Travel aboard the S.S Normandie, from Paris to New York City, 1939.

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Come aboard the Art Deco floating palace!
Glamour and speed: travel to New York aboard the French Ocean Liner Compagnie Générale Transatlantique, "S.S Normandie", the biggest, largest and fastest passenger ship afloat, even still holds the record as the most powerful steam turbo-electric-propelled passenger ship ever built.
The ship held the Blue Riband for the fastest transatlantic crossing at several points during her service career. The gilded first class dining hall was longer than the Hall of Mirrors at Versailles and guests included Ernest Hemingway, Colette, Marlene Dietrich, Fred Astaire, Salvador Dali, Walt Disney and even the von Trapp family singers, who all sailed aboard the Normandie during her career of 139 westbound transatlantic crossings from Le Havre, France to New York City.
Life without airplanes back then. From Le Havre to New York in 3 days and 12 hours. Before mass air travel took off in the 1960s, people crossed the globe in majestic passenger ships. Old Vintage New York reintroduce you a nostalgic way to travel to our favorite city.
Video courtesy of Lobster Films with the participation of France & Planéte Talassa.
Song list in order:
- "La Lettre A Nini" by Lucienne Boyer.
- "Vous Qui Passez Sans Me Voir" by Jean Sablon.
- "Ces Petites Choses" by Jean Sablon.
- "Si J´etais Blanche" by Josephine Baker.
- "Harbor And At Sea" by The Orchard Music.
- "Thanks For The Memory" by Shirley Cross and Bob Hope.
- "Thanks For Everything" by Helen Forrest.
Original source:
• Video
Copyright Disclaimer Under Section 107 of the Copyright Act 1976, allowance is made for "fair use" for purposes such as criticism, comment, news reporting, teaching, scholarship, and research. Fair use is a use permitted by copyright statute that might otherwise be infringing. Non-profit, educational or personal use tips the balance in favor of fair use.
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[@mikemancini313]

13 people wanted a floating Cruise ship and shoebox-like hotel. Instead they got a pure elegant ocean liner and they decided to randomly dislike the video.

[@boataxe4605]

Or 13 Nazi’s who wish she was in France when they invaded.

[@litamtondy]

Or 13 non-French guys who were jealous. Honestly, before WWI, the British built the most beautiful ships, but between the two World Wars, France was absolutely the best. Its liners destroyed every other liner of the time. Normandie was to the 30's what the Titanic was to the 10's.

[@donaldfedosiuk1638]

Dr. Johnson, 250 years ago, described a sea voyage as being akin to a prison sentence "with the added prospect of drowning." He was, of course, foreseeing the rise of the cruise industry.

[@titanic254]

I just wonder how it would be if the aeroplane didn't evolve as fast as it did, and that ocean liners were still dominant up to this day, just the thought of new ocean liner designs that would be here now still give me goosebumps

[@skovner]

@@titanic254 The Queen Mary 2 is the only one left, but at least she looks like modern classic liner, not some ugly tourist hotel stuck on a ship hull - a comment I read before the Internet called modern cruise ships "monstrous neon-lined refugees from Vegas or Reno" Our sense of style has largely gone, and even if we still had liners as the predominant trans-Atlantic means of travel, unfortunately, I think they would be about as ugly as cruise ships (Cunard's ships being the exception nowadays - but the QM2 was built in the same yard as Normandie)

[@ShamusII]

The most beautiful ship ever. What agrand lifestyle aboard too. Pure elegance and sophistication.

[@yourloveofmemes9698]

But it was too grand and basically nobody could afford a ticket because the Great Depression. Rip

[@BOHEMIANMEX]

@@yourloveofmemes9698 great depression was not in 1929?

[@yourloveofmemes9698]

@@BOHEMIANMEX ye but it lasted till 1943

[@lucrolland7489]

Superb movie indeed. It feels like we are sailing. Some records showed that the Normandie was actually making money when it was sailing but could not transport as many passengers as the Cunard since the number of people travelling between Paris and New York was a lot less then between London and New York. Just a simple question of market. But indeed the ship was the most luxurious experience. This is so sad that they firefighters were so daft in the way they were handling the fire which was also the result of negligence. Now the question, where has gone all the wonderful Normandie interior? It seems that this could make a nice suspense movie?

