British Pathe

Lake Como, Italy.

L/S of a harbour showing various ancient vessels and a colourful bridge, two boats row past in the foreground and there is a flag on the harbour wall. L/S of four ships in the harbour, there are hills in the background. M/S of one of the ancient wooden ships, it has a model...

Lake Como, Italy.

L/S of a harbour showing various ancient vessels and a colourful bridge, two boats row past in the foreground and there is a flag on the harbour wall. L/S of four ships in the harbour, there are hills in the background. M/S of one of the ancient wooden ships, it has a model of a dragon on the front. M/S of another ship with oars sticking out of the side, it has a model of the head of a fish on it. M/S of another wooden ship with a big flag in the middle and crests down the side. It has a bird's head at the front.

C/U of the boat with people dressed as warriors stationed round the edges. C/U of the deck of the boat where various people are stood wearing period costume. The narrator tells us this is a pageant which represents the battle Como had with the Lombard League from 1107 to 1127. C/U of a man dressed as a knight and a lady in a red costume. C/U of a red and black flag with a white swan on the front. C/U of men dressed as soldiers hoisting the sail. M/S of the soldiers, they are holding shields with the same swan motif on. C/U as the sail is hoisted. C/U of a boy dressed as a soldier carrying a staff. L/S of soldiers waving from the ship, one of them is waving his sword. C/U of a man in a soldier's helmet.

M/S of four soldiers carrying spears and shields stood on deck. M/S of a different set of soldiers dressed in black, a knight in full armour is stood on deck. L/S of another ship with soldiers waving their staffs. The narrator explains that, in the pageant, the battles are represented by rounds of individual combat. L/S of people in costume on some battlements on the harbour. L/S as another wooden ship sails past.

M/S of a row of five young women stood on the harbour wall dressed in colourful traditional costumes. C/U of a man putting a knight's helmet on and pointing to something off screen. Another warrior is stood with him. L/S of soldiers standing on the harbour wall with their flags. C/U of one soldier with a flag of blue, white, red and yellow. M/S of a group of people including a knight stood on a ship, they are dressed in red costumes. C/U of one soldier stood on deck. M/S as the men with the flags climb down the harbour wall.

M/S of three men in costume rowing one of the boats, M/S of three oars in the water. Various shots of a small boat rowing along the lake. C/U of two boys and a girl watching from the shore, one of them is looking through binoculars. L/S of a small boat rowing up to the ornate bridge which is designed in the shape of a dragon. L/S of other teams rowing up. M/S of a punt being rowed by a boy, in it there are spectators watching the events. L/S as one warrior in red and white waves his flag. L/S as two small boats ride towards each other, two men are standing up and start jousting as they pass while the rest of the crew ducks down. M/S of the punt again. M/S of the jousting, one of the jousters loses and throws himself into the water. C/U of one of the soldiers watching from the boat. L/S of two men fighting with staffs on the dragon bridge, one man falls in the water. C/U of a man on the boat looking out to sea. L/S of the fighting on the bridge, one man falls in and the other raises his staff in victory. M/S of a knight with a big sun motif on his helmet. L/S of the fights on the bridge, one man is knocked into the river and the other raises his staff as the winner. There are several of the wooden ships behind it.

Note: The mute neg for this item is missing footage