9.27.2010

The Queen In 3D

      I picked up a couple of pairs of 3D glasses at the Post Office on Tuesday - available free to all Canadians - in preparation for a special TV program to be shown that evening on CBC TV.  What was uniquely special about this broadcast was that it would be showing, for the first time ever, 3D footage shot in 1953 of the Coronation of Queen Elizabeth II. Rare, archival footage found stored away and forgotten. Janet and I - our supper spread before us - sat ourselves down that evening to share with many thousand of others across Canada a rare prospect.
     The glasses, as you can see, are still based on the primitive throw away type of eye ware handed out to cinema goers during the early craze for 3D films They are as uncomfortable and tiring on the eyes now as they were then. Aside from that complaint the events portrayed were impressive. St. Paul's Cathedral, London
     A fairy tale parade: the  Golden Coach gleaming magnificently; beautifully caparisoned horses bearing brightly liveried Palace soldiers and guards, whose colorful uniforms added that extra dash to the splendor of the day. They proudly lead the glittering procession as it swept along the route to St. Paul’s Cathedral flag waving throngs lining every inch of the way.
     There were also many other moments in the early life of the Queen and the royal family shown - in black and white -  before, during and after the war. Much  of it was reminiscent of others we had seen at the time and over the years. But for me and Janet the moment that stood out and thrilled was a section of the tour the Queen, and Prince Philip, had made across Canada, while she was still Princess Elizabeth. This was a few months before the death of her father and her mounting the throne. Many of the cities and towns she and Prince Philip visited during her Canadian tour were shown. Shots of  flowers being presented, public personages glowing in her presence and Anglophiles thrilled to tears. Then a sudden transition came in the quality of the old film, a section as new as though it had been shot a week ago suddenly appeared on the screen  It was a clip of the Command Performance , requested by RWB Command Program002the soon to be Queen, and given by the Winnipeg Ballet. There we were, in stunning clarity, members of the Royal (given that title a year later)Winnipeg Ballet Company, performing a section of the Arnold Spohr ballet, “Ballet Imperial!” And there, plain as could be, was me! What a surprise, and I must admit, a pleasure to see that moment live again. Janet was thrilled, for the first time she saw me in a Classical Ballet, not a musical. She picked me out, the film was that clear. It was a brief moment, but I’m so glad it was there to see. RWB Command Program004 What a shot in the arm, for I had forgotten that I was really quite good. (That’s a bit shameless, but hell, why not! At my age I’m entitled!). So to round this off, I’m putting here a photo of the Royal couple taken during that Command Performance, and subsequently used on the cover of the first program given after the company was given the honor by Royal Decree,  to add the appellation "Royal" to its name. Here is a photo of myself from that program, 22 years old! A  footnote to the years gone by.


Enhanced by Zemanta

No comments: