Vie et Mort de l'America
(Life and death of America)
Highly recommended, although French-language documentation from the 90s. With a prior knowledge about the vessel and optionally present French school, can well follow the content. Even if one has not French, it's worth it just because of the extensive footage and interviews, the English, which you can hear a little more effort in the French translation.
The documentation shows exterior and interior shots of the Alferdoss early 90s and links these with chronological flashbacks to the history of the ship.
Among other things to see are pictures of the construction in Newport News and the baptism of West Point, the America with a detailed description of life on board the Australis with a baptism ceremony in the ballroom and the equator, and the American Star.
Is accompanied with all the respective "career section" appropriate music and matching mood.
The many interviews are very interesting, including the following topics:
- Bill Miller, maritime historian and author of numerous Ship and Ocean Liner related books, gives information about the construction of America and her short lived Venture Cruise Line episode of 1978.
- A veteran of the West Point talks about his experiences.
- Dimitrios Kaparis reports about the purchase and rebuilding of America in 1964, the fire of 1970 aboard Australis, the public auction of the ship in 1978 and the Italis years.
- Australis' first captain tells about his story and experiences aboard.
- The owner of the Alferdoss reports of his failed plans for the ship.
However, one must be careful in this documentation part, which recordings are reproduced and which are not. Recordings from the conversion of America to Australis and the repair after the fire in 1970 show the Ile de France. Even the shots are shown of life on board the America, comes in part from another ship. Similarly, the trailing scene of stormy January night when they are not shooting at the Neftegaz and the American Star.
The reason for this is that many of these events, no recordings exist or were not available.
Running time: ~ 51 minutes.
There is a German translation (title: America Schicksal eines Luxusliners) which was done in context of the documentary "The Wreck of America" to give a better understanding of the ship's history before the wreck doku aired. However, this version is shortened.
Availability:
The original French version is available in the DVD collection "Navires de Légendes".
The German version is no longer acquirable on the instantaneous state of knowledge.