British Pathe

Associated British-Pathe presents - Le Mans 1955 - Reel 1

On screen - "With the "24 Heures du Mans" came events that may well influence the future of motor racing. Here is told (Without the scenes of distress) the story of Le Mans 1955". Behind these titles one can hear the sound of racing...

Associated British-Pathe presents - Le Mans 1955 - Reel 1

On screen - "With the "24 Heures du Mans" came events that may well influence the future of motor racing. Here is told (Without the scenes of distress) the story of Le Mans 1955". Behind these titles one can hear the sound of racing cars.

High angle shot of Le Mans pit lane before racing cars arrive. Several ordinary cars and vans are parked. Men painting fences and gates. Man and woman prepare flower bed. Man fixes fence. Man walks past camera carrying television aerial (in the background is an advert for Esso oil). C/U man checking large petrol tank. Man in pit lane checking over fuel supply pipe. Men sawing wood and fixing flooring. Men painting boards. Man builds sand bank on edge of circuit.

Men at farm house moving hay. M.G.(A) car drives past. Courtyard with several MG cars being worked on by mechanics. Sports car driven along street and into garage. Interior garage, high angle shot, lots of sports cars (Porsche cars apparently). Group of young boys look at cars, behind them are a row of equally enthralled older men. Mechanic approaches car with part in his hand. Men working on cars in garage.

Sports car driven round town square. Scenes outside cafe / restaurant (very French in style). Various teams sit around tables. C/U Ted Lund (?) (a possible driver for MG) with colleague. Jack Ferman (sp?) a driver for the Bristol team signs an autograph. Becard (sp?) and Gatsoniadis (sp?) of "Monte Carlo fame" talk. Various other drivers. More cafe scenes. Town square fills up with traffic. Two cars try to drive into one car parking space. Film actress Susan Steven (?) and husband Larry Ward are driving one of the cars. One man tosses coin to see who gets the parking spot. One car drives into the spot the other reverses away.

Programmes being sold. People sitting in open air cafes. TR 2's drive into the scutineering bay. Cars lined up for scrutinising. CU engines as officials check them. Mercedes team have their car checked, as team leader Alfred Noybar (?) and Pierre Levegh watch. Stirling Moss and Fangio look at their engines. Mike Hawthorn and Royalton Hamilton with Jaguar. Briggs Cunningham from the U.S.A. looks on. Johnny Clay drives past in a Jaguar. The 4.4 Lts Ferrari will head the Italian attack. Commentary tells that a moment of dispute draws nearer.

Reel 1 - continued