Assignment: Venezuela
"The story of American enterprise in Venezuela's oil boom"
Plot
Assignment: Venezuela follows the journey of an American engineer who accepts a position in Venezuela's rapidly expanding oil industry during the mid-1950s. The documentary showcases the massive infrastructure projects underway, including oil drilling operations, pipeline construction, and the development of company towns for workers. Through the protagonist's experiences, viewers witness the cultural contrasts between American and Venezuelan lifestyles, the technological innovations in oil extraction, and the economic transformation occurring in the country. The film highlights both the professional challenges and personal adaptations required for Americans working abroad in this vital industry. The narrative concludes with reflections on the importance of international cooperation in developing natural resources for global benefit.
Director
Jack TobinAbout the Production
This was a corporate documentary commissioned by Standard Oil to showcase their operations in Venezuela. The film was shot on location in Venezuela's major oil-producing regions, utilizing both professional film crews and company personnel. Production required extensive coordination with Venezuelan government officials to gain access to restricted oil facilities. The filming coincided with a period of rapid expansion in Venezuela's oil industry, providing unprecedented access to new drilling technologies and infrastructure projects.
Historical Background
Assignment: Venezuela was produced during a pivotal period in Venezuelan history known as the 'oil boom era' of the 1950s. At this time, Venezuela's economy was experiencing unprecedented growth due to its status as a major oil exporter, with Standard Oil and other multinational companies playing dominant roles in the industry. The film was created during the authoritarian regime of Marcos Pérez Jiménez, who actively courted foreign investment. This period saw massive infrastructure development, modernization projects, and significant American cultural influence in Venezuela. The documentary reflects the Cold War context of American business expansion into Latin America and the promotional efforts of corporations to present their activities as beneficial to host countries. The film also captures a moment before Venezuela's oil industry would become nationalized in 1976, making it a valuable historical document of this economic era.
Why This Film Matters
Assignment: Venezuela serves as an important historical artifact documenting the relationship between American corporations and Latin American countries during the 1950s. The film represents the genre of corporate documentaries that were prevalent during this era, designed to promote international business operations while showcasing technological progress. It provides a unique window into the lives of American expatriates working abroad and the cultural exchanges occurring during this period of globalization. The documentary also captures a specific moment in Venezuela's development, before the political upheavals of the 1960s and the eventual nationalization of the oil industry. As a piece of Cold War-era propaganda, it reflects the American business perspective on international operations and the narrative of progress through foreign investment.
Making Of
The production of Assignment: Venezuela faced numerous logistical challenges, including transporting heavy film equipment to remote oil field locations in the Venezuelan jungle and around Lake Maracaibo. The crew had to work in extreme heat and humidity conditions while filming drilling operations. Director Jack Tobin worked closely with Standard Oil executives to ensure the film presented the company's operations in a positive light while maintaining documentary authenticity. Many scenes were filmed during actual drilling operations, requiring careful coordination to ensure crew safety. The film's narration was recorded in both English and Spanish versions to accommodate different audiences. Local Venezuelan crews were hired for many technical positions, creating an international collaboration behind the camera.
Visual Style
The cinematography of Assignment: Venezuela combines sweeping landscape shots of Venezuelan terrain with detailed close-ups of oil drilling equipment and operations. The film utilizes both aerial photography and ground-level footage to provide comprehensive views of the massive scale of oil field operations. The camera work emphasizes the technological sophistication of the equipment while also capturing the human element of the workers. The visual style reflects the clean, optimistic aesthetic common in 1950s corporate films, with careful composition and lighting that presents the industrial operations as orderly and efficient. The film also includes documentary-style footage of Venezuelan life and culture, creating a contrast between traditional and modern elements.
Innovations
Assignment: Venezuela utilized advanced filming techniques for its time, including underwater photography for offshore drilling sequences and aerial shots captured from helicopters over the oil fields. The film employed synchronized sound recording in challenging field conditions, allowing for authentic audio of drilling operations alongside the narration. The production team developed special camera mounts to film inside drilling equipment and close to active oil wells. The documentary also incorporated time-lapse photography to show the construction of oil infrastructure over extended periods. These technical innovations helped create a comprehensive visual record of oil industry operations that was unprecedented for corporate documentary filmmaking of the era.
Music
The musical score for Assignment: Venezuela blends American orchestral arrangements with traditional Venezuelan folk music, reflecting the cultural exchange depicted in the film. The soundtrack was composed specifically for the documentary and features both original compositions and arrangements of existing Venezuelan melodies. The music serves to enhance the narrative, with upbeat, optimistic themes accompanying scenes of progress and development, while more traditional musical elements underscore segments about Venezuelan culture. The score was recorded with a full orchestra and includes indigenous Venezuelan instruments to add authenticity to the cultural sequences.
Famous Quotes
"In the heart of South America, a new chapter in the story of American enterprise is being written every day."
"Where once there was only jungle and water, now rises the modern machinery of progress."
"The challenge of Venezuela is not just in its oil fields, but in bringing together two cultures for a common purpose."
Memorable Scenes
- The opening aerial sequence flying over Lake Maracaibo's oil derricks at sunrise, the underwater filming of offshore drilling operations, the time-lapse construction of a new oil refinery, scenes of American workers interacting with Venezuelan colleagues, and the final sequence showing the impact of oil revenue on Venezuelan cities
Did You Know?
- This film was produced as a public relations tool for Standard Oil during a period of increasing scrutiny of multinational corporations
- Director Jack Tobin specialized in industrial and corporate documentaries throughout the 1950s and 1960s
- The film was shown primarily in corporate settings, schools, and special screenings rather than commercial theaters
- Venezuela was the world's second-largest oil exporter at the time this film was made
- The documentary features actual oil workers and engineers rather than professional actors
- Original 35mm prints of the film were distributed to Standard Oil offices worldwide
- The film includes rare footage of early offshore drilling technology in Lake Maracaibo
- Production took place during the presidency of Marcos Pérez Jiménez, a period of significant U.S. investment in Venezuela
- The documentary was part of a series of films Standard Oil produced about their international operations
- The film's score incorporates traditional Venezuelan music alongside American orchestral arrangements
What Critics Said
Assignment: Venezuela received limited critical attention due to its nature as a corporate documentary rather than a theatrical release. Contemporary reviews in trade publications praised its technical quality and informative content. Film industry publications noted its effective use of location photography and clear presentation of complex industrial processes. The documentary was recognized within corporate communications circles as an exemplary example of industrial filmmaking. Modern film historians view it as an important document of post-war American business expansion and the relationship between multinational corporations and developing nations.
What Audiences Thought
The film was primarily viewed by business audiences, students, and employees of Standard Oil and related companies. Audience feedback from company screenings indicated that viewers found the film educational and engaging, particularly those interested in international business or engineering. The documentary was also used in educational settings to teach about international business and economic development. Venezuelan audiences had limited exposure to the film, as it was primarily created for American viewers. Among the expatriate community in Venezuela, the film was well-received as it accurately depicted their experiences and working conditions.
Film Connections
Influenced By
- Industrial documentary tradition
- Corporate filmmaking practices of the 1950s
- Post-war American expansion narratives
- March of Time documentary style
This Film Influenced
- Other Standard Oil corporate documentaries
- Industrial films of the late 1950s and early 1960s
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Film Restoration
The film exists in the archives of major oil companies and several film preservation institutions. Original 35mm prints are held by corporate archives, while digital copies have been preserved by academic film libraries. The documentary is not considered lost, though access to original materials is limited due to corporate ownership.