The Delhi Durbar
THE ROYAL VISIT TO INDIA, 1911-1912.
The KINEMACOLOR Reproduction in all their Gorgeous Colors of the Ceremonies, Processions and Pageants in Bombay, Delhi and Calcutta during Their Imperial Majesties' Visit to India for the Coronation Durbar.
WITH the reproduction in all their gorgeous colors of scenes during the tour through their Indian Empire in 19II-1912 of Their Imperial Majesties King George V. and Queen Mary, KINEMACOLOR, by universal consent, attained the highest pinnacle of achievement yet approached even by this wonderful system of kinematography in natural colors. KINEMACOLOR, it may fairly be claimed, has now become an institution of indispensable public utility. Whenever events of importance occur in any part of the world everyone may be sure of seeing exactly what happened without the inconvenience of long waiting in crowds, or perhaps a journey - for the majority impossible - to a distant land.
When, amid the splendours of an Oriental setting, His Gracious Majesty was acclaimed Emperor of India, the attendant ceremonies eclipsed in magnificence anything conceivable in the more sombre West. The public at home read the eloquent attempts of newspaper correspondents to convey in print an idea of the amazingly beautiful color effects that made the Durbar an unforgettable experience to those who saw it. But mere words, as the writers confessed, failed utterly; the magnificence of Indian ceremonial must be seen to be believed, and thanks to the advance of science as exemplified by KINEMACOLOR these splendours can be seen -not for a fleeting moment only, as the gay cavalcades pass across an Indian plain -but seen time after time by audiences all over the world, as KINEMACOLOR reconstructs at command each smallest detail of movement and color. The thoughtful spectator may well inquire what greater marvel the future holds in store for the race.
The series of films described in this section of the KINEMACOLOR Catalogue present the principal occurrences during three weeks' pageantry in Bombay, Delhi and Calcutta, from the moment of the arrival of Their Imperial Majesties at the Apollo Bunder, Bombay, and include the State Entry into Delhi, the Coronation Durbar and a variety of interesting ceremonies during Their Majesties' stay at King's Camp, Delhi. Of a number of episodes at Calcutta the most amazing is the Elephant Procession – a magnificent example of color reproduction. By virtue of his appointment by His Most Gracious Majesty the King-Emperor, Mr. Charles Urban and his KINEMACOLOR staff were the guests of the Indian Government and received special facilities which only made the results herein described possible of attainment.
Royal Visit to Bombay
December 2-4, 1911
IN this subject, the first of the KINEMACOLOR Indian series, the arrival of Their Imperial Majesties on Indian soil, and their enthusiastic welcome by the population of Bombay are shown. In the bright Indian sunshine every detail is distinct and clear. A probably unique picture of His Majesty the King is included. King George is about to step into a motor car; he pauses on the step, and the camera man, making the most of the opportunity, secures a most human picture of the King in ordinary dress and looking the unaffected English gentleman that he is.
A children's festival, attended by many thousands of children, mostly native, and therefore in bright colors, provides another excellent section. The enthusiasm of the youngsters positively radiates from the screen to the spectator and the scene is simply a blaze of color.
Synopsis
1. The Crowds Waiting
for the arrival of the Royal party at the Apollo Bunder, the principal landing stage of Bombay. On the left are the Yacht Club headquarters. This great day in the history of Bombay coincided with the Mahometan festival of Bakrid, or Day of Goats, and the Mahometans in the streets were consequently attired in new clothes of the gayest hues.
2. A Very Striking Picture taken through the special pavilion erected for the reception of Their Majesties, and showing the Royal P. and O. Liner, S.S. Medina, and one of the cruisers accompanying it, in the offing, just after having rounded Colaba Point.
3. The Taj Mahal Palace Hotel in the Background The bluejackets from the Medina marching to take up their position.
4. The Governor General, Lord Hardinge,
and Bombay officials coming to the landing stage, preparatory to meeting Their
Imperial Majesties on the Medina.
5. The Landing of the Royal Party
at the Apollo Bunder. First come on land the Governor-General and his party.
6. The Royal Launch
is then seen approaching the landing stage. Its burnished brass work and new paint instantly attract notice.
7. The King and Queen
walk up the red baize-covered gangway. The King-Emperor is in the plain white dress uniform of an Admiral of the Fleet, with the ribbon of the Star of India, the Orders of the Garter and the Star of the Indian Empire. The Queen-Empress is wearing the ribbon of the Garter across the front of her dress. All these details are quite clearly recorded on the screen.
