director: Jean Kharski
year: 1937
country: France
history notes: Unidentified Film No. 214
alternative titles: Ohne Titel - Unbekannter Kulturfilm nach dem Blau-Rot Farbverfahren um 1936, Zwischen Mittelmeer und Sahara. Ein farbiger Bildbericht aus Tunesien.

This film has been identified thanks to contributions from members of the Lost FIlms community.

Film shows the main sights of Tunisia using a two-colour system, possibly Ufacolor.
A harbour: a young Arab man sings in a rowing boat / A ferry docking. / Views of the harbour (Bizerte) / A train station and a streamlined train (headed in the direction of Sus). Palm trees. The city gates. / Crouching Arabs. Camels. The open sea. / Characteristic sailboats of Sfax. / Sponges. Fishermen display their catch of squids. / Tunis. A market. The gates of the city. The historical city centre, a muezzin, a mosque. / A parade. / French and Tunisian flags. / A palace. / Parade inspection. Dignitaries. His Highness, Achmed Pascha-Bey. / Interior of a train. An inland trip. / The pilgrimage town of Kairouan. / A muezzin, prayers, a European woman buying a rug. / The ancient Roman city of Sufetula (today Sbeitla): Ancient ruins, the amphitheatre, Thysdrus (El Djem) / Medenine. / The oasis town, Tozeur / Saddle trees / Dancing / A caravan.

Director of Photography: Albert Duverger
Production Company: Univers Film, Paris
Length: 339m
Format: 35mm, 1.37:1
Picture/Sound: colour, sound
Notes: 'AGFA 387' & 'AGFA 120' (both pointed A's) edgecodes; Two-colour system; No main title; German end-title & commentary

Source notes
Deutsche Kinemathek - Museum für Film und Fernsehen

According to the surviving German censor's permit card (no. 48414 dated 03.06.1938) the original length of the film was 368 m, the music was by Mohamed Iguerbouchen and "F. Lampe" was responsible for the German version.
We are looking for as much information as possible about the original French version of this film: the title, director, year of production, colour system, etc.

Thank you for making this information available on this site. It proves once again that the LOST FILMS website is a very good tool for our purposes. Unfortunately two months ago before this title was posted I preserved this film for its quality of this two colour process. For me it seems very likely to be improved Ufacolor although other quite similar processes where there at that time. I am very interested in the german title and would like to get in contact not only for the censor's permit card but for all other information connected to the print. Our print is 344 m and unfortunately has no main title or credits.
m.wessolowski@filmmuseum.at

The film is identified in biographies of composer Mohamed Iguerbouchen as TERRE IDÉALE (1937), which was described in contemporary French cinema listings as a 'documentaire sur la Tunisie, entièrement en couleurs.' The director is identified as Jean Kharski. Unfortunately, these are the only couple of morsels of information that I have.