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Title: MISSION TO MALTA

Reference number: 9278

Date: 1954

Director: filmed by Gordon A.R. Black and Dr Iain Dunnachie

Sound: sound

Colour: col

Fiction: non-fiction

Running time: 15.00 mins

Description: An affectionate amateur film in 'diary' style, recording the naval preparations and celebrations around the Queen's visit to Malta, as part of her Commonwealth Tour, in 1954.

Shotlist: Scottish Association of Amateur Cinematographers SAAC Highly Commended 1954 Shot of a man sitting next to a fire in an armchair smoking. Man picks up a book “Diary 1954”. First page of the book: GORDON AR BLACK AND IAIN DUNNACHIE PRESENTS MISSION TO MALTA (0.42) Shot of writing on another page: “SUNDAY 25th APRIL LEFT BRITAIN AT NIGHT AND AWOKE OVER THE MEDITERRANEAN”. (0.48) Shot of an aerial view as seen from an aeroplane. Shot of the coastline and countryside, aeroplane wing is in view (1.10) Shot of a page of writing “MONDAY 26TH APRIL ARRIVED AT MALTA AND JOINED MY SHIP”. view of harbour approach as seen from aboard smaller boat, shots of other boats in the harbour and shot of Fort St Angelo. Shots of buildings along coastline. Shot of sailor wearing a “Royal Yacht” cap (1.33) Shot of page “TUESDAY 27TH MAY MANAGED TO GET SHORE LEAVE TODAY AND WENT UP TO VALETTA IN A VERY ANCIENT LIFT”. Elevated gvs Valetta, including ships in the harbour. Shots of colourful buses and a horse drawn carriage. Shot of a monument [possibly war memorial, with Maltese falcon in gold on the top?]. Shot of people decorating buildings with red crowns. Shot of cars driving down a street (2.39) Shot of programme “PROGRAMME OF HER MAJESTY’S NAVAL ESCORTS IN THE MEDITERRANEAN”. Shot of large ship (3.09) film intertitles to follow, reading SUNDAY MAY 2ND MEDITERRANEAN FLEET ESCORT MEETS HMY BRITANNIA. THE ROYAL SALUTE IS FIRED Shot of ships in the water, smoke rising from salute (3.57) CLOSE CEREMONIAL MANOEUVRES Shot of ship (4.06) HMS GAMBIA Shot of men standing along the deck of a ship facing out to sea to take salute (4.19) HMS BERMUDA Shot of more men taking salute (4.40) HMS DELIGHT More men taking salute and again for (4.48) HMS DARING (5.09) HMS EAGLE Shots of ships and men raising their caps. Shot of a helicopter (6.09) HMS GLASGOW Again saluting. Shot of the waves (6.52) Shot of a page: “MONDAY 3RD MAY ARRIVED IN THE GRAND HARBOUR”. Gvs of harbour, people in rowing boats rowing to shore (7.22) Shot of a page “TUESDAY 4th MAY NO SHORE LEAVE THIS TIME YET, BUT THERE’S PLENTY TO SEE IN THE HARBOUR”. More shots of harbour and shot of men rowing. Naval personnel going to shore on small boats (8.08) Shot of page “WEDNESDAY 5th MAY SHORE LEAVE AGAIN”. Shot of speed boat going past Fort St Angelo. Shot of HMY Britannia (8.42) Shot of page “THE QUEEN’S BEASTS…” Shot of building with sign and shot of the unicorn, lions “Malta Welcomes Her Queen”, building decorated with crowns and EIIR crests. Shot of statue of unicorn. Shot of crowds on the riverside, captain gets off the boat. Very colourful with flags and nice colour film etc (9.26) Shot of page “…THIS TIME I CLIMBED UP TO THE MAIN PART OF THE TOWN…” Gvs streets and buildings (9.56) Shot of page “…BACKS STREETS WERE DECORATED..." gvs same (10.14) Shot of page “…AND BOMB SITES WERE CAMOUFLAGED”. Shot of patchwork quilt style panel and wooden fences with aspects of the royal standard on them (10.34) Shot of page “OR DECORATED shot of square flag tent with a crown on top. Shot of more decorated buildings. Shot of a taller bombed building shell not covered, floral decorations on doorway (10.57) Shot of page “‘KINGSWAY’ THE MAIN STREET OF VALETTA...” shot of street decorated with flags. Shot of sign on buildings “God Bless our Gracious Queen. Long live our noble Queen” and “God save our Queen” (11.34) Shot of page “…AND SO ‘TO THE RAMPARTS’!” shot of crowds and pan over city full of buses (12.14) Shot of page “…JUST TOO LATE TOO SEE THE QUEEN…”. Shot of military personnel and crowds lining the streets. Shot of people walking about (12.40) Shot of page “…RETURNED TO THE SHIP- (SORE FEET!!)”. More gvs of decorations as leave harbour (12.59) Shot of page “- BUT I HAD A QUICK GLIMPSE OF ‘THE ROYALS’ AS THEY PASSED OUR SHIP”. Shot of boat passing as seen through a port hole, HM The Queen and HRH The Duke of Edinburgh seen on the back of the boat (13.16) Shot of page “THURSDAY 6th MAY THE FLEET WAS ALL LIT UP!” Shots of fireworks (14.34) shot of page “FRIDAY 7th MAY HOMEWARD BOUND”. Shot of a boat “SI” sailing through harbour watched by crowds. Shot of harbour side (15.00) MISSION TO MALTA. THE END (15.00)