From the Archives: Iran in the early 1960's

A worthwhile documentary filmed all the way back in 1960 that shows the geopolitical situation in Iran, life and general things pertaining to the culture and society of the day.

 Roving Report -- Royal Persia

Reporter Tim Brinton

Some noteworthy scenes in this documentary include an interview with a younger Shah Mohammed Reza Pahlavi, who discussed amongst other things the autobiography he was writing (which one guesses was what turned out to be his book Mission For My Country).

Pahlavi also talked about the so-called "mystical" element he saw in himself when asked if he needed additional security in light of the attempt made on his life in 1949 -- as it happened another attempt came just around the corner in 1965.

Your highness, welcome to Iran.

Also noteworthy was the fact that Mr. Brinton brought up the fact the Shah had said in 1958 that it would take ten years to make his country a 'model country'. This interview came only two years after that and roughly eight years before he crowned himself. By that time Iran was rapidly developing. The Shah had withheld his coronation for so long since he contended that there was no pride in being crowned king of a poor country.

Amir Kabir dam.

In Brinton's visit up the Caspian region we see the construction of the Amir Karaj dam. Eating with some of the hospitable locals in an underlying village, which would eventually be swamped, we are told they believed the dam would never be finished since the river flowed "long before the Americans came and no foreigner can stop our river." 

Also amusing was the manner in which women of the region repudiated the idea of eating rice, believing the consumption of such a food to be fit only for "cattle and foreigners."

Pahlavi Foundation hotels near the Caspian Sea.

We're also given an amusing insight into how caviar was produced for wealthy guests of the Pahlavi Foundation hotels in the region and told how the ultimate plan had been to develop that region into a holiday spot reminiscent of the French Riviera.

Tehran bazaar circa 1960.

We're also shown scenes from the bazaar, where we see the traditional making of jewellery and of carpets at that time.

Also in the backdrop we see a Tehran that was rapidly being developed into a major modern city. Development methods such as brick-making are shown. Most of the money for construction and modernization at that time came, as it still does now, from the oil industry.

Tehran construction.

It is interesting to see the underlying social differences between the religiously pious and the more secular Iranians in the day before Sharia was enforced on the society. It is also interesting to see an insight into the schooling of up and coming clerics in the day, a mere three years before that very same clergy would pose their first serious challenge to the Shah in opposition to his White Revolution.

In addition to that lengthy report is another report from around that time [see above]. It shows once again the geopolitical importance of Iran, with an interesting commentary from the Shah about Iran's membership in the widely forgotten and ill-fated CENTO military pact. Other political matters discussed include the negation of press and political freedom in the universities. Also commented upon glibly, and amusingly considering this was 50-years-ago, was how the city's traffic was notably bad. Fitting how the more things change the more they stay the same.

'From the Archives' is a Uskowi on Iran column by Paul Iddon which is dedicated to bringing you an extensive archive of historical photos, videos and newspaper articles relating to Iran from years gone by.