John Nash Ott Collection > SERIES II: Educational and Industrial Films

Out At Ott's / Miracle of the Bulb

Transcript (Download)

Pêts 페istent and I are just planting some bulbs so we'll have flowers for the house next spring.

Dad, why do we plant spring bulbs in the fall? Well, Henry, that's just one of nature's ways.

You see, the bulbs have to go through a long winter dormant period so they'll produce flowers.

That's why they bloom in the spring.

Remember last year when I planted bulbs in those big boxes so I could take time -lapse pictures of them? And then I put them outside and covered them over with a lot of leaves to keep them from getting too cold during the wintertime.

Keep them just right so that they grow roots.

And while the pond was frozen over, there was a lot of snow on the ground and you kids are out there shoveling and having a lot of fun with winter sports.

Getting the pond ready so that you could skate on it.

Remember that? While the bulbs are going through the cold winter dormant period, they're growing good strong roots.

And then along the early part of the year, just after Christmas and New Year's, I went out there and broke through the frozen leaves that were on top so that I could get down to where those pots were in the big boxes.

Brought the pots indoors to have them in the house for some spring flowers and take the big boxes down to the time -lapse studio to take pictures of them.

But you can't always count on there being nice clean snow all winter long, so I put some away in the freezer.

Remember how glad Mommy was to get rid of those cans and she had more room for all her frozen food.

Well, the freezer's a good place to keep some snow so you can have it on hand.

And there I'm putting in the last one of those big boxes and spreading the dirt over to make it nice and smooth and even.

And then all I have to do is to take the snow and spread that on top and break it up a little.

And you know, it looks just like outside.

I hope you like the pictures of the spring bulbs.

Goodbye.

Bye.

Identifier
F.2022-09-0337
Date Of Production
1957
Abstract
A film that documents the life cycle of Dutch spring bulb flowers.
Description
This film begins in John Ott's home studio where he and his son Henry plant bulbs. He explains to Henry that the bulbs must go through a winter dormant period in order to produce flowers in the spring.

A flashback sequence follows Ott as he plants bulbs outside, later excavates them on a cold winter day, and even retrieves cans of snow from the freezer to simulate outdoor plant growth inside his studio.

The remainder of the film presents time-lapse footage of Dutch spring bulb flowers including the crocus, daffodil, hyacinth and tulip as they grow rhythmically to songs like Felix Godin's "Valse Septembre," Samuel Coleridge-Taylor's "Demande Et Response," Herman Finck's "Laughing Eyes," Wilfrid Sanderson's "June is Calling," and Haydn Wood's "The Laughing Cavalier" and "Bird of Love Divine."

The film concludes as John and Henry Ott bid the audience farewell from the studio.

The film was produced over a three year period for the Associated Bulb Growers of Holland. Upon the film's release, bookings were coordinated by the non-profit company, Films of the Nations. In 1958, a 20-minute version of the film screened on BBC Television.
Run Time
0:10:42
Format
16mm
Extent
325 feet
Color
Color
Sound
Optical
Reel/Tape Number
1/1
Has Been Digitized?
Yes
Language Of Materials
English
Element
Reversal Positive Print
Genre
House/garden
Form
Television specials
Excerpts
Subject
Flowers
Ice Skating
Plants
Nature
Time
Related Collections
SERIES II: Educational and Industrial Films

Related Places
North America ➜ United States ➜ Illinois ➜ Winnetka

Distributor
Films of the Nations

Main Credits
Ott, John Nash Jr. (is filmmaker)

Participants And Performers
Ott, Henry (is performer)
Ott, John Nash Jr. (is host)

 
Do you know more about this item?
If you have more information about this item please contact us at info@chicagofilmarchives.com.