expo 67 lounge

Mid-century fashion, vintage pop culture and retro cool... from Expo 67 and beyond.

3 November 2008

The Memories of Angels



I'm totally excited about this fab new film from the National Film Board.

The Memories of Angels is a stunning portrait of Montreal in the 1950's and 60's, in "sights, sounds and music". Culled from vintage NFB stockshots, the film lies somewhere between poetry, documentary and essay. Without narration, this film effectively paints the portrait of a city that underwent massive transformations in the years leading up to, and during, Expo 67.

Like a DJ mixing music, director Luc Bourdon skillfully "remixed" scenes of a bygone city: busy streets of people, motor cars and streetcars, children playing in yards and lanes, bustling department stores during Christmas, panoramic views of Expo 67... to name but a few. Aesthetically interesting to me was the contrast of black and white and color footage.

The Memories of Angels is playing at Ex-Centris until November 13, 2008.

Place Ville Marie was only one of many grand scale projects in the 1960's.

St-Catherine street's vegas-style neon signs.

Dunn's, a smoked-meat institution in Montreal.

Québecois legend Félix Leclerc with a young Dominique Michel.

Think that snow removal was better in the good old days? Think again!

Montreal's shining moment in the 1960's: Expo 67.

images: nfb.ca

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6 Comments:

Anonymous Anonymous said...

Man, I always look forward to updates on this extraordinary blog!
It's a little sanctuary.
thank you.
-John

10:30 am  
Blogger stinkypaw said...

Aaawww the sixties... when I was born... let's not forget! ;-)

5:34 pm  
Anonymous Anonymous said...

This site rocks!

8:00 pm  
Anonymous Anonymous said...

Forget giant plasma screens and lasers and other high-tech signage. Nothing conveys the excitement of being downtown like classic, gaudy neon as far as the eye can see.

8:48 pm  
Anonymous Anonymous said...

Most of you guys were not born or were mere babies. I was 40 and the memories are still there. Great film ! As an early NFB film maker I can also appreciate the work done.

A must see film at the ExCentris.

YJ

1:14 pm  
Anonymous Anonymous said...

Je suis née en 1978 : Expo 67 est un des 2 partys que ma génération a manqué de prè. Votre blog est super!
( Le 2e party manqué sont les Olympiques de 1976..)J,ajoute votre blogue a mes favoris ! Merci

11:47 pm  

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