A Queen is Crowned movie at the Military Museum introduced by Selwyn Klass
The Historic Documentary Film Society with Second Innings held the 70th anniversary celebration since Queen Elizabeth II's crowning.
In celebration of 70 years since Queen Elizabeth II’s crowning, a movie screening of A Queen Is Crowned was shown at the Military Museum, Saxonwold.
The Historic Documentary Film Society in collaboration with Second Innings screened the movie on June 21. The film, which celebrates the platinum anniversary year of the queen’s accession to the throne, was originally televised in black and white but this time it was colour enhanced. The movie is narrated by Sir Laurence Olivier and scripted by distinguished author Stephen Fry.
The film was nominated for an Academy Award as best documentary, winning a Golden Globe in the same category. It was presented with a certificate of Merit British Academy of Film and Television Awards. In 1953, it was voted the most popular box-office attraction in Britain and across the pond in America.
Selwyn Klas, co-founder of the society shared a memory of when he met the queen. “We were able to present the film to the queen and she was amazing, she was five foot nothing but she heard you as if you were the most important person in the room.” Princess Elizabeth, at that time, travelled to South Africa with her family. The focus of the royal tour in South Africa was to connect with the people from her nation and with the country during the Commonwealth celebration.
A viewer, Graham Bendell, a British filmmaker, was on duty at the coronation of 1953 in Parliament Square, London, and shared his memories of the occasion. He said the first thing he did on the day was to go to a restaurant for some breakfast. He joked he had to have a half cup of tea because when you are on duty, the ceremony may take three to four hours and you are not allowed to go to the toilet during this time.
“I recall my British granny embracing the occasion by pinning a rosette of the Union Jack on my blazer. She gave me a 78rpm recording of The Changing of Guards of Buckingham Palace and took us to John Orr’s smart Lounge in town to celebrate,” said Klass.
The screening was supported by the English-style tea cakes and scones generously supplied by SuperSPAR Blackheath.
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