8. The Snow White Pavilion
a replica of a mosque, with golden decorations and surmounted by a large dome-erected for the reception of Their Imperial Majesties, who were received by the Governor-General, the Governor of Bombay (Sir George Clarke), Rear-Admiral Slade, the General Officer commanding 6th (Poona) Brigade, the Bishop of Bombay, the Roman Catholic Archbishop, the Chief Justice, etc.
9: The Procession
advancing along a carpeted colonnade of Saracenic pillars. Behind them are carried red and gold umbrellas, and an Oriental fan known as a "surajmukh," or "golden fan," these being symbols of the most exalted authority.
10. Their Majesties Seated on Thrones
and receiving an address from the Municipality. The President of the Bombay Municipal Council is Sir P.M. Mehta. On the right of the King-Emperor is Lord Hardinge, behind him the Marquis of Crewe and the Earl of Durham; beside the Queen-Empress is Sir George Clarke, Governor of Bombay, very conspicuous in a black-and-gold uniform. Behind Sir George Clarke are Lord and Lady Shaftesbury, the Duchess of Devonshire and the remainder of the suite.
11. Royal Procession through Bombay
First come the 7th Dragoon Guards, then the 26th Indian (King's Own) Native Light Cavalry, the Bombay Light Horse, and the "V" Battery of the R.H.A.
12. Their Majesties' Carriage
The "surajmukh" is held over the King and Queen, and over the Governor-General (who occupies the second carriage with Lord Crewe) is held a plain red silk umbrella denoting his exalted position. In the third carriage is Sir George and Lady Clarke, and here also may be observed a red umbrella. Other carriages contain members of Their Majesties' suite.
13. A Mounted Escort
of Indian Light Cavalry brings up the rear. The procession passes at a trot and the uniforms of the native troops supply a brilliant splash of color.
14. The Second Day
Landing of Their Imperial Majesties at the Apollo Bunder. The King and Queen are seen coming on shore again from the S.S. Medina, to which they returned at night. An equerry opens Her Majesty's parasol. The King is in mufti and the Queen is wearing a white silk flowered robe, with a white feathered hat. The band of gold satin on the skirt of the Queen's dress is quite distinct in the picture.
15. Ascending the Gangway
Their Majesties enter a motor car. An exceedingly good view is obtained of this incident. The King pauses before entering, in order to make a remark to Major-General Sir Stuart Beatson, and thus the KINEMACOLOR man is afforded an excellent opportunity for recording a scene that will be specially interesting to the King's subjects.
16. The Children's Festival
This took place in the grounds of an exhibition called "Old Bombay," 25,000 children taking part. The native element predominated. Each child was given a flag to wave and all did so energetically, the effect being that of a tossing sea of parti-colored waves. At the same time the National Anthem was sung in four languages.
17. Highland Pipers
Some surprise and interest was caused by the appearance of four pipers of the Cameron Highlanders, marching up and down in kilt and plaid, playing their pipes, to the delight of the children and other spectators.
18. Their Majesties' Carriage
and its escort of the 7th Dragoon Guards and the 26th Cavalry proceeding down the lines of children, who are enthusiastically waving their flags. At one point the carriage passes quite close to the camera.
19. The Elevated Dais,
provided for the accommodation of Their Majesties', below which was a Guard of Honour of Cadets of the Bombay Volunteer Rifles.
20. Two Hundred and Thirty Parsee Girls
then dance a "Gurbi," a rhythmical dance with song, moving in rhythmic evolutions and concentric circles, and chanting in a minor key to the accompaniment of tinkling bracelets and clashing anklets.
No. 495 Code "Cephalops" 1,280 feet
Scenes in Delhi, the New Capital of India
WE now arrive at Delhi and are shown many quaint and interesting scenes of native life. The numerous memorials of the Mutiny of 1857 are included and a magnificent view given of the Jamma Masjid, the most famous mosque in the world.
Synopsis
1. On the Grand Trunk Road, Delhi
Native types. Army transport waggons carrying the baggage of troops. Carrying baskets and water jars on their heads.
2. The Kashmir Gate,
showing bullet and cannon marks. Here Nicholson led the assault at the storming of Delhi, in 1857. The bullet marks on the face of the structure are clearly visible.
