- Title: VM-1194
- Summary: SADLER'S WELLS BALLERINA: Great Britain ballerina Patricia Miller who is member of Theater Company of London, Sadler's Wells Ballet preparing to perform in "Beauty & The Beast"
- Description:00:03:05 - VARIOUS SHOTS PATRICIA AND OTHER MEMBERS OF THE THEATER COMPANY "A TIGHTLY KNIT GROUP OF YOUNG MALE, FEMALE DANCERS HAVING "TEA BREAK" IN QUAINT TEA ROOM. CU PATRICIA DARNS HER DANCE SKIPPERS DURING TEA BREAK AS OTHER SIT AROUND TABLES, SIP TEA, CHAT. CU PATRICIA'S HANDS MENDING SLIPPERS WITH NEEDLE AND THREAD. VOICE OVER SPEAKS OF PATRICIA'S MEAGER SALARY AND HER NEED TO LIVE IN LIMITED BUDGET. ($60 DOLLARS FOR GOWN, WHICH IS MORE THAN TWICE HER SALARY). 00:04:57 - PATRICIA (AND OTHERS), BOARDS A DOUBLE DECKER BUS WHICH SHE TRAVELS EACH DAY FROM HER ROOM IN OUTLYING RESIDENTIAL DISTRICT TO THEATER. VARIOUS VIEWS BUS GOING THROUGH "PICCADILLY CIRCUS" (THE TIMES SQUARE OF LONDON) AND BY THE OLD ST. PAUL'S CATHEDRAL WHICH WAS RESTORED BY SIR CHRISTOPHER WREN AFTER THE GREAT FIRES OF 1666. 00:05:26 - PAN ST. PAULS AND NEIGHBORING AREA S ON BOTH SIDES, WHICH SUFFERED MORE BOMBINGS THAN ANY OTHER AREA OF LONDON DURING THE BLITZ OF 1940S. "SOME OF THE BOMBED OUT BUILDINGS STILL STANDING TODAY" (1952). MIRACULOUSLY, THE CATHEDRAL ITSELF WAS SPARED. LS LONDON FAMED DOUBLE DECKER BUSSES PASSING IN FRONT OF OLD BUILDINGS. 00:06:00 - MS PATRICIA WALKING UP HALLWAY STEPS OF OLD VICTORIAN HOME, WHERE SHE FOUND A ROOM FOR 2 POUNDS A WEEK. "LESS THAN $6 IN AMERICAN MONEY, BUT A SIZEABLE CHUNK OF HER 10 POUND INCOME. PATRICIA ENTERS ONE ROOM APARTMENT, TAKES OFF COAT, LIGHTS HER HOT PLATE, PUTS UP POT OF TEA. TAKES BOOL OFF MANTLE, SITS ON BED AND READS. 00:13:30 - CU SHOT BALLERINA PATRICIA'S FEET AS SHE DOES TOE DANCE EXERCISE IN FRONT OF STUDIO MIRROR. PATRICIA HOLDING ONTO BAR IN FRONT OF MIRROR AS COACH PEGGY VAN TRAUB, HELPS HER WITH HER EXERCISES. MALE DANCER DOING SAME IN B/G. COACH PEGGY HELPING PATRICIA AND TWO MALE DANCERS, THEN MOVING OVER TO HELP OTHERS IN STUDIO. MS MALE BALLERINA BEING ASSISTED BY PEGGY AS HE VIEWS HIMSELF IN STUDIO MIRROR. MORE OF SAME. BLACK AND WHITE PET CAT WATCHES. 00:15:50 - PATRICIA DOES WINDOW SHOPPING IN FASHIONABLE DISTRICT OF LONDON CHECKS OUT EXORBITANT PRICES ON DRESSES IN STORE WINDOWS. SHOPPERS PASSING IN B/G. SHE MOVES ON TO SMALLER STORE WITH REASONABLE PRICES. SALESGIRL HELPS HER RUMMAGE THROUGH RACK FULL OF DRESSES. PICKS OUT A RED DRESS FOR PATRICIA, WHO TRIES IT ON. CHECKS IT OUT IN MIRROR. LIKES IT. 00:20:00 - VARIOUS SHOTS THEATER BUILDING WITH NEON SIGN "SADDLER'S WELLS OPERA AND BALLET". LINES, TRAFFIC, OUTSIDE THEATER. MS WARDROBE MISTRESS CHECKING OUT COLORFUL COSTUMES HANGING ON RACK. PATRICIA AND OTHERS BEFORE MIRROR PUTTING ON MAKEUP. 00:20:29 - ABOVE SHOT BALLET GROUP IN COSTUME PERFORMING ON STAGE. 00:20:38 - MCU PATRICIA AND ANOTHER BALLERINA PUTTING ON FACE MAKE-UP IN FRONT OF MIRROR IN DRESSING ROOM. LS ABOVE VIEW MORE OF BALLET PERFORMING DANCERS ON STAGE, CURTAIN COMING DOWN ON BALLET PRECEDING "BEAUTY AND THE BEAST". 00:20:56 - MS STAGE TECHNICIAN AT LIGHTS AND CURTAIN CONTROLS. 00:21:00 - MS BALLERINA (PATRICIA) COMES ON STAGE DOES SOLO, THEN BEAST (IN COSTUME) COMES OUT DANCES WITH HER. MS BALLET "BEAUTY AND THE BEAST" IN PROGRESS. CURTAIN COMES DOWN.
- Collection: Historic Films
- Producer:Historic Films
- Transmission Date:01/01/1952
- Rights:On request
- Decade: 1950s
- File Name: VM-1194