https://peertube.dngr.us/videos/watch/ede1e04a-bf39-4ee8-808b-6e098690da1a "A Siamese Journey" (1938) presents a precious view into the Thailand of yesterday. This is a film record created by Leon Shamroy and Tom White of the Ellsworth Huntington Expedition. Ellsworth Huntington (1876-1947) was a well-known Yale geography professor who led a series of expeditions to various parts of the world including the Middle East. At some point in the late 1930s, he he led an expedition to Siam, present-day Thailand, and this film was released in 1937-38 in the USA. The film is notable for showing pre-WWII Thailand, its capitol Bangkok, and its people. The film explores various facets of Siam (modern-day Thailand), beginning with the revered white elephants considered sacred and royal possessions. It highlights cultural traditions such as the unique history behind Siamese women’s bobbed hair and the customary chewing of betel nut. Traditional sports like stick fighting and fish fighting are showcased, alongside Siamese boxing, which involves ritual prayers and rigorous training. The film also introduces the Rockefeller Institute’s snake park, where venom is harvested to create life-saving antivenom. Demonstrations of the mongoose’s skill in combating snakes emphasize local wildlife knowledge. The narrative shifts to modern Siam, depicting bustling markets, luxurious yachts, and a welcoming, prosperous society with modern infrastructure. It concludes by honoring the nation’s respectful monarchy and peaceful people, who live according to Buddhist principles enriched by vibrant social customs. 0:00 – The film begins with an emphasis on heat and atmospheric music setting the scene. 0:40 – Introduction to the famous white elephants of Siam, showing a baby white elephant being taken for its daily bath. 0:52 – Explanation that white elephants are actually pale gray, considered sacred, and owned exclusively by the king. 1:09 – Mention of the Order of the White Elephant, a royal honor. 1:19 – Introduction of the baby elephant’s mother, living in a marble stable with dedicated attendants. 2:31 – After the elephant’s bath, local townspeople feed her respectfully outside the stable. 2:52 – Scenes from Siamese markets featuring open-air cook shops serving traditional hot curries. 3:20 – Display of unique fruits sold in Bangkok, where gardens are carefully tended. 3:39 – Historical note on Siamese women wearing bobbed hair centuries before the West, due to women taking soldiers’ roles in a past war. 4:12 – Cultural detail about women’s black-stained teeth from chewing betel nut, a popular local habit. 4:27 – Introduction to popular sports, showing a traditional stick fight with prayer rituals before combat. 5:04 – Musicians accompany the stick fight, the country’s oldest sport with unchanged techniques. 5:29 – Fighters demonstrate skillful defense, with victory determined by the number of blows taken. 5:50 – Tour of the Rockefeller Institute’s snake park in Bangkok, featuring deadly snakes like the banded krait. 6:25 – Description of a cobra pen, where venom is harvested to produce life-saving antivenom serum distributed by the Red Cross. 7:25 – Introduction of the mongoose, a fearless snake hunter kept as a pet to control snakes in homes. 8:02 – The mongoose’s agility is demonstrated as it dodges cobra strikes in a cage fight. 9:19 – The mongoose kills a cobra, showing its effectiveness as a natural predator. 9:33 – Siamese passion for gambling is shown through fighting fish contests, where male fish battle fiercely in jars. 11:23 – Introduction of Siamese boxing, featuring fighters with hemp-wrapped hands instead of gloves, who pray before matches. 12:01 – Fighters perform ritual dances listing past victories before bouts, wearing headbands for luck. 13:03 – The boxing match begins, timed by a water-filled bowl marking rounds. 13:23 – Fighters engage intensely, unlike Western boxing’s slower pace, with no holding back. 13:56 – Training starts young, focusing on body conditioning and precise kicking, with callused toes used to strike nerves behind the ear. 15:11 – Shift to modern Siam with displays of wealth including luxurious yachts and streamlined cars in Bangkok. 16:55 – Crowds welcome distinguished visitors warmly, reflecting friendly and prosperous city life with commerce and modern amenities. 17:56 – Presentation of Siam’s well-trained but peaceful army, including cavalry reviews. 18:40 – Meeting of the nation’s princes illustrates respect for royalty despite a liberal government. 19:16 – Closing remarks on Siam’s contented people who live by Buddhist social principles, blending tradition with joy in song and dance. This film is part of the Periscope Film LLC archive, one of the largest historic military, transportation, and aviation stock footage collections in the USA. Entirely film backed, this material is available for licensing in 24p HD, 2k and 4k. For more information visit http://www.PeriscopeFilm.com Source: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=vwxrBpZtSQU Mirrored from Periscope Film (https://www.youtube.com/@PeriscopeFilm) Sat, 13 Jun 2026 15:10:19 GMT https://validator.w3.org/feed/docs/rss2.html PeerTube - https://peertube.dngr.us https://peertube.dngr.us/lazy-static/avatars/41a6fee9-7f57-42d0-a5fc-5db4f1af2e31.png https://peertube.dngr.us/videos/watch/ede1e04a-bf39-4ee8-808b-6e098690da1a All rights reserved, unless otherwise specified in the terms specified at https://peertube.dngr.us/about and potential licenses granted by each content's rightholder.