3. A Camel Carriage
Carts carrying wood for stands. Byle-garries, or bullock-carts, a barouche, and a native on a bicycle. Tongas for visitors' transport. Three hundred of these curious looking vehicles were brought down from the hills for use at the Delhi Camp.
4. English Church of St. James'
in Delhi. Outside it, on the ground, is a cross on a globe. These were knocked down by cannon shot during the Mutiny of 1857. Duplicates have since been placed on the dome.
5. The Memorial Tower
to the Mutiny Martyrs, erected over the grave of the victims. The John Nicholson Statue.
6. The Jamma Masjid
A magnificent view. This is one of the three famous Moghul mosques of India, the two others being at Futtehpore Sikri (built by Akbar) and at Agra (built by Shah Jehan). The famous Jamma Masjid is one of the few mosques, either in India or elsewhere, that is designed to produce a pleasing effect externally. With the exception of the three great domes and the numerous turrets which are all of white marble, the mosque is of red color. It has been restored recently under Government supervision. Though not the largest mosque in the world, it is certainly one of the most imposing. The proportions are colossal, though artists complain of its lack of balance. Its three great portals are unequalled by any mosque in the world.
7. Natives Praying
in front of the Mosque. A typically Oriental scene. A group of natives all squatting. Orientals never seem to have anything demanding their immediate attention.
8. Natives Oiling the Road
The most elaborate methods were adopted to deal with the "dust problem" in the
Durbar Camp. The road surfaces were made of crushed brick, bound together by the application of oil or tar.
9. Queer Native Carts
Women breaking stone. As is well known, in Eastern countries women do a great deal of the most laborious work. A native carpenter at work. He is known in the vernacular as a "Mistre."
10. A Native Stone Worker
drilling a design in stone. The drill is revolved by means of an apparatus not unlike a violin bow.
11. Chandni Chowk,
"The richest street in the world." In little eight feet by six feet shops the visitor is shown rare and priceless diamonds. To understand what native life in India is the tourist must spend an hour or two without any fixed goal in the Chandni Chowk, usually called Silver Street. This is the Mooski of Delhi, though, unlike that famous Cairene highway, the Chandni Chowk is a fairly wide avenue. The picturesqueness is not so much in the buildings, which lack the artistic outlines of those in the Mooski, as in the natives themselves. A striking feature of the street life is the extraordinary variety of color. This living mosaic has at first a bewildering effect on the spectator, but after a while the kaleidoscopic crowd can be resolved into separate units, each unit being an independent blend of orange and magenta, green and violet, or silver and scarlet.
12. Natives Smoking Hookahs
A Persian rug shop in Chandni Chowk. The genuine native shops, as opposed to those which concern themselves chiefly with tourists, are feasts of color, the goods as often as not being spread out on the ground, the proprietor and his assistants squatting among the wares and occasionally calling out their merits. What will impress the artistic visitor is the natural love of picturesque effect, and the correct taste in color possessed by the Hindus. In spite of the extraordinary variety of colors to be seen in the streets, one seldom sees any "color discards."
13. Buffaloes
The whole Delhi Camp was supplied from a Government dairy with buffalo milk. There were 1,000 buffalo cows at the camp. "Ekkas," or native carts, and horses of ruling chiefs being led along the street.
14. An Electric Tram Passes
The bizarre contrasts between the Oriental atmosphere of the city of the Moghuls and the latest development of civilisation afforded by the electric trams cannot fail to strike the traveller.
15. The Durbar Light Railway
All the Press and camera men at the camp had free passes to travel on this railway, but having regard to the crowded condition of the coaches it is not surprising that the passes were never used by any of them.
No. 496 Code "Cephalus" 1,095 feet
Arrival of the Ruling Chiefs at Kingsway Station, Delhi
FOR days before the ceremonies, native princes were coming into Delhi from all parts of India. The film shows the arrival of several of the most important chiefs.
Synopsis
1. A Train Draws Up
at a red baize-covered platform. The apparently large size of the coaches of the train is explained by the fact that each has a false roof in order to secure a layer of air between the ceiling of the coach and the roof on which beats the blazing Indian sun. Each tent in camp was double - a tent within a tent - for the same reason.
2. Arrival of the Maharajah of Kashmir
The Begum of Bhopal - the only woman ruler in India - leaves the train. The Maharanee of Chatterpore as she descends is covered by her waiting women with
a scarf, and enters her palanquin or sedan chair.
