Events in Italy and the United States during the Great Depression. Italy, 1933: Italian Prime Minister Benito Mussolini at a ceremony to mark the 10th anniversary of his march on Rome, Italy. Fascists gathered at the ceremony. Mussolini hugs and greets a fascist officer. United States: During the Great Depression, men of the Civilian Conservation Corps or CCC at their first training camp cut trees. Men of the CCC sit and eat food in a forest. Men and women participate in a walkathon during the days of the economic depression in 1933 (the scenes look also like those from a dance marathon, with exhausted couples clinging together late in the marathon). From a August 11, 1958 newsreel giving a retrospective look at events 25 years prior.
Fleet of Savio-Marchetti SM.55 lead by Italo Balbo land in Chicago Illinois for the Chicago World's Fair. Sailors and citizens greet Italo Balbo and his air fleet on his arrival. Huge crowd gathered to welcome him as he drives through a parade in New York City before returning to Italy. Italo Balbo waves to the American people in New York. From a November 27, 1958 newsreel feature "25 years ago today".
Pope Pius XII is seen with New York's Joseph Francis Cardinal Spellman before the former’s death. A large crowd assembled in Rome. The body of Pope Pius XII lies in state at St. Peter's Basilica (Piazza San Pietro, 00120 Città del Vaticano, Vatican City). Crowds pass and pay their last respects. Two Vatican Guards stand by the bier. Scene shifts to crowds filling the St. Peter’s Square in the Vatican. The College of Cardinals meets to elect Angelo Cardinal Roncalli who takes on the name Pope John XXIII. Church bells peal. Pope John XXIII stands and blesses the huge crowd from the balcony.
The funeral of Samuel Cardinal Stritch in Rome, Italy. A car drives past the North American College in Rome (Via del Gianicolo, 14, 00165 Roma RM, Italy). Priests in black cassocks enter the North American College to attend the funeral of Cardinal Stritch. Cardinals, priests, and nuns pay their last respects to Samuel Cardinal Stritch. View of Cardinal Stritch's body lying in state in a room.
Scenes of 3rd Parliamentary elections being held in Italy. Banner reads “Vota Partito Socialista Italiano” (“Vote for the Italian Socialist Party”). Italians reading the rules for voting from posters on a wall. A man reads a poster in Lazio region. Italian women enter the polling booth. A man submits his vote into the ballot box. Entrance to the polling room. People vote at polling booths. An official declares results in the presence of Press and Media officials. The Christian Democrats (Democrazia Cristiana) win by majority. Italian President Giovanni Gronchi with journalists and newsmen in Rome.
Swiss guards salute a man entering the Papal Palace of Castel Gandolfo (Piazza della Libertà, 00073 Castel Gandolfo RM, Italy). Pope Pius XII appears on a balcony and begins to address the large gathering assembled in a courtyard below. Pope Pius XII speaks to crowds with hand gestures. A woman and her children watch the papal audience from a window. Pope Pius XII imparts blessing to the audience. One group holds a poster reading: "il. Vitttorioso." (Referring to a weekly Catholic publication in comic book format). Crowd of Italians clapping and cheering. Cameraman uses a motion picture camera from a raised platform. Tabbacheria (tobacco shop) is on one side of the courtyard. Sign reads Cinzano (referring to an Italian brand of vermouth). Camera pans up to the balcony and then back down to the courtyard, again. where people are waving their hands and holding white handkerchiefs. Some hold small children up above their heads. Closeup of a woman holding up a baby. after brief interruption, flags are shown flying from balcony on one side of the courtyard. Boys in choir gowns clap their hands. A woman makes the sign of the cross, while a man next to her takes photographs. What appear to be three seminarians, are seen. A priest in a Cappello Romano takes photographs. Closeup of a man holding a big boy. A baby boy held aloft, with dome of the Castel Gandolfo behind him. Nuns with a group of schoolgirls. Two more seminarians. Views from above rear of the courtyard.