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“ ROAD TO THE CLOUDS ” 1958 NEW GUINEA TRAVELOGUE CONSTRUCTION OF THE HIGHLANDS HIGHWAY 86274

1,224 views · Published 16 April 2016 · 9:20 · Indexed 31 October 2026

Channel: PeriscopeFilm · 2016 · Education

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This 1958 travelogue film is produced by The Australian Commonwealth Film Unit, directed by John Morris, narrated by James McMauley, and released through Universal International Pictures. Under supervision of Australian patrol officers, the people of the New Guinea highlands build, in 1953, the Highlands Highway from the port of Lae at the coast to the highland provinces. 
00:42 The mountains of New Guinea, the world's second-largest island. local crews of the Lai River gorge are building a road, cutting down trees along the river banks to build bridges.Australian patrol officers help with construction.

02:00 the locals, dressed in head plumes and pigments of earth work by hand with natural tools.
02:07 At the coastline, in the Markham Valley, where the road begins, a Land Rover with canvas top travels through a village of huts and coconut trees. Villagers of all ages greet the vehicle. A man climbs a tall coconut tree. Children climb on the truck, laughing and enjoying themselves.
02:50 The Land Rover continues on its journey, along a mountain dirt road and through jungle.
03:08 The truck arrives at the U-Ume River where  a dozen locals await. They unload the vehicle and attached a heavy rope to the front bumper, aiding the vehicle as it fords the fast-flowing river.
04:13 The Land Rover flips on its side. The men upright the vehicle and continue pushing and pulling it across the river. 
04:49 The Land Rover continues over dust and rock and windswept fields of kunai grass set on fire to draw off wild game. The vehicle continues 4,000 feet up into the mountainous highlands.
05:24 Children make way as the truck eases over a log bridge.
05:33 The lorry comes across a settlement, a center of Australian administration. indigenous children run down steps and across fields to bathe in a stream.
06:29 Nurses help local women keep babies healthy with inoculation against tropical disease
06:56 Deep in the jungle, tribespeople — possibly of the Insect Tribe — line up as Australian authorities take a census.
07:18 The tribe celebrates with a feast, they gather in a crowd in traditional costume, twirling long rods, bows, dancing a victory dance, starting a large fire fires in the grass, people bring offerings of fruit, 
08:28 A village stands by a river.
08:36 The Land Rover travels through tall kunai grass, and is helped along a river pulled by a tractor.
08:54 Two indigenous men high atop a hill in front of mountains, wave to the truck as it drives away 
09:00 Wide shot showing the highland mountains.
09:12 END

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