This documentary does not appear in the director’s official filmographies. It was shot by Capra between November 6 and 29 1921 and shows the Italian battle cruiser Libia, visiting the port of San Francisco. The Italian sailors are welcomed to the Golden Gate by the Italia Virtus Club, who planned the sailors’ stay and organised football matches, dinners and dances. Of particular interest is one of the very first images that shows Capra himself with his camera team on the jetty waiting for the boat to arrive.

Elena Tammaccaro