Summary

c 1955 <br/> <br/>This is a duplicate copy of documentary also found on tape PM1863 and PM1864 - this version has been transferred from neg so is better copy. Footage is in slightly different order in this version. <br/> <br/>Pathe retrospective. This reel is about musicians. Library material used should be found in more complete versions elsewhere. <br/> <br/>Reel 8. <br/> <br/>The lights go up in the Pathe cinema and the audience including Charlie Kunz, Victor Silvester, Jack Payne and Henry Hall laugh and chat. Jack Payne (?) speaks French and conducts the band in a rendition of "Tiger Rag" - includes L/S and C/Us of the band. Jack Hylton is seen recording one of his hits in the studio, he conducts his band. Geraldo conducts his band. Joe Loss takes his boys through their paces. <br/> <br/>The wild men of Archer Street Harry Roy and his band are shown cavorting around and being generally bonkers - quite funny! They play a version of "Run Rabbit." Roy Fox leads his smoothie band in a tune. Felix Mendelssohn's band play a Hawaiian melody as a beautiful girl in a lei sings "Sophisticated Hula". Henry Hall leads the BBC dance orchestra. He speaks into a microphone then rounds of the performance with a little "Auld Lang Syne". <br/> <br/>C/U of Henry Hall in the Pathe cinema audience laughing uproariously. The audience all chat and laugh amongst themselves. The projectionist puts the last reel back in the can and we see the woman seen earlier returning it to the large stacks of cans. We then see the mood and rhythm of today. An elaborately dressed African band play a tribal style dance song and a woman dances in a trance like style - some sort of voodoo going on. <br/> <br/>The narrator states: "Pathe Pictorial goes on, in colour now, recording our ways and our own times. Tomorrow, this will be our yesterday."