[@aegonthedragon7303]

Normandie never really turned a profit for CGT but she covered her costs fine. If the War didn’t stop her, she would have eventually turned one (it usually took a few years, and Normandie was only in service from 1935 to 1939).

[@hankblaustein4149]

oh my god! heaven! i was transported...the normandie...compare her to the soulless tubs that ply the ocean today. and to think of the fate of so many of those people after what was to come within a few months. thanks for these memories!

[@OldVintageNewYork]

Glad to hear that! Thanks to you!

[@marylouselo5988]

My aunt and uncle came in 1939 on the Normandie to New York. My uncle was a Jewish doctor and my aunt a Protestant nurse. She gave up her home and entire family to flee Hitler with her beloved husband. It took my Uncle several years to learn English and get his American medical degree. My aunt worked in the garment district until they could set up medical practice on West 74th Street in New York City. He died in 1964 and she in 1984. The trip on the Normandie was a highlight in their lives despite the quite difficult circumstances.

[@richardhenry968]

This could have been the same cruise. Can you imagine?

[@sylvester9044]

Such a beautiful elegant ship. Who would have thought that this ship would be scrap metal within a very few years. So sad for such a great lady.

[@frankmayer139]

Yes, and it could have been saved. The designer suggested sinking it right there in the slip. That would have extinguished the fire, then it could have been pumped out and saved, but the fire dept. wouldn't have it and the whole thing burned beyond repair. A shame.

[@QueenBee-gx4rp]

My grandmother crossed on her many times.

[@essential.technology]

Yeah hard sex fell on this ship too.

[@FellowManofAggieland]

Had it not been for us Americans, this ship would have had a better career after the war. Hell it could have been preserved and served as a hotel like its rival Queen Mary! Oh well. One can dream.

[@jacktaggart2489]

Wonderful view of pre-war elegance of travel on the S.S. Normandie, the quintessential trans Atlantic liner of choice. The French Line out did themselves with this remarkably elegant ship. Period views of NYC and France were very charming and heartwarming.

[@theatreorganman]

The musical choices were dead-on and make the film truly come alive! A teary tribute to you! Long Live La Normandie!

[@racrx7]

Back when NYC was something to behold! 😍

[@gregoryworth84]

I've NEVER seen a better video on the Normandie, truly a fitting tribute to this lovely liner. Many thanks !

[@OldVintageNewYork]

Thanks to you for watching!

[@JoMarieM]

Some lovely video footage from a simpler time just before WW2 broke out and wrecked havoc in Europe. It was nice, and a bit sad, to see some of the peaceful images of Paris only a year before the Nazis marched in. Those young men in the smart red jackets may very well have been drafted into the military within the next few years. I wonder about the people on board this ship, which was probably making one of its last peacetime voyages before WW2 made passenger trans-Atlantic crossings out of the question. Who were they? Well-to-do French folks enjoying a visit to the States? American tourists returning home? Perhaps even Jewish refugees who were blessed to be able to get away from an increasingly dangerous existence in Europe. The images of late 1930s New York City were also amazing to see. What a marvelous window into the past!

[@sorosaltgaming]

you said everything I was thinking

[@tygapaul]

Me too. I was wondering the same. Simpler time but must have been so exciting. Bit like some videos of pre war Berlin, my thoughts wandered from thinking how lovely it must have been to how sad knowing what happened next. Anyway, a beautiful tribute to early 20th century civilization.

[@Phaaschh]

The most beautiful compilation of probably the most beautiful ship ever built. The quality of the film and the colour is fantastic. Soundtrack perfectly chosen as well, all the way from Lucienne Boyer to Artie Shaw. Summer 1939, with the sky ready to fall. On Paris, and on the Normandie itself. Thanks for taking us back there.

[@richardhenry968]

This comment is perfection. Yes. To. All. Of. It.

[@pasqualerusso7050]

The finest ocean liner ever built...a true beauty...

[@Penryn87]

The SS United States would like to have a word lol.

[@mikezinn7212]

C. Williams the Queen Mary would also like a word in lol.

[@paullewis2413]

@@Penryn87 I’ve been on board the s.s.United States near the end of her career. Ok I was only 15 at the time but I can tell you in no way could she compare with the Normandie or Queen Mary. Lovely ship but very plain and simple by comparison though of course a million times nicer than most of today’s trash.

