Holiday (1957)

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Film details

Featuring

Robert Shaw
Director

John Taylor
Country

United Kingdom
Year

1957
Genre

Travelogue
Type

Film
Category

Non Fiction

Introduction

Unlike the vast majority of BTF’s travelogues, Holiday keeps its commentary to a minimum, with just a brief scene–setting opening and a slightly longer interlude to mark the early afternoon siesta.

The film derives its reputation and appeal from the two wordless passages that constitute a masterclass by editor Ralph Sheldon. Marrying unstructured Blackpool footage to a series of jazz standards (recorded by the Chris Barber Jazz Band), Sheldon devised a series of immaculately timed gags that wouldn’t shame the great silent comedians.

The film was shot on 16mm Kodachrome, the smaller format justified by the need to keep the camera as discreet as possible. Although some scenes were staged, David Watkin shot a substantial amount of footage via a camera hidden in a cardboard box, filming unwitting passers–by through a strategically–positioned hole with the rest of the crew concealing other tell–tale details.

But Holiday has much going for it beneath the showy surface, since it also offers one of the decade’s most uncontrived and unselfconscious records of working–class leisure. For sheer joie de vivre, there’s little to match it.

Cast & Credits

Cast
- - [Narrator]
    
    Robert Shaw
Credits
- Direction:
  - Directed by
    
    John Taylor
  Production:
  - A BTF production
    
    BTF
  - Executive Producer
    
    Edgar Anstey
  - Produced by
    
    Ian Ferguson
  - Assistant
    
    Edward Scott
  - Assistant
    
    Hugh Raggett
  Photography:
  - Photographed by
    
    David Watkin
  Editing:
  - Edited by
    
    Ralph Sheldon
  Music:
  - Music by
    
    Duke Ellington
  - Music by
    
    Clarence Williams
  - Music by
    
    Armand Piron
  - Music by
    
    Spencer Williams
  - Music by
    
    Kerry Mills
  - Music by
    
    Fats Waller
  - Music by
    
    Big Bill Broonzy
  - Music by
    
    Porter Steele
  - [Music] Played by
    
    The Chris Barber Band
  - [Music Played] With
    
    Ottilie Patterson
  - The Chris Barber Jazz Band [Are:]
    
    Pat Halcox
  - The Chris Barber Jazz Band [Are:]
    
    Monty Sunshine
  - The Chris Barber Jazz Band [Are:]
    
    Chris Barber
  - The Chris Barber Jazz Band [Are:]
    
    Eddie Smith
  - The Chris Barber Jazz Band [Are:]
    
    Dick Smith
  - The Chris Barber Jazz Band [Are:]
    
    Ron Bowden
  Sound:
  - Recorded by
    
    Ken Scrivener
  - Logo [Sound System]
    
    RCA Sound Recording