King George VI of the United Kingdom shaking hands with dignitaries in England. King George VI is wearing a military uniform. Crowds cheering. King George VI talks to his wife, Queen Elizabeth Bowes-Lyons. The Royal flag at half-mast. A photograph of King George VI on display. Woman crying over death of King George VI. Princess Elizabeth becomes Queen Elizabeth II and is seen in a ceremony after her father's death. On horseback, Queen Elizabeth II salutes the Royal Guards lined up at a Trooping the Colour ceremony. Scene changes to British soldiers fighting in the streets of Egypt over the issue of Suez Canal. Captured Egyptian men being searched by troops. Dead bodies lined up on the street. King Farouk I of Egypt with his wife, Queen Narriman, and children (Princess Ferial, Princess Fawzia, Princess Fadia and Prince Ahmad Fuad) after being sent to exile to Capri, Italy as a result of a revolution. King Farouk I holding son, Prince Ahmad Fuad, and is seated with Queen Narriman during their exile in Capri, Italy. Workers at Anglo-Iranian oil refineries in Iran after the government's decision to nationalize them causing a great set back to British interests. Prime Minister of Iran Mohammad Mosaddeq arrives at the International Court in Hague for the settlement of the issue.
Two men on armchair bicycles as they are going for round the world tour, in Italy. They ride bicycles. People on road watch them.
People throw oranges on each other during Orange throwing festival at Ivrea in Turin, Italy. Large crowd gather to celebrate the traditional festival.
In Calabria, poor Italian people gather in a town square to receive land in a random drawing. The land is being redistributed after years of feudal ownership. Land in Calabria that has become dry and barren through neglect is shown.
Rain washes away topsoil on lands that have been neglected in Calabria. Views of the poor in Calabria, including children. Italian boy feeds pigs. Woman stand in the doorways of their houses. Peasant people view postings and newspaper articles announcing land reform. A surveyor maps out sections of large pieces of land that are to be redistributed to the poor. Machinery clears the land to make it ready for farming.
Film begins showing an area in Italy in which some buildings and houses are being rebuilt after WWII. Clothes are drying on lines between the houses. A man stands outside a house after completing rebuilding. The new house is built inside the opening of a tunnel. A woman occupant looks out her window. The house number: 526A is painted on the wall of the original tunnel structure. View from a height of this section of Rome. Men converse as they stand next to their bicycles near a building. A gathering of men. Closeup of one holding a sleeping infant. Men walk out the gate of an aviation-related factory. The gate is closed as they leave. Closeup of a sign on factory gate reading: Closed. Italian Prime Minister Alcide De Gasperi speaks about unemployment and land reform. A poster announces (in Italian): Applications for land assignments and formation of farmers' lists. A man with an application in his hand. Men gathered discussing the land reform applications. A farmer driving his tractor pulling a piece of farm equipment. A map delineates the path of a pipeline. Irrigation canals fed by the pipeline. A truck is seen carrying farm produce. An man operates levers on a fuel storage facility.