[@radamik]

My mom’s rich cousins sailed on it around that time when they moved back to the US. And in 1939 they bought a new house in Rydal, Pa., that had a Royal Doulton porcelain sink in the powder room, a Dorothy Draper birdcage chandelier in the dining room, and (!) a yellow Kitchenaid dishwasher in the kitchen (in 1939). If you had money, life could be so elegant and stylish then.

[@litamtondy]

@@Penryn87 No offence but have you ever watched photos of the United States? That ship was a cattle wagon compared to the Normandie. I'm honestly upset just by the fact that you dared compare the United States to the Normandie. 😂

[@spdzodzo]

not a single smartphone in sight, just people living the moment, what a time to be alive!

[@MrDaiseymay]

Hardly--have you heard about WW2? it took the lives of 70+ million people, a world of destruction and was just a handful of months away

[@richardsmith2879]

Philip Croft . Quite. And no antibiotics either. Like all ages, it was great, if you were rich. I was young in the fifties and in retrospect I appreciated the quietness, and the sense of stability and safety. But that world is dead and buried. Today is less painful but, I believe, otherwise more nasty.

[@OrnumCR]

Philip Croft ...Actually, if this was filmed in August of 1939, it would prove to be Normandie’s last ever Atlantic voyage with war actually only a few days away, not months...

[@OrnumCR]

...Unless you lived in Europe as a targeted minority by those that wore the black uniform and jackboots of the ‘crooked spider’ as one child described the red flag of the swastika. Great time in America perhaps if you were lucky to be wealthy, as is clearly shown here by the use of (expensive) colour film, but perhaps not so for many others. Interesting how we can view time periods we can never experience through rose coloured glasses. I would relish a visit myself, but would probably prefer to step back in my time machine to journey back to now.

[@paullewis2413]

@@OrnumCR Absolutely agree. There were many things that I’m disappointed that we don’t have now such as the great ocean liners and great cities that existed for the citizens rather than for mass tourism. Would be great just to experience for a time this lost age but in no way would we want to remain for very long I’m certain of that.

[@rjturk]

What, no water slides or rock climbing walls. Oh the humanity of it all. LOL

[@hankblaustein4149]

well said!

[@astereux4519]

Daniel De saint malo No they were not, these are true luxurie.

[@nielskjr5432]

Ha ha! 😅

[@johnscanlan9335]

And let's not forget people being very well dressed at all times!

[@darthstarkiller1912]

I feel so jealous of the thousands of people who got to be on this ship.

[@louisskulnik7390]

Me too, except for the fact that these poor folks were marooned in America.

[@jcb5782]

This is so beautiful. I’m currently studying to become a maritime officer, and this is the kind of footage keeping me in the game. Those men you see on the bridge were damn good mariners. Hopefully I can be as good as them one day, relying on charts and skill in navigation. And what a beautiful ship she was. Perhaps one day we’ll have a true ocean liner again.

[@poodumrover1]

Queen Mary II

[@hankblaustein4149]

amen!

[@jcb5782]

Gianluca Badejo Yes Queen Mary 2 is an ocean liner, but I don’t consider her in the same class as her predecessor. When I made that statement I was really just referring to the older liners, before most of them became obsolete during the 60s and 70s.

[@litamtondy]

@@poodumrover1 Please, the Queen Mary II is a floating shoebox compared to this and the other ocean liners that came before the 60's.

[@poodumrover1]

@@litamtondy Dont get me wrong but QM2 is the closest thing to pre 60s we have seen today. I certainly would not call her a shoebox - Normandie is my favourite ship of all time just so you understand .

[@eddiebuenaventure3666]

Love the ship, but pardon me, those cars are marvelous also

[@ole9421]

I'm sure there were some forward thinking rich American and Europeans who decided it was time to get their valuables to a safer continent.

[@sjbock]

Loved seeing the beautiful cars being offloaded to Bob Hope singing "Thanks for the Memories".

[@estebanromero7566]

THIS WAS AMAZING! ! I'M ON TEARS!!! Such a beautiful ship, this by far the best video I have ever seen of her, this is addictive!!! And the music selection, JUST PERFECT!! CONGRATULATIONS AND THANK YOU FOR YOUR WORK!

[@MacXpert74]

What a beautiful time document. The S.S. Normandie was an amazing looking ship, unrivaled in its luxury. It's a shame how it ended up, but at least someone took this wonderful color film of it to preserve its history.

