The Castle and the Countryside in 1945

[pentan]

http://film.britishcouncil.org/snowdonia

ONE of the first films shot in colour in North Wales can be seen again online.

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The British Council made the film, initially called The Castle and the Countryside in 1945 to show people overseas the beautiful scenery of North Wales.

It was later re-titled Snowdonia in Technicolour and takes the viewer from the Menai Strait to Conwy via Bangor before turning inland down the Conwy Valley to the summit of Snowdon, down the Aberglaslyn pass to Criccieth before returning to Caernarfon.

The commentary was written by Llewelyn Wyn Griffith, author of Up To Mametz, which tells the story of the creation of the Royal Welch Fusiliers and published in 1931.


 

Film buff Idris Pryce, 78, of Bangor, had no recollection of seeing the 15-minute film: “It may never have been shown to the people who took part in its making.

“Although the commentary is in the standard clipped tones of Queen’s English the

pronunciation of Welsh place names is excellent.”

Briony Hanson, the British Council’s Director of Film, said the organisation was founded in 1934 to promote international educational and cultural opportunities.

“For several decades, the Council was an enthusiastic commissioner and distributor of documentaries designed to showcase Britain and promote democratic values at a time when fascism was spreading across Europe. The films were largely shown at embassies, consulates and to students and schoolchildren around the world.

“Many of the films were made by talented filmmakers who went on to carve out hugely successful careers in the film industry. For the last thirty years this remarkable collection of films has been preserved in the BFI National Archive yet rarely shown,” she said.

Sarah Medcalf, acting director of the Snowdonia Society, said: “We are delighted to see this footage made available to the public once again.

“This film highlights how important the culture, heritage and landscape of this wonderful corner of North Wales have been for many years, and how the area's designation as a National Park in 1952 has ensured the panoramas from the summit of Yr Wyddfa, the Conwy valley and the spectacular Aberglaslyn Pass can still be recognised and continue to inspire today.

“While much has changed since the film was made, we hope that the scenery, traditional skills and heritage it depicts will inspire a sense of nostalgia and a desire to ensure that Snowdonia remains special into the future.”

[pentan]

Anybody had a look at this if so what do you think?

[Yorkie]

I've watched it and Imust confess that it didn't do much for me!   Perhaps had the quality been better it would have grabbed my interest somewhat more.   Still interesting though.   

[DaveR]

It's pretty good, like another world back then. 

[mull]

Wow, 67 years ago.
Remember it just like yesterday.

[Ian48]

I must say Yorkie, you say some funny, cynical things sometimes. It's a perfectly interesting document of its age, that shows a different world and is probably the nearest we will get to seeing Conwy in colour so soon after the war. So, the quality mightn't be great, but it's a damn sight better than many equivalent documentaries of its age, that have deteriorated past the point of no return.

[Yorkie]

I must say Yorkie, you say some funny, cynical things sometimes. It's a perfectly interesting document of its age, that shows a different world and is probably the nearest we will get to seeing Conwy in colour so soon after the war. So, the quality mightn't be great, but it's a damn sight better than many equivalent documentaries of its age, that have deteriorated past the point of no return.

Well, Ian48, we are all entitled to our opinions and also to the way we choose to express ourselves!  Not being from the area I was unable to relate to much of what I saw and so this could be a reason for my interest not being as great as yours obviously was.   Over the years I have seen many old documentaries of much better quality and a damn sight more interesting, however, as you see I did at least take the time to have a look at it which is probably more than many others did!

Now, do yourself a favour and recognise that we are not all the same, or as the French say, " Vive la difference".
 L0L

[Yorkie]

There are some excellent pre and post war films and clips that are worth a look, at the following site:  The quality on many are excellent considering some of the very early dates.

http://www.movinghistory.ac.uk/index.html

 ZXZ

[Ian48]

I appreciate the term 'vive la différence', but I also think that if you've got nothing good to say, don't bother saying it.

