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- ConnectionsFeatured in Hollywood: End of an Era (1980)
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Il Duce
When I was a kid, Mussolini was part of the nonsense phrase "Benito Mussolini oom-pah-pah". Now that I am (considerably) older, it's fascinating to see Mussolini in this Fox Movietone snippet, speaking English.
Information on this short indicates that Mussolini was the first foreign leader to speak on film. While national leaders had been caught on film since the 19th century, including premiers of France and Tsars of Russia, none of them had been caught with voices. Mussolini, who had been a reporter, knew that offering himself as an amiable leader of a foreign country who spoke about his admiration for the United States was an important publicity coup. It didn't save him from being hanged by Italian partisans.
It's an historically interesting piece, but little more. Oom-pah-pah.
Information on this short indicates that Mussolini was the first foreign leader to speak on film. While national leaders had been caught on film since the 19th century, including premiers of France and Tsars of Russia, none of them had been caught with voices. Mussolini, who had been a reporter, knew that offering himself as an amiable leader of a foreign country who spoke about his admiration for the United States was an important publicity coup. It didn't save him from being hanged by Italian partisans.
It's an historically interesting piece, but little more. Oom-pah-pah.
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- boblipton
- Nov 25, 2014
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