Tuesday, 20 November 2012

A QUEEN IS CROWNED

1953, 82 mins.

A record of the events of 2nd June 1953.





A documentary record of the coronation, A Queen is Crowned is of obvious historical interest. It begins with a brief examination of the extent of the Queen’s realm and the lead-up to the event itself, then concentrates on the parades and the key events of the service, minus the anointing which the filmmakers were denied permission to film. It’s accompanied by a portentous narration from Sir Laurence Olivier, written by Christopher Fry and hard to take seriously in its deferential solemnity. However, what makes the film extraordinary and worth watching - and rewatching - is the absolutely stunning use of Technicolor.  As a study in richly saturated colours it’s almost abstract, becoming an ecstatic reverie bathed in gold, red and green. The immediacy of the images really does give you an idea of what it was like to be there.

Network's Blu-Ray of this film is astonishingly beautiful and highly recommended.

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