Contestants of China, Germany, France, Italy, United Kingdom and United States walk on the ramp during the 1961 Miss World pageant at the Lyceum Ballroom (Lyceum Theatre, 21 Wellington St, London WC2E 7RQ, United Kingdom) in London, United Kingdom. Miss World 1961 1st Runner-up Grace Li Shiu-ying (Republic of China) on stage. Miss World 1961 judges such as Bob Hope, Richard Todd, John Spencer-Churchill, Kathleen Manners, the Duchess of Rutland, and Countess Ethel Beatty, sit behind table. Large audience cheers the participants. Miss United Kingdom Rose Marie Franklin wins the competition and is crowned by Hollywood star Bob Hope. Winner and runners-up pose for photographs.
Soviet and American achievements in space travel in the year 1961, during the so called "space race". Russian cosmonaut Yuri Gagarin returns after his historic trip in space and NASA launches its Mercury Freedom 7 spaceship for sub orbital flight by Astronaut Alan Shepard. A news paper reports about the success of Russian space mission as the Yuri Gagarin returns after a space trip. A large crowd gathered cheers for Gagarin. National Aeronautics and Space Administration (NASA) workers work on Mercury-Redstone 3 spacecraft "Freedom 7" for carrying out sub-orbital flight, manned by Alan Shepard. Scene shows launch of the Mercury MR-3 mission on May 5, 1961. View of Commander Shepard in capsule during flight. Helicopter lifting Alan Shepard to safety after the successful flight. Commander Shephard shown beside the spaceship capsule on deck of aircraft carrier after recovery. View of flight preparations for Mercury-Redstone 4 (MR-4). Liftoff of MR-4 on July 21, 1961, commanded by Astronaut Captain Gus Grissom. NASA scientists in Mission control room. Helicopter rescues astronaut Grissom from sea after safe splashdown of MR-4. View of bridge of ship USS Randolph (USS-15) during recovery effort. Astronaut Grissom walking on the deck of the aircraft carrier after recovery.
Film opens with brief glimpse of Swedish soldiers (wearing M21 steel helmets) rushing to take positions in a defensive trench during World War 2. Scene shifts to infantry in combat gear, including shouldered blanket rolls, as they demonstrate ability to rapidly take up defensive positions. (Numerous automobiles parked in the background, indicating this is a demonstration.) Scene shifts to coastal defenses in Sweden, where heavy guns are seen firing from underground fortifications near a coastline. Swedish troops (wearing M37 steel helmets) firing a Browning M17 water-cooled machine gun from a protected position. Swedish troops (in M21 helmets) firing double-mounted Kulspruta m/36 water-cooled 8mm machine gun (modified Browning design dual mounted). Pattern of bullets splashing near floating targets offshore. Glimpse of a 29/33 M. 80mm Bofors anti-aircraft gun. Biplanes: Swedish J8 Gloster Gladiator MK I bi-wing pursuit aircraft seen flying low in formation over a grass field. Swedish T3 aircraft in formation. (These are Junkers Ju 86 K-13 aircraft built by SAAB, under license, and converted to torpedo bombers. They are flown by Swedish Wing F 17.) The pursuit planes stage mock attacks on the formation of T-3 bombers. Aerial closeups of a J8 in flight. Next, from very close up, one of the fuselage-mounted Browning .303 machine guns on a J8, is seen firing. Two of the bombers drop out of their formation and descend, as if they had been hit. (This is all a demonstration, carefully enacted.)
More than six thousand participants battle it out in world's largest and longest ski race for 43rd consecutive year in Sweden. The nordic or cross-country skiers seen starting the Vasaloppet race and during the 56 mile race. In between the race participants have refreshments.
Newsreel titled 'Goa falls' shows Indian troops occupying Goa after its 1961 invasion and annexation, ending 451 years of Portuguese colonial rule. Wrecked houses and natives on the streets as Indian soldiers patrol the area. Natives carry Indian flags.
Christmas time advertisement for U.S. Savings Bonds. Interior of a house decorated for Christmas, with Christmas tree and toy train running on a table. Actress Donna Reed walks to the table, stops the train and holds up a December 1958 U.S. Savings Bond. She speaks about the Savings Bond, places it on a toy train car, and starts the train. As the train moves along the track, it passes signs reflecting successive passing time increments: Dec 1961 (three years), Dec 1964 (3 more years), and Aug 1968 (3 more years and 8 months). By staying on track to maturity, the bond is worth much more. Donna Reed notes this and suggests Savings Bonds as a Christmas gift. She closes by wishing everyone a Merry Christmas. (Note: The original maturity period for a Series E Bond was 10 years. But the U.S. Government reduced it to 9 years and 8 months, in 1952. That revised maturity period is reflected in this advertisement.) (Additional note: The trains are by Lionel, and include "The General" locomotive, a New York Central boxcar, a Lionel flatcar, and Lionel Lines caboose.)