"With Their Eyes On The Stars" 1964
Warner Brothers / Vitaphone Prod #3193-A
Technicolor Prod #9084
Music and Lyrics Composed and Supervised by
John Stewart of The Kingston Trio
Sung by The Ridgerunners
(Through the courtesy of Quiet Fight Inc.)
Music Coordinator
Michael Stewart
Produced by Cedric Francis
Directed by Cal Reed
Edited by Tom Downing
Technical Assistance by
North American Aviation
Space and Information System Division
This 22 minute Technicolor short film had it's premiere in Downey
California January 21, 1964 at the Meralta Theatre John Stewart
was at the premiere.
This is such a wonderful excellent patriotic look at the history of the early settlers of America, set to folk music which was popular at that time. The first 11 minutes makes full use of colorful scenes of Americas past showing live action footage using landmarks and the music befitting on what is being shown on the screen. At one point John Glenn is seen walking on a beach at night looking up at the moon! The scene and music fade out, and then fade back in, to the Aerospace part of the film, shot at North American Aviation, Downey plant. Which takes us from blast off to touch down. The Ridgerunners, who perform the music later became "We Five" with their hit "You Were On My Mind" email from his son just today. (June 14, 2022) I had sent Jerry and email telling him that I projected a 16mm print of "With Their Eyes On The Stars" and I was thinking of him. Some other playing on this marvelous folk festival are John Phillips, and Scott McKenzie. My friend and former boss Paul Surratt loved John Stewart and of course wanted to know everything about it. Paul had the soundtrack outtakes to the music which were in John Stewart's personal collection. I first saw this remarkable short film in about 1978. I acquired my first 16mm IB-TECHNICOLOR print of "With Their Eyes On The Stars" and I have loved this little picture ever since. Obviously this was made to promote the space program and getting man to the moon. I know you could upon this reel as propaganda which I am sure it is. But I still love it, I enjoy the music and the footage. They don't know how to make a short film like this anymore! I love all of the travelogues from this time period, they are fun to watch. It makes me want to go back in time! The copy on YouTube looks like crap! Warner Brothers should put a DVD out on the best of these short films.
This is such a wonderful excellent patriotic look at the history of the early settlers of America, set to folk music which was popular at that time. The first 11 minutes makes full use of colorful scenes of Americas past showing live action footage using landmarks and the music befitting on what is being shown on the screen. At one point John Glenn is seen walking on a beach at night looking up at the moon! The scene and music fade out, and then fade back in, to the Aerospace part of the film, shot at North American Aviation, Downey plant. Which takes us from blast off to touch down. The Ridgerunners, who perform the music later became "We Five" with their hit "You Were On My Mind" email from his son just today. (June 14, 2022) I had sent Jerry and email telling him that I projected a 16mm print of "With Their Eyes On The Stars" and I was thinking of him. Some other playing on this marvelous folk festival are John Phillips, and Scott McKenzie. My friend and former boss Paul Surratt loved John Stewart and of course wanted to know everything about it. Paul had the soundtrack outtakes to the music which were in John Stewart's personal collection. I first saw this remarkable short film in about 1978. I acquired my first 16mm IB-TECHNICOLOR print of "With Their Eyes On The Stars" and I have loved this little picture ever since. Obviously this was made to promote the space program and getting man to the moon. I know you could upon this reel as propaganda which I am sure it is. But I still love it, I enjoy the music and the footage. They don't know how to make a short film like this anymore! I love all of the travelogues from this time period, they are fun to watch. It makes me want to go back in time! The copy on YouTube looks like crap! Warner Brothers should put a DVD out on the best of these short films.