[@alisonlee3314]

A film tinged with sadness.

[@felix25ize]

Not a shame, but nazi agents ...

[@boataxe4605]

But take note that all of that luxurious wood is why the fire got out of control so quickly.

[@MrDaiseymay]

Very enjoyable, loved the music and scenes in New York too.How stylish and beautifully dressed they all were. Obviously, this was the first class we were seeing. This is a promotional film. I'm sharing.

[@JWRogersPS]

Many of the deck scenes are of Tourist (2nd) Class. The outdoor pool was for Tourist Class. I think that this film is a compilation of publicity footage and home movies.

[@trainsupporter9088]

What a super video!!!! Even though that era had it's challenges, I loved seeing the elegance of the ship, cars and clothing. Thanks so much.

[@betseysanpere2069]

My two uncles were on the Normandie's maiden voyage from France to New York. I have the first class guest list - Walt Disney and his brother were on it. The menus were quite splendid, as were all the other memorabilia including the certificate of transit with my uncle's name..

[@Jesusisking2785]

I wish the days of the grand old liners would return I mean cruise ships just can't compare with the atmosphere the beauty style and grandeur of these beautiful ladies

[@TheCarnivalguy]

Over 80 years later, the Normandie's superb design looks as modern as any ship seen today. In my opinion she (referred as "he" by some, bypassing tradition) was the most magnificent ocean liner ever built. The Normandie's stunning Art Deco interiors were a testament to the best French designers of her day. Her maiden voyage, seen by some as a hopeful symbol for an end of the Depression, was highly publicised and thousands greeted her in NYC. Even considering her short life and eventual fate, the Normandie's high place in the history of transatlantic liners is secure. 🏆

[@louisskulnik7390]

Was this footage from her final voyage?

[@louisskulnik7390]

@Giuliano BassWarrior the complete film is available unedited. It is definitely the final voyage. Of course they did not know that at the time.

[@cantwell161]

This film is priceless. ❤️

[@user-ih6vs3eg3o]

A liner that can never be replaced or replicated so perfectly. thanks for the memories

[@gvevers1]

Thank you for the great trip back to a time just before ww2. What a gorgeous liner! What a way to travel.

[@Star-fc4ni]

What I lovd about this time period is. When an Ocean Liner is coming to Port or Leaving this was a very special and important event, it really was a big deal with excitement and full of anticipation. The day was a spectacle and very special. You can literally feel this time period and how things were a different importance than the mindless useless media devices of today. What a luxurious time period with all of its truly crafted pieces of human engineering, creativity and thoughtfulness.

[@masive1498]

13:32 its the Georgic, the last White Star Line ship.

[@omegaomg175]

it could been the mv britannic too

[@omegaomg175]

@Daniel De saint malo mv georgic had two funnels before but it was removed some years later

[@omegaomg175]

@Daniel De saint malo also literally the ship has two funnels on the footage 😑

[@haroldgaffney246]

An elegance that is gone forever

[@Tedbb1]

What an elegant ship! I haven't seen seen any other that comes close.

[@harbourwoodlandvisitor2445]

there is a small speciality shop near me. it sells high brow vintage clothing and shoes from the 1920s to 1950s. the quality of the materials used in that era is vastly superior to the most expensive gents evening dinner suits of today. the difference is shockingly remarkable.

[@rich_edwards79]

It's eerie to watch this knowing that inside of a couple of years Paris would be under the Nazi jackboot, the Normandie would be a burned out pile of scrap lying on her side at that same pier, and many of the people in this footage would as likely as not be dead. Humans are capable of the most incredible works of creativity and imagination - magnificent floating cities, ornate skyscrapers - and then of such needless destruction fuelled by our animal instinct toward hatred and violence. In its own way, this film illustrates that contrast very well and in a way I'm sure its makers never conceived.

[@donaldfedosiuk1638]

Oh, Ship of Light!

[@randeman]

Lalique as far as the eye could see.

[@miketackabery7521]

Yes the ship of light! That's what she was called!

[@Brock_Landers]

There was never before, and never was another ship as beautiful as after the Normandie was built and launched. I have been researching maritime history for the last 32 years and I've never seen another ship as beautiful as the Normandie. The Aquitania comes in at a close second, along with the Queen Elizabeth, but there will never be another ship as beautiful as the Normandie in my humble opinion.

