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Title: LETTER FROM EDINBURGH, a

Reference number: 7304

Date: 1950

Sponsor: Edinburgh Accident Prevention Council

Sound: sound

Original format: 16mm

Colour: bw

Fiction: non-fiction

Running time: 6.53 mins

Description: A road safety film made around the streets of Edinburgh in 1950. It takes the form of a letter sent home by a visiting emigrant after 25 years, highlighting the carelessness of road users.

Shotlist: title (0.06) c/u man writing a letter using fountain pen (0.18) gvs over Princes Street, as seen from Castle ramparts (0.30) exts Shrine at Castle (0.45) shot looking down the Royal Mile, focussing on St. Giles Cathedral, as seem from Castle end (0.56) Holyrood House, ornate gates (1.00) gvs busy Princes Street, with trams, cars and people bustling about (1.29) shot of Princes Street Gardens and seated crowds, intercut with gvs Scottish Country dancing display (2.04) gvs as crowds disperse, and make their way onto Princes Street. Shots as people try to cross the busy street, including one woman carrying a baby who narrowly escapes an accident in her eagerness to cross (2.52) shot of a young woman in the West End walking up the middle of the road and crossing over between traffic (3.03) men jumping off a tram (3.06) outside the Royal Bank of Scotland, two women walk out to cross road between parked cars and are startled when a motorbike whizzes by (3.14) a cyclist nearly has a crash when a careless driver opens the door without warning in a quiet street, New Town area (3.24) busy junction at Dalry Road and Gorgie Road, lorries laden with sacks and other goods drive by, a policeman stands at junction directing traffic (3.38) gvs street in Pilton, prefab houses line the streets as a bus drives along road (3.51) gvs streets in that area, some children play and cycle, general traffic is seen, including heavy commercial vehicles (4.19) gvs Leith Docks, a ship sails out (4.43) Colinton crossroads and gvs of traffic there - it is becoming a ring road area (5.05) Morningside Road, and heavy traffic there (5.24) Clerk Street, same and shot of newly installed traffic lights (5.39) gvs streets and traffic, including Heriot Row and Queen Street, George Street and Princes Street (6.30) c/u floral clock, Princes Street gardens (6.44) ecs (6.53)