Their Majesties See Pre-view Of Colour Film of Wedding

Wanganui Chronicle, 27 November 1947, Page 5

Their Majesties See Pre-view Of Colour Film of Wedding

(N.Z.P.A.—Reuter—Copyright.) Recd. 5.5 p.m. London, Nov. 26 Their Majesties and the Princess Margaret, when they attended a Royal command film performance in London last night, saw a coloured film of Princess Elizabeth’s wedding. The “Daily Telegraph” says that despite the dull light, the reds and blues of the Household Cavalry and the splendour of the State coach stand out brilliantly against the autumn hues of the park, and the rich pageantry of the Abbey ceremony is impressive. The procession might have been photographed more brilliantly, but hardly more charmingly, in a studio. The dresses, particularly the Queen’s, look striking. Few people in the Abbey and none outside can have enjoyed as comprehensive a view of the events as the film will give to millions. One of the most delightful features is an informal scene in Buckingham Palace after the wedding. There, Princess Elizabeth, with the strain of the ceremony over, is free to display her dress. The “Evening Standard” says the colour film cost £64,000 and lasts 30 minutes. The Abbey scenes lack some of the clarity of detail which distinguished the news reels, but the

flashing scarlets of the processions from and to the Palace are magnificently impressive. "

CROWDS BREAK CORDON The moment when the crowds broke the police cordon into the forecourt Becomes really dramatic. Royalty last night attended a command performance of a film which the British public will never see. The film, “The Bishop’s Wife,” is American, and comes under the new British tax. The King and Queen, Princess Margaret, the Queen of Denmark and King Michael of Rumania made tortuous progress to the Leicester Square theatre to see the film. Huge crowds choked the approaches and pressed against steel crush-barriers. Numbers fainted and had to be extricated by ambulance men Mounted police had to force a route for the cars bearing Royalty and celebrities. There were jeers and shouts of complaint as the police linked arms and forced the crowds back. Many people in the crowd used binoculars, hand mirrors and periscopes when film stars appeared. The police prevented people from climbing nearby trees and buildings. The Royal Party saw the film from a flower decorated box in the centre of the Royal circle. As much as 25 guineas was paid for adjacent seats.