The Middleton Family at the New York World’s Fair (1939)
In the National Film Registry
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54m
Middletons explore 1939 World's Fair, daughter falls for artist, tech & family win her back.
Produced by Westinghouse for their exhibit at the fair, The Middleton Family at the New York World's Fair (1939) follows a fictional family on their visit. But, beneath its seemingly conventional facade, the film pushes boundaries in its unique blend of documentary and narrative storytelling.
While showcasing the wonders of the fair's technological marvels, the film weaves in a fictional drama. The Middleton daughter wrestles with a love triangle, torn between a bohemian artist and a Westinghouse engineer. This narrative thread, though promoting a specific message, adds a layer of entertainment uncommon in promotional films of the era.
The film's experimental nature lies in its use of a fictional family to endorse real-world products. This technique blurs the lines between advertisement and documentary, creating a captivating time capsule of both the fair's innovations and American mid-century values.
The Middleton Family at the New York World's Fair stands as a testament to the persuasive power of film. It demonstrates the potential of experimental filmmaking within commercial constraints, leaving a lasting mark on the history of promotional media.
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