OLYMPIC FLAME

Series

Series Name

Mining Review 10th Year

Issue

Issue No.

5

Date Released

Jan 1957

Stories in this Issue:

1. 1SEA SHIFT
2. 2TRAINING FILM
3. 3OLYMPIC FLAME
4. 4TEN YEARS ON: The Chairman sums up.

Story

Story No. within this Issue

3 / 4

Summary

BFI synopsis: The 1956 Olympic flame being transferred to a lamp donated by Saar miners.
NCB Commentary - The location - fabled Olympia in Greece. The occasion - the kindling of the Olympic Flame for the 1956 Series in Melbourne.
In the ruins of the Temple of Jupiter, a Priestess from Athens asks the God Jupiter if her torch may be kindled from his eternal fire. Jupiter’s consent is signalled by the lighting of a flare through the archway.
Now from the far side of the archway comes the High Priestess of Jupiter. She carries with her an ornamental vase which holds the flame. The Athenian Priestess and her three attendents follow in solemn procession as they move through tye trees towards the body of the temple.
The procession comes to rest near the altar and here, between the tall stone columns, the flame is handed to the Priestess from Athens. She raises it on high and then carefully and reverently places it on to the altar. The attendants surround the flame with olive branches as they await the arrival of the first runner. Here he comes, the first man in a chain of athletes who will carry the flame thirteen thousand miles across the world to Australia.
The Athenian Priestess takes his torch and lights it from the eternal fire. This is the high point of the ceremony for the on-lookers who have gathered to cheer the flame on the first stretch of its long journey. Away it goes from the ancient temple and off on a day and night journey which will carry it down to Athens.
At Athens, the flame is transferred into one of two miner’s lamps, specially provided by the Olympic Committee of the Saar. Saar miners have donated these lamps so that the flame may be taken by air through the 29 hour flight to Darwin, the northern gateway to Australia.
The flame is handed into the custody of the air liner’s crew; the moment for take-off draws near. On its journey from ancient Greece to the other side of the world, the flame, thanks to the miners of the Saar, has been kept intact and in good hands.

Keywords

Sport; Mining; Ceremonies

Written sources

British Film Institute Databases   Used for synopsis
Film User   Vol.11 No.128 June 1957, p258.
The National Archives COAL 32   /12 Scripts for Mining Review, 1956-1960

Credits:

Production Co.

Documentary Technicians Alliance

Sponsor

National Coal Board