[@Rick88888888]

Fantastic footage!

[@stevecoats1913]

At 13:20 - USS Barry DD 248 comes into view - had just recently been assigned to Atlantic Fleet. She was a Clemson calls destroyer and would not survive the war.

[@mbtadhl]

Thanks, I wondered what ship that was. Sad that she was a casualty of war, sadder still all the sailors that perished.

[@jearnott]

Amazing colour footage!

[@paulgallagher9734]

I enjoyed his film for it's revealing imagery and romantic soundtrack. It is fascinating to experience in detail the grandeur of this magnificent vessel, and the activities of her passengers, and their music. I see it as a visual and aural record of a short time in the history of the modern world, unique in presentation and never to be re-visited. Yes, these passengers and crew were some of a privileged few. Yes, much of the world had experienced great hardship in the preceding decades, and another great war was imminent. That is the background to this story.

[@matthewacemusic]

Well said Paul, that’s a great way to put it

[@HagiaSophia1952]

A ship with true French style about her. Not like the floating 'apartment-blocks' we have today: disease-incubators, all of the larger ones.

[@vitothepizzaguy7475]

Well we don't have ocean liners, only cruise ships, packed to fit as many activities as possible. Functionality over style .

[@sergel02]

They’re pretty much cleaner than any land hotel. Calling them disease incubators is ignorant on your part tbh, especially since disease was in this ship too.

[@brybry3100]

I sailed aboard this ship in 1992 I believe. It was my first cruise ever and now I’ve done about 15 cruises I remember I put my parents aboard the ship for the 20th wedding anniversary. It’s amazing how much ships have changed. It’s so sad that she’s no longer around.

[@RayJorg]

It was probably the SS Norway ex SS France ... although there were relatively similar

[@brybry3100]

Oh my God I just realized I was on the SS Norway. Thanks for jogging my memory there people I’m so stupid LOL

[@mikemancini313]

SS France is still a lovely ship. She's very similar to the SS Normadie. The SS France is basically a newer version of the SS Normadie.

[@mikemancini313]

@Paula Johnson Yes. I know. She was still a great ship and she sailed from 1961 - 2003.

[@cunard61]

The ship made her last voyage to New York in August, 1939, and then never sailed again. I wonder if any of these scenes are from that last voyage? Just noticed at 20:28 that both Normandie and Aquitania are at the piers together, so that answers my own question.

[@louisskulnik7390]

The whole of the French financial system was carried aboard Normandie on this very journey in the form of gold bullion.

[@rogerdodger8349]

That was spectacular. Thanks for sharing this gem.

[@vino140]

Great video. Thanks !

[@trevorpage3191]

Wonderful Frank. Thanks for posting

[@karinkatt7893]

Wow...lovely liner....stunning footage

[@mbtadhl]

Very well done, thanks very much.

[@JamesBrown-ij1px]

This was FABULOUS. Thank You!

[@Brock_Landers]

Thank you so much for sharing this color video of the ever so beautiful Normandie with all of us. She has forever even a long-time favorite of mine.

[@thejerseyj9422]

Thank you. Videos such as this are priceless.

[@andrewwanner5166]

Beautiful - the music, the ship, the people!

[@SamhainBe]

Thank you this - Beautiful!

[@lrlezcano]

What elegance, what charm, what class; unique!! Thank you!!!

[@gtlfb]

All one can do is sigh... This footage was taken after May 1936, the first season with the new tourist class lounge at the aft end. The footage of that elegant crowd meeting before dinner was taken in the Trouville suite, one of the two grandest accommodations on the ship. It and the Deauville suite overlooked the aft of the ship and had large private terraces. In addition to the private dining room and living room (complete with piano), one could arrange for up to four bedrooms.

[@louisskulnik7390]

I wonder who the people are occupying this beautiful space? Someone should know who this obviously wealthy family is.

[@alisonlee3314]

What a beautiful little film! Thank you.

[@jimmypinetwinchell2454]

Normandie was certainly man's supreme achievement for all time and the closest glimpse of heaven that we will ever see until we get there from this dimension...Amen.

[@eugeneviollet-le-duc5971]

Quelle merveille, merci pour ces tranches de vies à bord du plus beau, du plus élégant, du plus luxueux paquebot. Le Normandie est la quintessence de l’Art de vivre à la Française. Ambassadeur de la civilisation Française !

