TEMPLE BELLS (4/4/1945)

This film is held by the Imperial War Museum (ID: ABY 94).

Synopsis

Scenes of peasant agriculture and Buddhist temple bells near Mandalay, Burma.

Burmese peasant farmers thresh grain using bullocks to trample it underfoot. Close-up of this. Temple spires. RAF Spitfires overhead. A statue of a chinthe, or mythical lion-like guardian. Buddhist monks, with shaven heads and wearing their traditional robes, point up at the sky as the Spitfires pass. A Burmese boy drives a water-wagon drawn by a bullock. Close-up on the boy.

Notes

Dopesheet (written by Squadron Leader T D Connochie, Officer Commanding No.3 RAF Film Production Unit) explains that the purpose of this film was to capture the 'low, melodious sound' of Burmese temple bells. It continues: 'It was hoped to dispel the idea that these bells were anything like our church bells or an equivalent to the ones before "Time gentlemen!" as it has been understood from Kipling's [']Temple Bells are ringing and a man can raise a thirst.['] [This something of a misquote of Kipling's 1892 poem 'Mandalay'].

Dopesheet refers to separately recorded sound of temple bells ringing, though this appears not to have survived for Archive preservation.

 

Titles

  • TEMPLE BELLS (4/4/1945) (Allocated)
Series Title:
ROYAL AIR FORCE OPERATIONS IN SOUTH EAST ASIA DURING THE SECOND WORLD WAR
 

Technical Data

Year:
1945
Running Time:
4 minutes
Film Gauge (Format):
35mm
Colour:
B&W
Sound:
Silent
Footage:
275 ft
 

Production Credits

Production Countries:
GB
Sponsor
Air Ministry Directorate of Public Relations
cameraman
Layzell, R G (Sergeant)
cameraman
Shears (Sergeant)
Production company
Royal Air Force Film Production Unit
 

Countries

 

Production Organisations