I do find you have a tendency to like the sound of your own voice a bit much (or the sight of your own typing perhaps), such as your diatribes against the Council all the while (begs the question why didn't you stand if it means so much to you?), and also your frankly weird comments you obviously sometimes find amusing, such as that about the gassing of animals at the Council Gas Works. There  you made a snide attempt at humour in comparing it to the gassings of the holocaust. Not only did that evidently offend the person who mentioned it, it rather trivialised the fate of millions. From an evidently intelligent man, to have written that and then cognisantly posted it shows a lack of foresight, and perhaps is evidence of why the electors of the town perhaps have more foresight than you.

[Yorkie]

I appreciate the term 'vive la différence', but I also think that if you've got nothing good to say, don't bother saying it.

I do find you have a tendency to like the sound of your own voice a bit much (or the sight of your own typing perhaps), such as your diatribes against the Council all the while (begs the question why didn't you stand if it means so much to you?), and also your frankly weird comments you obviously sometimes find amusing, such as that about the gassing of animals at the Council Gas Works. There  you made a snide attempt at humour in comparing it to the gassings of the holocaust. Not only did that evidently offend the person who mentioned it, it rather trivialised the fate of millions. From an evidently intelligent man, to have written that and then cognisantly posted it shows a lack of foresight, and perhaps is evidence of why the electors of the town perhaps have more foresight than you.

Yes, I do like the sound of my own voice, because unlike the silent majority,I will stand up for my rights and express them in the only way I know.    I may be right, I may be wrong but at least I am willing, and able, to pass an opinion.   Having been a Councillor I regard the Town Council as being a total waste of money and have said so on a number of occasions.   Maybe others who constantly complain should follow your advice!

Now, I would like to know where and when I made what you say was a snide comment of comparing the gassing of animals at the Town Gasworks to the Holocaust?  Not being a local I am unaware that such atrocities were carried out at the Gas Works although I am well aware of the Holocaust!

It is certainly NOT a comment I would make under any circumstances due in no small way to having lived among Jewish people for many years and also having Jewish friends and knowing what their families have had to suffer during the dark years of the War.

Your remark need withdrawing.

[SDQ]

He's referring to a comment you made on page 2 in the South Llandudno thread in Times Past.
Whilst you didn't actually mention the Holocaust in name it's difficult to see what else your comment can be referring to.

[Yorkie]

Hitler did something similar, if I remember correctly!

That is what I posted.  This was more to remind people of the atrocities that the Dictator perpetrated.  It was not a humerous comment as no smilie or other humerous indication was made.   In fact the comment ended with an exclamation mark.
An exclamation mark means - take note!

[SDQ]

Now, I would like to know where and when I made what you say was a snide comment of comparing the gassing of animals at the Town Gasworks to the Holocaust?

It is certainly NOT a comment I would make under any circumstances due in no small way to having lived among Jewish people for many years and also having Jewish friends and knowing what their families have had to suffer during the dark years of the War.

I'm a bit confused here. You state you wouldn't comment under any circumstances when it has been proved you clearly did make a comment comparing the gassing of animals at the gasworks to the Holocaust! - take note!

[Yorkie]

Please note I did not comment on the Holocaust or mention the word gassing or Jews - or make any comparison as Ian48 said, "There  you made a snide attempt at humour in comparing it to the gassings of the holocaust."

You are both placing your own interpretation on the comment and are both completely wrong in your assumptions; there was no direct comment on the Holocaust or any attempt at humour. 

Seems like it's a "Get at Yorkie Day!"

Shalom!

[Fester]

Having looked at what has been said here today, and at the supposedly offensive posting on the other thread...

No one has asked for my opinion, but here it comes anywhere.
I think that Ian48 jumped straight into the offensive today, with little or no provocation.
It looked somewhat unwarranted.  Words such as 'cynical' and 'weird' are a little strong.
SDQ then stuck the boot in, .... why??  It was obvious that there was no attempt to trivialise the holocaust.
Any suggestion of that is frankly ludicrous.

Yorkie and I have not always seen eye-to-eye, but on this occasion, what I detect here is on the verge of bullying behaviour.