1.
GV INT..MEN AT WORK IN STUDIO BUILDING MODEL.
0.05

2.
SCU ARTIST AT WORK ON MODEL OF HOUSE.
0.08

3.
SCU ARTIST AT WORK ON SECTION OF MODEL.
0.12

4.
SV PAN..MEN AT WORK ON COLLAPSIBLE BRIDGE.
0.17

5.
CU DETAIL OF HOUSE INDICATED WITH PENCIL.
0.21

6.
SV REPLICA OF BROKEN SECTION IS PLACED IN DAM WALL.
0.30

7.
LV MODEL.
0.36

8.
SCU PENCIL INDICATES CRACK IN MODEL OF DAM.
0.40

9.
GV PAN..REMAINS OF ACTUAL DAM WALL.
0.46

10.
TV PAN DOWN..WATER DOWN MOUNTAINSIDE.
0.55

11.
GV PAN..DEVASTATED AREA.
1.00

12.
ANGLE V..WRECKED BUILDING.
1.03

13.
GV WRECKED HOUSES.
1.06

14.
LV PAN..WRECKED HOUSES.
1.10

15.
SV TO LV PAN..DOG STANDS ON RUBBLE PAN TO RESCUE WORKERS.
1.14

16.
LV PAN..FLOODED STREET.
1.19

17.
LV PAN..WRECKED TRAIN AND CARRIAGES ON SIDE.
1.24

18.
LV MODEL OF FREJUS.
1.32



Initials PC/V/WH/BB



Script is copyright Reuters Limited. All rights reserved

Background: SOMETHING NEW IN THE WAY OF AN ATTRACTION FOR JADED NIGHT CLUB AUDIENCES, AND THOUGHT BY SOME TO BE A NEW LOW LEVEL IN BAD TASTE, IS A REPRODUCTION OF THE DAM-BURST AT FREJUS, FRANCE, ON DECEMBER 2, 1959 - WHERE HUNDREDS DIED IN ONE OF EUROPE'S WORST FLOOD DISASTERS - WHICH WAS BEING COMPLETED BY A LONDON THEATRE WORKSHOP, JANUARY 9, BEFORE SHIPMENT TO AMERICA TO PROVIDE A LAS VEGAS CABARET WITH THE "MIGHTIEST, WETTEST SPECTACLE OF ALL".

VISNEWS LIBRARY FILM RECALLS THE NIGHTMARE TRAGEDY OF FREJUS AFTER THE RETAINING WALL OF THE MALPASSET DAM COLLAPSED ON THAT FATEFUL DAY TO UNLEASH MILLIONS OF GALLONS OF WATER, ENGULFING THE FOUR-MILE REYRAN VALLEY, TOPPLING HUNDREDS OF BUILDINGS WITH THEIR FRONTS RIPPED OPEN, AND DROWNING MEN, WOMEN AND CHILDREN IN THEIR BEDS.

THE GIANT REPRODUCTION OF FREJUS AND THE MALPASSET DAM WILL BE SHIPPED TO LOS ANGELES THIS WEEK, WHERE IT WILL BE TAKEN BY TRUCKS ACROSS MOUNTAINS AND DESERTS TO THE STARDUST HOTEL AT LAS VEGAS.

THERE, WHEN ERECTED, THE INTERNATIONALLY FAMOUS BLUEBELL GIRLS, THE STATELY ENGLISH BEAUTIES WHO DANCE AT THE LIDO IN PARIS, WILL APPEAR ON THE STAGE. THEN SUDDENLY THE DAM AT THE BACK OF THE STAGE WILL BURST AND SHEETS OF WATER WILL POUR OUT.

SOME 700 GALLONS OF WATER A MINUTE WILL BE SUPPLIED BY TWELVE PUMPS. AFTER THE FLOOD HAS SWEPT ACROSS A PLASTER AND CANVAS VILLAGE, IT WILL BE CAUGHT IN A VAST TROUGH AT THE FOOT OF THE STAGE. A "CURTAIN" OF RAIN WILL SURROUND THE STAGE TO HEIGHTEN THE DRAMATIC IMPACT - THE AUDIENCE WILL SEE EVERYTHING THROUGH YET MORE WATER, THANKS TO THE DESIGNER. MR. TOD KINGMAN.

IT WAS SAID TO BE CHEAPER TO BUILD THIS ENORMOUS REPRODUCTION IN LONDON AND CONVEY IT HALFWAY ACROSS THE WORLD THAT TO HAVE MADE IT ON THE SPOT IN LAS VEGAS.