British Pathe

Reel 2.

Princess Alexandra of Kent arrives on launching platform with vicar and other dignitaries to launch the cruise liner 'Oriana'. C/U gloved hand moves towards handle. Princess Alexandra names the ship and releases the bottle of champagne which smashes against the box of the ship. C/U...

Reel 2.

Princess Alexandra of Kent arrives on launching platform with vicar and other dignitaries to launch the cruise liner 'Oriana'. C/U gloved hand moves towards handle. Princess Alexandra names the ship and releases the bottle of champagne which smashes against the box of the ship. C/U mechanism that releases the ship. The ship slowly starts to move down the launching ramp. Ship yard workers raise their caps and cheer. Shots on the ship as it moves down. (Voice over tells us that the shipbuilding took place in Barrow-in-Furness). A Union Jack flag is flying from the stern of the ship. Great shot of the ship moving away down the ramp into the sea. The large crowd can be heard cheering. Great back view as the rear of the ship hits the water. The propellors start to turn. The part finished 'Oriana' slides gracefully into the water.

01:32:58 - Men on another ship wave. A ship's officer pulls a cable. C/U Funnel as ship's whistle sounds. Tugs move the ship out into deeper water. Good shots of the tugs and the cruise liner in the water.

01:33:26 - Designer in office checking fabric samples next to drawing of interior of ship. Designers in office look over drawings. C/U drawing of dining room. Designers look over chair. They look at various coloured fabrics. A fabric is shown to men in larger meeting. They check the fabric against design drawings.

01:34:21 - The 'Oriana' in dockyard. Funnel lifted into place by crane. Part finished furnishings being carried onto ship. Men working to lay teak timbers onto the deck. The timbers are being held in place by cork. Bathroom sinks being carried up gangplank onto ship.

01:34:54 - Man fitting mirror in ship board cabin of ocean liner 'Oriana'. Great shot of workman reflected in mirror as he screws it into place. Men at work painting various parts of the ship. More pieces of the metal superstructure are still being lowered into place. Workers take care to ensure they fit correctly. C/U television aerial next to small funnel.

01:35:36 - Sailors and ship's officers on the bridge. One of the sailors moves the engine control towards full ahead. Ship's officer using sextant or navigation device. Officers in chart room. C/U drawing on charts. (The 'Oriana' is now on sea trials.) Man, not in uniform, checks piece of measuring equipment on wall.

01:36:04 - Men in engine control room, The wall is covered with various dials and controls. Two men in civvies talk with uniformed officer. C/U men's faces as they look over the room.

01:36:24 - Officers on bridge. One looks through binoculars. Other sailors on the bridge. C/U engine controls moved. Shots of engine room as command comes through. C/U man in engine room looking at dials. Pan across dials. Officer in engine room picks up telephone. Sailor on bridge answers call. His hat shows that they are part of the Orient Line. He passes the message on to Captain Clifford Edgecomb (?). Shot of another sailor. C/U hands on the ship's wheel.

01:37:11 - Stewards moving suitcases and trunks off conveyor belt that is automatically bringing them on board. Suitcases placed onto small lift. Shots of the stern gallery bar - currently empty. Shipping directors looking at First Class gallery. C/U curtains - very kitsch material. Faces of directors. Directors looking around other rooms.

01:38:02 - C/Us various items in room. Potted plants, art work. Shipping directors looking around first class rooms on liner 'Oriana'. They sit down in chairs and check they are comfortable. They examine the construction of the chair and one of them looks over the design of the ash tray.

01:38:41 - Interior of ship's television station. Monitor, projector in the background. An officer changes over plugs on patchbay in front of him. C/U face. C/U hand on control panel. Men sitting down in TV viewing lounge.

01:39:12 - Sea level view of the liner at sea. Views from the ship of the Scottish Island of Aran. Man on ship looks out of window and then starts stopwatch. Signal flags pulled by the wind. Aerial shot of the ship. (The Oriana is doing a measured mile speed test.) Electronic revolution counter. C/U stopwatch. Aerial of ship. C/U stopwatch as the minute ends. Blue ensign flag in the wind. Radio operators in radio room tapping out Morse code signals. C/U hand of Morse code sender.

01:40:20 - Two officers on upper deck shake hands. Shipping directors seated in gallery signing documents. The ship builders are signing over the ship. C/U signing pieces of paper. C/U handover document from Vickers-Armstrong's ship builders. Sailor raises flag up line. Aerial shots of liner.

Credits: Spoken by Maurice Denham, Music composed by Philip Green, Produced by Associated British Pathe.

Note: See CP 266 - Stainless Steel Designer - about the man who designed the cutlery for Oriana.
This print is quite faded and red. Great film though.