Phoenix from the Fire

Series

Series Name
British Movietone News

Issue

Issue No.
1721
Date Released
28 May 1962
Date Other
May 1962
Stories in this Issue:
  1. 1Phoenix from the Fire

Story

Story No. within this Issue
1 / 1
Summary
MOVIETONE CARD TITLE: Phoenix From the Fire. DESCRIPTION: The famous 15th century Coventry Cathedral was almost totally destroyed in November 1940, in one of the heaviest raids of the last war. The decision to build a new cathedral was taken, and in 1950, Sir Basil Spence was selected to be the architect. Her Majesty the Queen laid the foundation stone in 1956, and from the ashes and ruins, a new cathedral began to rise. Now, after only six years, the building was ready for the consecration. Graham Sutherland’s magnificent tapestry Christ in Glory hangs above the altar. The Queen, Princess Margaret and her husband, Lord Snowdon were present for the ceremony, which was performed by the Bishop of Coventry. The sermon was conducted by the Archbishop of CanterburyColour Section . The new cathedral, magnificently fashioned out of pink sandstone, and surmounted by a flying cross, has been described as a new Fortress of the Christian Faith. In keeping with this spirit is Jacob Epstein’s giant bronze St Michael (the Cathedral’s Patron Saint), triumphant over the devil. There is the blaze of colour from the Baptistry window, and the delicately engraved angels and saints decorating the Great West Screen. This new cathedral has been built in the service of God for the needs of a modern industrial city, which has a planned central shopping centre, from which road-traffic is excluded, thus making it safe for shoppers and their children. A new City. And its new Cathedral proclaiming the Majesty, Eternity and Glory of God. SHOTLIST: B&W MATERIAL. Scenes of the Coventry Blitz of 15th November 1940. Various scenes of buildings blazing and wreckage the following morning. Good shots of the ruined Cathedral. King’s visit to Coventry to see the ruins. Princess Elizabeth’s visit, 1948. Model of proposed new town, 1950. Princess Elizabeth lays foundation stone, 1956. Various shots of building in progress. Young German craftsmen help to build the new Cathedral. London - Sir Basil Spence examines a tapestry designed by Graham Sutherland. Exterior shots of the new Cathedral. Queen Elizabeth arrives for the consecration. Fanfare of trumpets. Queen enters Cathedral. The Bishop of Coventry the Right Reverend Cuthbert Bardsley. With his pastoral staff the Bishop traces out the first two letters of the Greek word meaning Christ. The Bishop consecrates the font - a boulder brought from a hillside in Bethlehem. Consecration of altar. Queen signs the deed of consecration. EASTMAN COLOUR MATERIAL. A blaze of colour from the baptistry windows. Close-ups of the delicately engraved angels and saints on the Great West Screen. A golden replica of the charred and twisted cross. Exterior shots of the Cathedral from various angles. Epstein’s giant bronze St Michael. Close-up flying cross on top of Cathedral. Very good pan shot of the city of Coventry. Close up shot of stone in ground Phoenix. GV Lady Godiva statue. Various shots of the new shopping centre in Coventry. Modern walk-around shops etc. Elevated shot of Cathedral to end. Outdoor view of Cathedral. Indoor, 4 close ups and 1 LS of tapestry. Outdoor LS with spires in background. MLS showing Cathedral, buses in shot. Exterior shot showing spires and adjacent buildings. LS showing spires in background. Interior shot Cathedral glass windows. Mid LS of tapestry and lighting. LS tapestry with pews in foreground. Interior shot of plate glass window. Cathedral floor. Looking through a window. Interior shot pews, mid CS windows looking in. CU two men one bearded, one bespectacled. CU mosaic floor. CU mosaic. Near CU mosaic. Headlong shot of Cathedral exterior. LS Cathedral exterior. Tapestry section of interior shot with window background. Interior close shot windows. Gridded window. Tapestry showing Christ. CU of tapestry showing face of Christ and MS same. Interior LS tapestry. MC shot tapestry. MC shot altar. CU lettering Sutherland MCMLXII tapestry CU. LS interior tapestry and altar in foreground. CU tapestry above altar. CU tapestry showing Christ. CU tapestry section.
Keywords
Buildings and structures; Religion and belief
Locations
Coventry
Card file number
84401
Credits:
Commentator
Leslie Mitchell
Camera
Ronald E. Collins
Length of story (in feet)
698
Story extras:
Film clip

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