Please read Understanding catalogue records for help interpreting this information and Using footage for more information about accessing this film.

Title: RECTORIAL BATTLE EDINBURGH UNIVERSITY 1963

Reference number: 8709

Date: 1963

Sound: silent

Original format: std. 8mm

Colour: col

Fiction: non-fiction

Running time: 7.55 mins

Description: Amateur footage of the traditional polling day Rectorial battle fought in the Old College quadrangle between supporters of rival candidates in the Edinburgh University rectorial elections in 1963.

The traditional polling day rectorial battle involved rival groups of supporters throwing flour and dried peas at each other. See also ref. 3653

Shotlist: [shot-listed from .avi file]

(0.00) black (0.02) RECTORIAL '63 - black - gvs groups of students milling around on Nicholson Street, Edinburgh - shots of groups of students gathered inside Old College quad at Edinburgh University on rectorial election day - shots of student taking photographs, another with loudhailer - gvs of groups of students taking up positions in quad, debris scattered around - groups face up to each other on terrace and flour bombs are thrown - supporters of James Robertson Justice hold banner reading 'Dr. Justice' - underexposed gvs of crowds of students (2.09) gvs students in skirmish on terrace, others throwing flour bombs - underexposed gvs of groups of students on terrace and in quad - gvs of onlookers - shots of groups of students charging across quad with sacks of flour? - more shots of flour bombs being thrown between group on terrace and group on quad - black (4.04) underexposed shots of skirmishes on steps, flour bombs thrown - fighting intensifies on the steps, as one student is dragged away and his trousers are pulled off - gvs general mayhem, another trouser-less student walks past - gvs general mayhem, more students dragged away and stripped - shots of an ambulance making its way into the quad through crowds - more gvs of fighting in quad, flour bombs thrown - groups of students parade across quad arm-in-arm and join in a circle to celebrate - brief c/u shots of small groups of students - gvs of crowds still milling around in quad, running along terrace (7.37) gvs of empty quad after battle, debris strewn everywhere - RECTORIAL '63 - THE END [caption board is hit by a missile and falls over] (7.55)