This film is part of Free
The Craster Family at Jotwara
An elephant ride and a regal garden party in 1930s Rajasthan
Overview
The Craster family home movies offer a fascinating portrait of regal Rajasthan in the 1930s as well as a charming snapshot of filmmaker George and daughter Mary at home in Jotwara (Jhotwara). This film shows a garden party for the Viceroy, Lady Willingdon and Princess Alice of Athlone. However, most shots are of Mary - playing with her rabbit, dancing and performing for the camera and taking a ride on Lakshmi, one of the Maharajah’s elephants who often came to the house.
Colonel George Craster had a long and distinguished career in the Indian Army and was first commissioned in 1898. He retired in 1930 and became Chief Staff Officer of Jaipur State from 1931-35 where these films were taken. George’s orderly, Pertab Singh, appears in a number of the films. He had been with George throughout WWI and stayed with him when he was seconded to command the Jaipur State force.
Related
Indian Procession Indian Procession
Non-Fiction 1902 3 mins Silent
Decorated elephants with howdahs, and troops on foot and horseback.
Delhi 1946 Delhi 1946
Amateur film 1946 15 mins Silent
8mm amateur film of India on the eve of Independence.
King George the Fifth's Durbar Held to Proclaim Him Emperor of India King George the Fifth's Durbar Held to Proclaim Him Emperor of India
Non-Fiction 1912 7 mins Silent
Patriotic dispatch from the grand celebrations to mark the start of George V's reign
Ruins of Delhi Ruins of Delhi
Interest film 1910 4 mins Silent
Attractive travelogue filmed in and around Delhi's Qutb complex.
Scenes of the Delhi Camp Scenes of the Delhi Camp
Non-Fiction 1911 3 mins Silent
A look at the 1911 Delhi Durbar - with a look back at its 1902 predecessor
Rajputana, Jhalawar, Bundi & Katakali Dancers Rajputana, Jhalawar, Bundi & Katakali Dancers
Amateur film 1940 11 mins Silent
A trip to the spectacular city of Bundi and a Kathakali dance performance, filmed in vivid colour by 'envoy of the Raj' Clarmont Skrine.
Laura Mulvey in Conversation Laura Mulvey in Conversation
Inside Film 2025 76 mins
Laura Mulvey in conversation, following her BFI Fellowship Award.
George Clooney in Conversation George Clooney in Conversation
Inside Film 2025 74 mins
George Clooney visited BFI Southbank to look back on his life and career.
Chloé Zhao Screen Talk | BFI London Film Festival 2025 Chloé Zhao Screen Talk | BFI London Film Festival 2025
Inside Film 2025 65 mins
The Oscar®- winning director of Nomadland discusses her unique approach to filmmaking and the inspiration behind the adaptation of Hamnet.
Edgar Wright on The Running Man Edgar Wright on The Running Man
Inside Film 2025 28 mins
The director talks to Mark Kermode about putting Stephen King's dystopian life-or-death gameshow thriller through its paces.
Richard Linklater Screen Talk | BFI London Film Festival 2025 Richard Linklater Screen Talk | BFI London Film Festival 2025
Inside Film 2025 69 mins
Richard Linklater discusses his remarkable and wide-ranging body of work, including Blue Moon and Nouvelle Vague.
Daniel Day-Lewis Screen Talk | BFI London Film Festival 2025 Daniel Day-Lewis Screen Talk | BFI London Film Festival 2025
Inside Film 2025 73 mins
Daniel Day-Lewis, the ultimate actor’s actor discusses his career in conversation with Mark Kermode.