The title of a film which was made in 1956 and which may no longer survive.
The two photographs above were taken to publicise the film, but in the event it seems that the images were not used and are shown here for the first time. The production was a collaboration between Royal Crown Derby and opticians Lancaster and Thorpe. The first image taken from left to right shows: Unknown (Could this be co-editor and cameraman Kenneth Jones?), Phillip Robinson, Dorothy Robinson, Harold Thorpe, Richard Thorpe, his wife Nellie Thorpe and Norman Thorpe. The second image shows Daphne Thorpe, her husband Richard, Marion Thorpe (wife of Norman), Nellie and Harold Thorpe, Dorothy and Phillip Robinson and Norman Thorpe.
The film premiere with “Reception and cocktails” was held at the Assembly Rooms, Derby on the 29th November 1956.
Very fortunately Mr and Mrs Paget (See earlier blog entitled “An Invitation”) were invited to the event and kept their programme which has somehow survived
The making of the film had been recorded in some detail in an article by Wilf Shaw entitled “No gold bars - but they did get some film shots!” which appeared in the Derby Evening Telegraph of Friday 21st 1955. Between images of Phillip Robinson and Harold Thorpe, the paper declares that on a trip to South Africa “They shot thousands of feet of colour film and recorded in sound many phases of its industrial and social activities for inclusion in the scheduled Royal Crown Derby film “This Golden Age””.
The article provides further tantalising glimpses as to the content of the film as it continues “These scenes will “tie-up” South Africa gold production and the use of gold by the Royal Crown Derby company in the manufacture of high grade china. Scenes already filmed include: Clay mining in Cornwall; the presentation last July by the directors of the “Derby Evening Telegraph,” of a 2000-piece Crown Derby banqueting service to the Borough of Derby, and the town’s Octo-centenary celebrations. Mr Robinson and Mr Thorpe, who are collaborating in the production, have still to film sequences at the Royal Crown Derby factory in Osmaston Road, and of Derby from the air….Other South African scenes will include views of the countryside, hospitals, ….traditional tribal dances and animal life in the game reserves… The film should include spectacular sequences involving the black rhinoceros - “the terror of the forests”
The programme refers to other factories visited in the film. If it does survive it is likely to be a useful resource, especially for social historians.
Kenneth Jones is also listed as director and editor of a film made of the visit of Queen Elizabeth II and Prince Philip, Duke of Edinburgh, to Derby in 1957. see https://www.macearchive.org/films/visit-her-majesty-queen-and-his-royal-highness-prince-philip-duke-edinburgh-derby. This 9 minute film is listed as “a Camerathorpe Production a unit of Lancaster and Thorpe Ltd”.
It would appear from internet searches that Lancaster and Thorpe shops have been rebranded under the Vision Express banner.
Does the film or any of the footage survive?
John Robinson May 2021.