The Commonwealth Tour

Series

Series Name

British Movietone News

Issue

Issue No.

1281A

Date Released

24 Dec 1953

Date submitted

21 Dec 1953

Stories in this Issue:

1. 1The Commonwealth Tour
2. *All Blacks V Wales
3. *Seasons Greetings

* Story has local or special distribution

Story

Story No. within this Issue

1 / 1

Summary

MOVIETONE CARD TITLE: Commonwealth Tour - Aboard Gothic and at Fiji. DESCRIPTION: ABOARD GOTHIC. AND AT FIJI. SHOTLIST: Cut story - KS. Artist’s impression of Sydney Bridge, kangaroo, etc. MS Gothic under way. Queen on bridge taking photos (cine). MS Sheffield cruiser under way. Royal barge leaves Sheffield, Queen & Duke board, Royal barge going back to Sheffield. Queen inspected crew. Posed photos taken with Queen, Duke & crew. Queen inspects ship. Shots of Sheffield & Gothic running alongside, Lt Commander Nicol (Surgeon) crossing by bosun’s chair, to Gothic. Alights from chair on board Gothic. Crossing the line ceremony aboard Gothic, including Lady Pamela Mountbatten being lathered by Duke & pushed into pool. Finale shots of ceremony all go into pool. Duke gets out of water. MS Duke & Queen with camera chatting (silent). Sheffield on bridge takes cine photos. MS NZ Black Prince taking over from Sheffield. Royal barge en route to Black Prince. Aboard (piped aboard), Queen inspects, marchpast of crew. Gothic under way. Fijians chieftains (five) on board Gothic kneel and approach the Queen, offer whale tooth. Preceded by Fijian canoes etc. coming out to greet the Gothic. Royal barge alongside quay, Queen & Duke alight accompanied by Sir Ronald Garvey. Daughter Mei of chieftain presents bouquet, steps back, squats & claps her hands. Royal drive through town (Suva) to Albert Park, arrival at park, procession to dais, cut-ins of types. Queen & Duke seated on dais. MS ceremony, Kava (local beverage) being prepared, offered to Queen & Duke in coconut shells, both drink. Spear dance performed. Cut-ins of Queen & Duke watching. At some schools royal couple watch, students dancing. Night drive escorted by torch bearers. Arrival at Grand Pacific Hotel. Royal couple onto balcony. Night drive again through city with torch escort to finish.

Keywords

Royalty; Politics and government; Buildings and structures; Mass media; Ships and boats; Music and dance; Health and medicine; Food and cooking; Customs and traditions; Curiosities; Aviation; Ceremonies; Navy; Animals; Military

Footage sources

Australia
Royal Rota

Card file number

60254

Credits:

Commentator

Lionel James Gamlin

Length of story (in feet)

710

Story extras:

Film clip

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