British Pathe

M/Ss and C/Us of a man dishing out spaghetti (actually it is macaroni, but I guess 'macaroni race' doesn't sound so exciting) into bowls for contestants in an open-air spaghetti-eating race at Butlin's Holiday Camp in Clacton, Essex. A small crowd has gathered to watch and Butlin's MC, Sunny Jones,...

M/Ss and C/Us of a man dishing out spaghetti (actually it is macaroni, but I guess 'macaroni race' doesn't sound so exciting) into bowls for contestants in an open-air spaghetti-eating race at Butlin's Holiday Camp in Clacton, Essex. A small crowd has gathered to watch and Butlin's MC, Sunny Jones, holds a megaphone and gives directions.

M/S as another man hands out the plates and we see the contestants are of all shapes, ages and sizes; a large man at the end of the table looks down at his bowl with glee! C/U as an elderly man tucks his handkerchief into his shirt collar as a napkin; the other contestants have knives poised to start.

Sunny speaks through the megaphone to start the race, and we see in C/U a timer clock being started. M/S as the contestants start to shovel the macaroni in their mouths; various shots of them all eating like mad while Sunny shouts encouragement. The elderly man holds many strands of macaroni on a fork above his head and bites along them; the lady to his right can't help watching in amazement. C/U of him with his head close to the plate, shovelling it in.

High angle C/U of a woman eating; she sits back and looks up as if she can't eat any more. A comical young man, Roger Cotgreave, starts to shift some of his macaroni from his plate to hers; then stuffs loads of it in his mouth, looks up with a crazed expression on his face and collapses into his plate. Good M/S from behind the contestants showing the reaction of the crowd who all seem to be enjoying the spectacle.

More eating shots; C/U of the large man, then a rather crude tilt down to show his big stomach and backside; C/U of Roger flobbing bits of macaroni out of his mouth with exhausted look; M/S panning along the table of the eaters; C/U of a couple in the audience laughing. Sunny then holds up the hand of the winner, a young girl (Susan Denton), standing on the table; C/U of Roger falling into his plate again.

Note: For searching purposes: Butlins. Cuts exist - see separate record.