3. The Nizam of Hyderabad
arrives in his special train. He is the principal ruling chief of India and has with him an escort of about three hundred retainers, including a military band. The number of retainers in attendance on any Chief or Prince varies according to his importance.
4. The Nizam's Retainers
- a fine body - and the band going to the Delhi Camp. Scene at the famous ridge. The Nizam's followers and the escorts of other Princes are marching into camp.
No. 497 Code "Cepheidos" 430 feet
Preparing for the Durbar - the Chiefs' Camps
ON the great plain outside Delhi, eighty square miles in area - two thirds the size of the administrative county of London - preparations for the Coronation Durbar are proceeding apace. Many of the wonderful edifices that made the Durbar Camp more like a scene from the "Arabian Nights" than a twentieth century encampment, are shown in course of construction, and the spectator gets some idea of the immense pains and artistic effort that were expended to make the Durbar of 1911 eclipse all others in magnificence.
Synopsis
1. Carts of all Kinds,
and crowds of natives in bright costumes passing along Princes' Road. Many of the poorer natives walking through the camp seeing the sights.
2. Some Native Veterans
of the frontier wars in Afghanistan, the Punjab Frontier, Burmah and Tirah. A splendid group of old warriors; some of them have medals dating from 1878.
3. Workers in Marble and Stone
A remarkable picture showing a native high up on a ladder, painting one of the grotesque lions at the entrance to the Burmah Camp.
4. Natives Sawing Logs
with saws shaped like scimitars and having a handle at each end. Native gilding a wooden lion. The bright lustre of the gilding is perfectly reproduced on the screen.
5. A Triumphal Archway Being Built
over Coronation Road. Men at work on the bamboo scaffolding. One of the finest Indian pavilions in the camp. A clear and excellent view of the splendid edifice. A handsome structure which was used as a post office. Soldiers going along Coronation Road.
6. Princes' Road, Durbar Camp
The construction of ornamental terraces and flower beds. Natives working differently-colored stones into various designs. Ornamental tigers of striking appearance at the Rewah Camp. Gilding the "guardians" of the ornamental entrance.
7. Carving a Pediment
Ornamental flowerbeds being laid out, some with colored stones and shells and some with plants.
8. The Gateway to Kashmir Camp
- a remarkably beautiful piece of work - all carved out of walnut wood. The camp was enclosed by a wall of similar workmanship, each panel having a different design, as may be observed on the screen. An offer of £70,000 was received from a wealthy American for the whole edifice as it stood, but the proposal was not entertained, and the unique piece of workmanship was ultimately presented to the King-Emperor.
9. Scenes in the Press Camp
Delhi. A group of servants, native policemen, street sweepers, etc. The different classes of workman may be distinguished by the colors of their turbans.
10. Some of the Motor Cars
supplied by the Government for the use of the Press. Amongst the occupants of the cars are many well-known London pressmen and photographers. Some members of the staff of KINEMACOLOR are also in evidence.
11. C.B. Bayley, Esq.,
the able and courteous officer in charge of the Press Camp. Incidentally, Mr. Charles Urban is introduced on the scene.
12. A Delhi Problem
A group of pressmen: Mr. Percival Landon, The Daily Telegraph, Mr. E. J. Buck, Reuter's, and Mr. Lovat Fraser, The Times. The names are in correct order reading from left to right on the screen, after Mr. Landon has joined the group. A portrait.
No. 498 Code "Cephenus" 1,100 feet
The Royal Horse Artillery Firing a Salute
AT ceremonials such as the Durbar a great number of Royal salutes are fired, so that no record of the proceedings would be complete that did not include something of these incidents. This film shows artillery operations in a very realistic fashion. The battery is one of three engaged in firing a salute of 101 guns, signalling the arrival of Their Imperial Majesties at Delhi. On each occasion when a Royal Salute was fired, two batteries fired thirty-four shot each and one thirty-three, making a total of 101. The color of the burnished metal of the guns is clearly reproduced by KINEMACOLOR.
Synopsis
1. Artillery Sections Gallop Past
They are taking up their positions preparatory to firing the salute.
2. The Artillerymen Unlimber
and get to work with their guns. This section gives an idea of the heavy work entailed by the firing of the various salutes.
3. After the Firing of Thirty-four Guns
the members of the battery limber up and leave their station.
No. 499 Code "Cepheos" 300 feet