Milford chronicle., 1951-10-12
''The dupont Story"

the United States of America.
After several ventures had failed
to develop, he decided to utilize
his knowledge Of powder making
knowledge which had been gained
under the great French chemist,
Lavoisier.
Since American-made powdeT
was high-priced and poor according
to European standards, the situa-
tion was a matter OF concern to the
government here. Powder was not
only needed for rifles, but It was
also needed TO clear land for farm
ing, build roads, and open the rich
mineral deposits Of the new nation.
Encouraged by president Thomas
Jefferson to proceed with his idea
Of establishing powder plant to
help free America Of dependence
upon foreign sources, du POnt
founded company in 1902.
The highlights of the rich his
tory Of E. I. du Pont de NemOurs &
Company have been recorded in a
Technicolor motion picture entitled
THE Du Pont Story.
A 72-minute feature, the film was
produced in California and at nu-
merous plants and offices Of the
company with a cast Of 225 Holly
wood actors and actresses.
The picture opens with the pre-
sent-day activities Of the company, !
but quickly flashes back 149 years
and shows E. /. du POnt de Ne
mOUrs, the young French immi- /
grant, got his start From there on,
the administrations of Du Pout's /
ten presidents form. convenient
chapters for telling the story.
One Of the dramatic moments Of /
the picture is the scene at the
White House when President JEFF
ferson gave his support to the
young Frenchman.
Among the milestOnes depicted is
the regime Of Henry du POnt, who
held longest presidential tenure,
from 1850 to 1889. During this
period came dynamite to share the
explosives field with black powder,
and the expansion of the cOmpanyEi
outside Wilmington, Delaware. This
period was also marked by the In
ventiOn of the cheaper blasting
agent, soda powder, by the lOun-
der's grandson, the first Lammot
du POnt.
Other milestOnes include the
launching of the company on its
broad program Of diversifieatiOn in
the early years Of this century un-
der the guidance of T. Coleman du
Pont, the fifth president. Pierre S.
du POnt guides It through World Z
War /, and lays the basis for its
growth after the war
Irenee du POnt establishes the
present organization of the COM ]
pany. and shepherds the dyestuffs
venture to ultimate success. Under :
the present LammOt du POnt, the
company begins fundamental re-
search, which brought nylOn and {
other achievements and carried
new products such as rayOn. cello
Dhane, and "Duco" lacquers to COM Il
mercial success.
Walter S. Carpenter, Jr., ninth
president, leads in carrying out
the burden Of the company's vast
World War II effort. After initi-
ating another great expansion fol- l
lowing the war, he hands over the
reins to Crawford H. GreenWalt Q
Early in 194S.
The film is packed with stirring =
episodes: When the founder de- c
,ides to rebuild and carry on after l
IN explosion in the early years; 2
when Alfred /. dupont offers to buy F
he company in 1902, rather than
permit its sale to another firm; n
when nylOn, the first truly syn
hetic textile fiber in history is
invented in Wallace CarOthers' lab
,ratOTy, and many others. D
Human incidents abound, pOr-
raging vividly a company and it's r
,eopIe. Tom Cooper is the first
nan employed; Sophie. wife Of the
Ounder, delighting at the first adj =
ertisement Of the cOmpany's DOW o
er, and Coleman dupont enter
aiming the executive committee
nth some of his sleight-of-hand
ricks. o
In sum. the picture highlights the
49-yeaF history of the company,
the policies, practices,
products, and, most
the people responsible
Dr. THE dupont Story" Ca
1t shows how the company has ~
rOwn with the country. how
Irge industrial enterprise like du-
Owf hu Oh -, .sF..,4--l I
the progress and advancement
a vigorous young nation. 3"
"The DUPONT Story" represents a
ajOr production effort. A total of ,
different sets was designed,
lilt, and erected at the studio. ma
any were replicas Of places in tn,
'ilmingtOn, such as the first Office t. tI
aiding and the first home Of e cor
dupont de NemOurs. my
The paintings from the Offices Of
r. Carpenter and Mr.. Greenewalt
ere transported to Hollywood to
cate the proper atmosphere. When
r. Carpenter saw the Hollywood
lplicatiOn Of his office. he re-
arked that he felt so at home ste
at he thought he ought to 60 to Coz
Ork S
In the heavy undertaking os cast ba, Sn,
&, only those actors who closely or
sembled the individuals they we're
portray were selected. Among
e Wetl-knoWn actors with the -
les they plaw, are: Eduard Franz ny
E. /. dupont. the founder; Sigrid -
irie, his wife, Sophie; Stacy
each as p. S. DUPONT; Donald
oods as Irenee DUPONT; Lyle Tai ,
t a. Eugene dupont, and Tom 30,
al as Alfred dupont. Is.