British Pathe

Early 1950's?

England

THREE SEASONS (reels 1 & 2)

Ships at sea (various shots) Passengers disembarking. SS Queen Elizabeth moving past camera. SS Chusan seen from the rear. SS Queen Mary coming into dock. A BEA and BOAC plane taxiing on the runway. The passengers disembark

Title:...

Early 1950's?

England

THREE SEASONS (reels 1 & 2)

Ships at sea (various shots) Passengers disembarking. SS Queen Elizabeth moving past camera. SS Chusan seen from the rear. SS Queen Mary coming into dock. A BEA and BOAC plane taxiing on the runway. The passengers disembark

Title: "The British Travel Association presents" "Three Seasons".

(Autumn) leaves blowing through Windsor Park. Two women feed ducks by the lake. Mix to group of horse riders in Windsor Royal Park and another horseman in Richmond Park, London. Cut to the Richmond Park deer grazing (several shots). Cut to the lake of St James' Park, London. A woman and child feed the ducks. City men in bowler hats cross the lake bridge. Cut to Buckingham Palace with cars passing in front (including an Austin Princess). CU the statue in front of the Palace. Pan down to the Household Cavalry going past. Cut to evening, and a lamplighter lights the gas lamp outside Westminster Abbey. Cut to the bright neon lights of Picadilly Circus. The words 'Follies Revue' forms on the Prince of Wales theatre. Other neon signs on theaters including 'Norman Wisdom' in 'Where's Charlie' on the Palace Theatre. The neon lighting on top of the Princess Theatre. People in evening dress walking and arriving by car at the Covent Garden Opera House. Inside view of the chandelier, and the women's fashions. The guests arriving greeted by the Commissionaire. Camera pans up the ornate balconies as people take their seats. The curtain rises. Ballet dancers perform. CU a woman looks through her opera glasses. MS Margot Fonteyn and partner on stage. CU their feet. The audience applauds. Cut to a notice board "A Midsummer Night's Dream, The Old Vic". Cut to two scenes of the play being performed on stage featuring actor Frankie Howerd as Bottom. Several shots and CUs of Frankie. Beautiful women's costumes.

(Winter) Cut to Guy Fawkes night: A evening village street precession with fiery floats. Bonfire and firework shots. CU Two pretty girls laughing. Cut to state coach carrying the Queen (Elizabeth II), followed by the household Cavalry in the procession for the opening of the Houses Parliament. Cut to the Lord Mayor's Show - his coach outside Mansion house. The Lord Mayor enters and the carriage procession drives off. Cut to very crowded market in Petticoat Lane. Shots of market stall dealers selling, household goods, raw chickens and Christmas crackers (sync sound of the traders dialogue - If he doesn't want the goods "don't muck 'em about". Cut to shop window in Regent Street and the Christmas decorations. The front of Selfridges department store and close up of Christmas decorations and father Christmas display. Cut to Santa inside the store surrounded by children (several shots including grotto an helpers). A young couple with Christmas boxes looking at Christmas cards. Cut to Trafalgar Square at dusk with fountain, Christmas tree and St Martin's church. Cut to Denham village at night. Carol singers outside a cottage (several shots). A boy looks through the window and sucks his thumb. Cut to daytime and the village covered in snow. Children play with sledges and snowball fight. Cut to several chef's carrying a boars head, turkey and Christmas pudding into a family dining room. CU the guests at the table in party hats. CU the food. CU putting a log on the fire.

Cut to Players Theatre notice board sign "King Charming" "The Blue Bird of Paradise" with Margaret Ashton and Shirley Lee. Several shots of the audience in a small theatre. The performers on stage (a witch and Irish gentleman, and a bird that turns in to a prince (played by a beautiful woman) who says "At last, I'm a man once more". The audience laugh. Two women perform operatics in wonderful costumes. Cut to Scottish dancers. Cut to GV of Edinburgh, Hollyrood House and Edinburgh Castle. Cut to a Christmas party where everyone is holding hands in a circle to sing 'Auld Langs Syne' (lovely shot with party hats and colourful dresses). Great party scenes as the balloons in the ceiling are released.

Cataloguers Note: Some beautifully scenes and wonderful colours