[@stevedoubleu99B]

SUPERB!! Both the video and this lovely ship.

[@MsMsmak]

Outstanding video.

[@vino140]

Superb doc!!! The best centered on SS Normandie!!!

[@seethevolcane]

Superbly done! The Age of Elegance....

[@chrisnorman9980]

The decks were clear of all the utilitarian clutter of the other contemporary ships - at least they hid them well.

[@Nunofurdambiznez]

Absolutely glorious from start to finish! what a marvelous way to travel! The sound track adds just that perfect amount of je ne sais quoi to the entire experience!

[@Kheyoflights]

All that suprem shots have a surprising long story just wonderfull in itself. Forgotten more than 50 years in a box ..... They were discovered early 200's ! very touching moment to watch them. Thank you.

[@miketackabery7521]

Mesmerizingly beautiful video. The most beautiful ship ever built. And in color!? Surely this was colorized?! OMG what a wonderful experience this video was: thank you so so so much!

[@matthewacemusic]

What a treat this video was, From Paris and the magnificent and breathtaking liner that was the Normandie to the bonus footage of New York City before all this latest nightmare in our world of COVID 19 came about. It’s funny, while watching the NYC portion of video, it seems to be a nice late spring or early summer day in the city when this was filmed (I’d guess June), and it brought me right back to that feeling I used to get when living in Astoria, Queens at my Great Grandma’s house...days like this when the sun and weather, temperature was just right were just right over the city is truly a special and niche feeling. Thank You for this video and Greetings and best wishes from Eastern Long Island, NY

[@thegreatliners]

One of the best video to watch!

[@robertsvoboda7872]

Wonderful! Wonderful! Wonderful! Thank you!

[@wolfyk95]

I have the cassandre poster next to me in my home office space. I love the style of the poster, I've had it awhile but the ship itself was absolutely gorgeous also.

[@BOHEMIANMEX]

Elegance please come back!

[@mattc2094]

Brilliant footage, thankyou so much. She was probably the best ocean liner of all time

[@capt.molyneaux7037]

Great 20 mins....O M G.....memorable docu

[@MichaelJirochVisualArtist]

Excellent!

[@louisskulnik7390]

It is actually magical how enthralled by this video. It is my all time favorite on KZbin. I never comment this much on a video. I comment now to state that it makes me tear up every time I watch it. I want the creators to know that they have touched my heart very deeply. Long Live Normandie.

[@OldVintageNewYork]

Thank you for sharing your words with us!

[@louisskulnik7390]

@@OldVintageNewYork my pleasure! You guys are editing masters!

[@semsemeini7905]

Superbe!!! Qu'elle elegance.

[@ricksadler797]

Thank you. Great video

[@OldVintageNewYork]

Thanks to you for watching!

[@hobieone60]

My father was in the orchestra for the I 100th anniversary crossing. I have lots of memorabilia. The menus are beautiful art which I have framed. Wonderful video. Thanks

[@johnscanlan9335]

This is an amazing video due to the obviously very high quality of the original film as well as it being on full color. Having grown up in the 1960s there was an unspoken but widely accepted idea that somehow the whole world was in black and white before World War II. But here is a visual record of a beautiful world in full color moving at a very realistic pace!

[@brentg3707]

beautiful the most fantastic ever built

[@MandG80439]

Great film, great music

[@ladytron9188]

Lovely film.Thanks for posting.Those people probably didn’t realise what was coming in the near future.

[@richardhenry968]

I will never be able to explain what seeing this video has meant to me. Thank you. I’m honestly moved to tears by the beauty of seeing this in such glorious colour. Thank you. :)

[@bagelq2028]

Can we have more ships like this pls most cruise ships now are just bland and ugly to look at (QM2 doesn’t count it still retains a boxy superstructure and overall boxy hull shape) compared to the 1930s ocean liners

[@historyarmyproductions]

I want back the Curves and Beautiful Funnels of Times past back..

[@phildavies9082]

I think this would be called an "Ocean Liner" not a "Cruise Ship". They are really built for different functions. The day of the Ocean Liner is gone unfortunately.

[@jeffearle8172]

Unquestionably the most beautiful of the transatlantic liners. This was the last Summer before war broke out in September. The vivid footage of Manhattan at the end is priceless.

[@TheRavendearest]

Perfection...

