Procession Entering State Durbar at Delhi 

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Procession Entering State Durbar at Delhi, Jan. 1. 1903.

Taken by the Official Photographer appointed by His Excellency the Viceroy of India, to obtain Photographic Records of the 'Great Durbar.'

Immediately recognised by London Exhibitors as a unique film, far surpassing any of the unofficial·pictures, not only in the advantage of a superior standpoint, but also in the technical quality of the magnificent view obtained, this film was 'rushed' on at the London Hippodrome, the Empire, the Egyptian Hall, and numerous other places of amusement by the authorities responsible, the same night as the negative reached us. A better film from a better position it is impossible to imagine.
With an Oriental profusion of splendour and magnificence undreamt of in this country, the superb pageant, with its stately and elaborately bedecked elephants, its prancing horses, and its footmen in flowing Eastern garments, is unrolled before the spectator. The elephants, of which nearly 200 were in the procession, are very prominent throughout the picture, and stand out in stereoscopic relief from the far-reaching background. Each elephant bears a gaudy howdah, on which the sheen of silk and satin, the gleam of gold and jewels, of ivory and silver, must be seen to be appreciated.
H. E. the Viceroy and Lady Curzon, T. R. H. the Duke and Duchess of Connaught, the Nizam of Hyderabad, the Gaekwar of Baroda, the Maharajahs of Mysore and Travancore, and numerous other gorgeously attired Indian Rajahs, glittering with jewels, are in these howdahs, and will be easily recognised, so plainly are they seen. The drivers are whisking the flies from the elephants as the unwieldy beasts pass with the peculiar rolling stride characteristic of them. Another feature is the noted 9th Lancers, while it should be remarked that the route is lined with British soldiers, owing to the importance of this part of the route.
We have never seen a finer perspective of any procession than that shown in this picture; the camera was situated at a corner looking down the route, in such a way as to show the pageant approaching from the distance, turning- the corner, and then passing, all in full view, and without any of the objectionable panoramic movement, so prominent and so unpleasant a feature of many similar films.
A bird's-eye view of the plain beyond the procession is also obtained: in fact, a most complete impression is conveyed of the whole function.

GAU 1904 GB

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1 Elge Films 10B   
2 n.c.  
3 01/01/1903 165ft 
4 Inde, Delhi   

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01/05/1903  France, Paris  Société d'excursions des amateurs de photographie  Durbar de Dehli
 

Compte rendu des Séances extraordinaires de Projections
Vendredi 1er et Dimanche 3 mai 1903
[...]
Nouveaux airs de flûte par M. Ferranti et nous passons au Choix d'un bébé et au Durbar de Dehli, excellentes bandes de M. Gaumont.


Bulletin de la Société d'excursions des amateurs de photographie, nº 66, Paris, juin 1903, p. 92.

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