A film to advertise Britain's cultural and sporting events - Shakespeare, Wimbledon, Cowes etc. c 1957
74935
eventful-britain-reel-1-reel-1-used-to-be-reel
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Short Summary
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Description
A British Travel Association Film. Commentary spoken by Stephen Jack. Reel 1.
01:29:42 Landscapes - Lands End in Cornwall, various shots of the coast. M/S of an actor from the Minnerk (?) players putting on some make-up as he looks into a mirror propped up against a rock. A woman in costume holds the mirror for him. Porthcurno - the actors are preparing to stage a performance of Shakespeare's Macbeth at the open air theatre. Various shots of the actors preparing. C/U of fake blood being smeared on a dagger. Various shots of the theatre. We see a scene performed, a woman directs the actors from a seat higher up the rock, others watch the rehearsal. "The world's a theatre, the earth's a stage" - narrator quotes from John Haywood (or Hayward?) M/S of a woman working on a costume for the performance. Various shots of the cliffs.
01:32:09 Stratford-upon-Avon - various shots of celebrations for Shakespeare's birthday. Mayor and Councillors lead procession to Shakespeare's house. Crowds watch procession.
01:32:53 Westminster, Queen Elizabeth II arrives for the Trooping of the Colour. Various shots of Her Majesty on horseback, the crowds and of the ceremony. Narrator explains the intricacies of the event. Changing the Guard at Buckingham Palace is described. Queen salutes as horses pass. Cavalry escort the Queen through Horseguards Parade.
01:35:43 C/Us of cows and sheep being groomed at the agricultural show in Oswestry, Shropshire. Man brushes the skin of a pig and shire horses have their hair plaited. A horse is groomed then shown in competition. Mothers and foals are shown together. Various shots of animals in competition and the crowds which watch the show. Young girls ride ponies. Shot of man in a hunting jacket riding along with beagles running behind him.
01:37:36 Wimbledon scenes. Two girls look at a scoreboard. High angle panning shot of the courts, narrator describes the traditions of Wimbledon. Shots of a game of Tennis and spectators. Female player signs autographs -not recognised by this cataloguer.
01:39:55 Braemar Gathering in Scotland. Royal cars arrive. Queen Elizabeth II, Princess Anne and Prince Charles emerge from one of the cars. Various shots of Scottish bands, Scottish dancing, tug of war, throwing the hammer, tossing the caber etc.
01:41:52 Football FA Cup Final at Wembley. High angle of pitch Aston Villa vs Manchester United. Two goals are scored, various shots of the huge crowds and the match. Narrator explains how the competition works. The film is presumably for an American audience. Shots of Villa holding the cup and walking down steps after the presentation (no shots of them being awarded the cup).
01:43:09 Steeplechase. Aintree. Bookies signalling odds (tic tac), various shots of bets being placed on the Grand National. Shots of the horses and of the crowds. Jockeys mount their steeds. Bookies signal, betting slips are passed etc. Shots of the race, travelling camera follows the horses. Horses fall.
Reel 1 is 16 and a half minutes long.
Note: Reel 1 used to be reel 1 & 2 -
Tags
- promotional
- travelogue
- tourists
- holidays
- British
- Travel
- Association
- Stephen
- Jack
- scenic
- landscapes
- Lands
- End
- Cornwall
- Minnerk
- beauty
- cosmetics
- Minnerk
- mirror
- costumes
- Porthcurno
- acting
- theatres
- beaches
- cliffs
- Macbeth
- blood
- John
- Haywood
- Hayward
- Stratford-upon-Avon
- celebrations
- birthday
- Shakespeare
- authors
- processions
- parades
- crowds
- Westminster
- London
- Queen
- Elizabeth
- Trooping
- the
- Colour
- pageantry
- heraldry
- royalty
- ceremonies
- horses
- Buckingham
- Palaces
- Cavalry
- Horseguards
- Parade
- agriculture
- cows
- sheep
- animals
- agricultural
- shows
- Oswestry
- Shropshire
- pigs
- farming
- livestock
- grooming
- riding
- ponies
- beagles
- dogs
- promotional
- travelogue
- tourists
- holidays
- British
- Travel
- Association
- Wimbledon
- London
- sports
- tennis
- Braemar
- Gathering
- Scotland
- cars
- royalty
- Queen
- Elizabeth
- Princess
- Anne
- Prince
- Charles
- Scottish
- bands
- playing
- instruments
- dancing
- traditional
- sports
- Football
- Association
- Wembley
- Aston
- Villa
- Manchester
- United
- Aintree
- betting
- Grand
- National
- horses
- racing
- crowds
- jockeys
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Data
- Film ID:
- 1257.04
- Media URN:
- 70431
- Group:
- Documentaries
- Archive:
- British Pathé
- Issue Date:
- 1957
- Sound:
- Sound
- HD Format:
- Available on request
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