grass. 01:01:53 MS, woman with polka-dot dress and a man stand on a city street in Jihlava, shops in BG, "Gustav Roubicek" and "Julius Meinl", women with carriages. Parade, actors on horseback, spectators. The theatrical event - a play on an outdoor stage - in Jihlava. More shots of a tennis match. 01:03:19 Young woman and families sunbathing at a beach, sailboats. Sightseeing in Venice. Canals, man in gondola, St Mark's Place, aerial shots. CU, woman smokes a cigarette, lounges in beach chairs, smiles for the camera. The young friends have fun for the camera, run and fall down together, repeat in reverse. 01:05:13 Gondolas in canals, filming from gondola. St. Mark's Basilica. Sightseeing. The group of friends play in the water, jump through rings, dance. 01:07:28 Back in Austria, the group of friends walk towards the camera along a dirt path. A couple wrestles, posing for the camera. They hike. Clouds. They run down a hill, having a jolly time. MS, Plague Column in Vienna. Church of Saint Ignatius of Loyola in Jihlava. Roadway shots filmed from a car driving. Roadside wooden post with the number 166. Girls play tennis outdoors. Continuing through the country, forest, scenic views, approaching a bridge. Film ends.
Subjects
- SPORTS/GAMES
- BOATS
- ITALY
- AUSTRIA
- STREETS
- CZECHOSLOVAKIA
- JEWISH LIFE (PRE-WAR)
- BEACHES
- CHURCHES
- FAMILIES
- PLAYING
- TOURISM/SIGHTSEEING
Places
- Vienna, Austria
- Venice, Italy
- , Austria
- Jihlava, Czechoslovakia
Genre
- Film
- Amateur.