This film is part of Free
Indian Durbar
The "rich and vivid spectacle" of the Durbar held for the Maharaja of Alwar is captured in gorgeous Technicolor by Jack Cardiff in this travelogue.
Overview
The "rich and vivid spectacle" of the Durbar held for the Maharaja of Alwar (in Rajasthan) is captured in ravishingly beautiful colour in this travelogue. The condescending commentary grates, but the stunning images - capturing the spectacle of the Maharajah's lavish parade (complete with elephant-pulled carriage) the dancers and the succession of tributes in the opulent palace courtyard - more than make up for it. They were shot by Jack Cardiff, world-recognised (and Oscar-winning) master of Technicolor.
Indian Durbar was one of a number of short travelogues shot by Cardiff in India (and many more elsewhere) in the late 1930s and early 1940s. Others include A Road in India and A Village in India. For the Technicolor company, the exoticism of the films' subjects offered a very useful demonstration of their vibrant colour process.
Related
Schools for Moslems Schools for Moslems
Documentary 1980 27 mins Location: Bury
A visit to Darul Uloom School in South Lancashire, the UK's first Muslim school
Xcitement! Xcitement!
Pornography 1960 5 mins Silent
Glamour goddess Pamela Green reveals all in a key ‘60s striptease collaboration with George Harrison Marks.
Heaven (Gay Life) Heaven (Gay Life)
Factual TV 1980 25 mins
The LGBT current affairs series visits the new Heaven nightclub, contrasting it with other parts of London’s gay scene.
Introduction to Northampton Introduction to Northampton
Documentary 1963 17 mins Location: Northampton
Your employer is relocating to Northampton. Will this film convince you it's a good idea for you too?
If I Film at 2fps… If I Film at 2fps…
Amateur film 1965 3 mins Location: Middlesbrough
A ride on the wild side through Middlesbrough and Teesside.
Chapeltown: One Year On Chapeltown: One Year On
Documentary 1987 21 mins Location: Chapeltown
A documentary that reveals the gap between the talent and determination of a community, and its lack of control over its own destiny.
Frederick Wiseman's High School - a discussion Frederick Wiseman's High School - a discussion
Short documentary 2026 22 mins
Filmmaker Andrea Luka Zimmerman and curator Matthew Barrington discuss Frederick Wiseman’s High School with Sandra Hebron.
A Last Resort A Last Resort
Comedy 2022 17 mins
Rose is desperate to celebrate her 60th birthday in style, but her daughter Genevieve is struggling to ignore some recent tragic news about her mum.
Hard, Cracked the Wind Hard, Cracked the Wind
Horror 2019 17 mins
A haunting with words is the lure between life and death for a young Cornish poet.
The Walk The Walk
Drama 2023 12 mins
Adeel Akhtar portrays a man on a weekly trek to his nearest JobCentre, entering a state of purgatory through barriers put in place by the system.
Seagull Seagull
Horror 2022 6 mins
Seagull is a recovering drug addict who is about to have a very strange night on The English Riviera.
Octopus Octopus
2021 13 mins
Upon returning to her home town for a funeral, a young woman reconnects with the friends she left behind.