[@karenbryan132]

Look how elegantly everyone on board is dressed! I guess if you could afford passage on the Normandie, you had to have clothes like that (and probably a maid or valet to keep them in order).

[@brianhollenbeck8633]

Wonderful video.😇👑🌏🌍🌎💚

[@rogerlecucq4117]

Excellent video! I like the colourful era of the late thirties, as the film snippets depict the true colours of the time, not these old drab black and white films of which we are normally used to, which distort to a certain degree those bygone ( not so bad) ) years. I am going to save that piece on my tablet device. Music's also very fitting.

[@jaymaloney8321]

Some interesting trivia: At 13:20 the Normandie briefly passes US Navy ship "248". This is the USS Barry (DD-248). On 25 May, 1944, the Barry was attacked by two kamikazes while on patrol 35 miles northwest of Okinawa. One was shot down, but the other broke through the barrage and struck Barry below her bridge. Twenty-eight of her crew were wounded by shrapnel. The explosion of the plane's gasoline tanks and bomb ignited fuel oil escaping from Barry's ruptured tanks. The fire threatened the forward magazine which could not be reached to flood. At 1340, 40 minutes after the plane struck, the commanding officer gave the order to abandon ship. Barry's boats were lowered and all hands safely cleared the side. At 1500, the water had risen until the forward magazine was covered, minimizing the danger of explosion. A skeleton crew, together with parties from Sims and Roper then reboarded Barry and the last fires were extinguished at 0630 the next day. Barry was towed to the anchorage at Kerama Retto 28 May, and was found too extensively damaged to warrant repair or salvage. Stripped of useful gear, she was decommissioned 21 June 1945. Later in the day, she was towed from the harbor of Kerama Retto to be used as a decoy for the kamikazes. At 1845, while under tow, two Nakajima Ki-43 kamikazes attacked, coming in low over the surrounding land. One plane hit Barry and the other hit her escort, LSM-59, sinking both ships. LSM-59 sank in thirteen minutes with two dead and eight wounded, while Barry settled to six inches of freeboard and sank the next morning despite salvage efforts.

[@NeilBaker722]

It was allegedly difficult for her owners to fully book her. Many felt uncomfortable or outclassed by the elegance of the ship.

[@whocares2465]

Are you for real? 😮😅

[@ryancmt]

@@whocares2465 I've read that as well. She was not financially successful for the French Line for that reason.

[@rich_edwards79]

Like a supermodel, beautiful but intimidating. The travelling public preferred the more approachable Cunard Queens.

[@sjbock]

@@ryancmt Yes, I've read that too much space on the ship was devoted to 1st class passengers. Most of the American tourists who wanted to travel by ship to Europe wanted to go less expensively and chose the equally fast Queen Mary.

[@paulhorn2665]

Such a nice ship. With an sad end unfortunatly

[@markrubin9449]

Were it possible, I would book passage in a second.

[@Phaaschh]

I reckon we all would. Can you imagine such a creation today? The tickets would sell like hotcakes, the trouble is, how many people nowadays know how to behave in such an environment?

[@litamtondy]

@@Phaaschh Let me tell you, the environment and the behaviour are a symbiosis. You improve one, the other adapts and improves itself. Have you ever watched the movie "Trading Places"? It might be a comedy, but it shows a true mechanism: if you take a rude and simple person and put them is a elegant and refined environment, they will adapt and become elegant and refined. So basically, being on a ship so majestic will bring people to behave correctly, even more so if the rest of the world is a nice place. Nowadays, functionality is preferred to beauty, but we should go back and take into account the psychological effects of beauty, which will boost functionality, for example by helping people feel happy and be nicer with each other.

[@aidanramos8383]

Love this vid

[@lukemauerman3734]

Fabulous

[@gordoncraig8238]

Like a time machine into a past age. This film should be restored to get an even higher resolution.

[@Mrrossj01]

The Normandie was the most luxurious liner ever built. The top French designers and artisans worked on her. Those dining room lights are by Lalique.

[@leosaura1993]

A beautiful ship that should have been preserved for prosperity.

[@filtonkingswood]

Three words.... Refinement, elegance and sophistication.

[@danguid2753]

Magnificent liner which sank in the port of New York, sunk by the subtle Americans. We do not forget anything gentlemen.

[@titanic254]

Truly elegant, this ship was something else her first class was just something out of this world, and she was ×2 more expensive than queen mary