(I) LEWIS GUN POST AND VARIOUS DUGOUTS; (II) COLDSTREAM GUARDS FELLING TREES AND GATHERING TWIGS FOR REVETTING; (III) LESLIE HENSON CONCERT PARTY [Allocated Title]
Title:(I) LEWIS GUN POST AND VARIOUS DUGOUTS; (II) COLDSTREAM GUARDS FELLING TREES AND GATHERING TWIGS FOR REVETTING; (III) LESLIE HENSON CONCERT PARTY [Allocated Title]
Film Number:BCY 11
Other titles:
Summary: Unedited and uncensored newsreel rushes showing members of the British Expeditionary Force (BEF) enjoying a performance by popular variety artistes and different aspects of the daily routine in the BEF's sector of the Allied frontline in northern France.
Description: I. Out-of-focus interior shots inside a theatre showing British soldiers seated in the stalls applauding and more of the audience seated in balcony seats. Out-of-focus shots of Violet Loraine (1886-1956) , a veteran music hall star, and Binnie Hale (1899-1984), an actress who specialised in musicals, singing on stage. Better panning shots showing the orchestra pit to the British soldiers seated in the front rows of the stalls singing along with the performers. The cast of Leslie Henson's "Running Riot" show takes a final bow.
II. Scenes showing two, maybe three British artillerymen from 153 Battery, 51st Light Anti-Aircraft Regiment Royal Artillery (RA) who occupy a shelter made out of earth and sheets of corrugated iron, on which they have chalked cheerful notices such as "Bed and Breakfast", "No. 10 Downing Street" and "No Hawkers". They are seen manning an old .303 Lewis gun on an anti-aircraft mounting in a weapons pit nearby. At one point, they are joined by two Frenchmen, one a soldier, the other a civilian. Their shelter and weapons pit are situated near a main road in use by British mitary traffic.
III. A work detail from a Coldstream Guards battalion collects branches and twigs in order to make wattle reinforcements in the construction of field fortifications. The Guardsmen are wearing the old style British Army uniform. These shots are slightly out-of-focus.
Production Details: Universal News (Production company)
Personalities, Units and Organisations: Hale, Binnie (person)
Loraine, Violet (person)
Henson, Leslie Lincoln (person)
British Expeditionary Force (regiment/service)
Keywords: Phoney War 1939-1940, Second World War (event)
British Army 1939-1945 (theme)
France and the Low Countries 1939-1940 (theme)
BBY 11 (LESLIE HENSON'S SHOW TO THE TROOPS IN FRANCE - "RUNNING RIOT" [Allocated Title])
BDY 11 (LESLIE HENSON'S SHOW FOR THE TROOPS IN FRANCE "RUNNING RIOT" [Allocated Title])
