Guest
Join this channel to get access to perks: Want to learn more about Periscope Film and get access to exclusive swag? Join us on Patreon. Visit Visit our website Presented by the United States Marine Corps, “Thoroughly Modern Molly” is a color, informational film from 1968 that highlights and celebrates the work of the women Marines who served their country. The statue known as ‘Molly Marine’ was originally commissioned by Marine Technical Sgt. Charles Gresham, a recruiter, in hopes to increase enlistment of females into the military during World War II. Molly Marine was the first statue of a woman in uniform, and it was erected on the Corps' birthday, Nov. 10, 1943 in New Orleans, La. While 1943 was the inaugural year for female Marines, the film opens with footage from the rededication ceremony of the statue in 1966 to honor all of the “modern Mollys” and goes on to feature scenes that highlight a woman Marine’s training, duties, and posts around the world. 25th anniversary ceremony Molly Marine statue in New Orleans; women Marines and dignitaries stand as flowers are laid by statue (0:09). Close-up detail shots of statue, plaque with text (0:50). Footage from WWII of Marines 6th Division during invasion of Okinawa at Yae-Take and Sugar Loaf Hill (1:16). Female Marines work beside men in data processing, (2:22). Image development training: group of female Marines sit in chairs in a room lined with vanity mirrors, watch as instructor points to female model and teaches Marines how to present themselves - hair styles, makeup, posture (3:10-3:37). Male Marine escorts female to his car (4:07). Pedestrian traffic perhaps downtown New Orleans, street lined with pharmacy, retro movie theater (4:21). Sign for 250th Mardi Gras Parade (4:28). Tourist sign with information on the Battle of New Orleans (4:30). Street sign for Bourbon Street (4:31). Montage of signs for bars along Bourbon Street: The Blue Angel, Sido, The Flamenco Club (4:34). LED signs for businesses in downtown New Orleans illuminate the streets at night (4:38). Couple on horse-drawn carriage tour (4:45). Andrew Jackson Equestrian Statue, Jackson Square (4:47). Exterior Café Du Monde (4:51). United States military plane transports women Marines to new post, the women joyfully disembark plane in Japan (4:56). Female Marines explore Tokyo, walk under “torii” (traditional Japanese gate), look through postcards (5:15). Woman Marine duties: Black woman Marine adjusts perhaps automatic Polaroid camera on tripod to take male marine's photo (5:52). Women marines undertake clerical, secretarial duty, marine sorts mail into correct mailboxes at embassy post office (6:08). Coed group of marines enjoying meal outside at dimly lit restaurant (6:33). Women marines disembark plane in Okinawa, greeted by fellow women marines (6:50). Welcome sign for Kadena Air Base (7:02). (7:10). Woman marine makes bed, prepares new living quarters then attends briefing with other new arrivals (7:10). Jobs performed at base: woman marine works in meteorology lab (7:42). Other woman Marine in role as executive secretary to commandant, Marine joyfully hands file to officer as he enters his office (8:08). Two women check over supplies, inventory in storage room (8:22). Group walks around traditional market in perhaps Okinawa with Japanese young women, talk to shopkeeper in kimono, look at “geta” sandals (8:42). Group of Marines visits all girls elementary school, hands out flowers to students (8:58). “Aloha” -- Honolulu International Airport building, woman Marine steps off plane, decked with leis (9:07). Montage clips of busy streets in Honolulu (9:19). Exterior International Market Place Waikiki (9:24). Dolphin show perhaps Waikīkī Aquarium (9:30). New arrivals run through surf at beach, sunbathe on Waikiki Beach, Diamond Head in background (9:34). Scenes of women marines in various office positions, filing and archiving, data collection, working on budgets and pay records at typewriters (9:50). Woman Marine wears headset, works alongside male colleague in air traffic control tower (10:30). Group of Marines visit Pearl Harbor National Memorial, USS Arizona (10:49). Color ceremony at base commemorating anniversary of women Marines (11:15). Young men and women enter 25th anniversary ball arm in arm, men in uniform and women in cocktail dresses (11:42). Image of original WWII women marines recruitment poster artwork, arrival of traditional birthday cake (11:52). Couples dance to live band in Waltz competition (12:28). This film is part of the Periscope Film LLC archive, one of the largest historic military, transportation, and aviation stock footage collections in the USA. Entirely film backed, this material is available for licensing in 24p HD, 2k and 4k. For more information visit
