Tug Master (1956)

Southampton, Hampshire. L/S of the ships and boats in a busy harbour. C/U shot of a nice looking old ship. Camera pans to a couple of little ships - tugs. M/S of one of the tugs “Flying Kestrel“ with its Captain Collingwood observing. M/S of “Queen Elizabeth“ - the largest passenger liner in the world. “Seven tugs go into action when “Queen Elizabeth“ leaves Southampton“ - tells a voiceover. M/S of Captain Collingwood giving instructions on the bridge of “Flying Kestrel“. M/S of the tug approaching “Queen Elizabeth“. Low angle M/S of the front of “Queen Elizabeth“ - one can read the name and a flag is flying from the prow. A rope has been thrown from “Queen Elizabeth“ to the tug and men catch it. Succession of shots demonstrating how difficult and physically hard is to lead as large a ship as “Queen Elizabeth“ from the harbour. Several close up shots of the faces of sailors show some extremely young faces, probably between 13 and 15 years of age. Job definitely looks too hard for boys as young as those. After a job well done, men can relax. C/U shot of a man drying his sweaty face with a handkerchief. Another man drinks from a white mug (probably tea). L/S of “Queen Elizabeth“ sailing away. However, shots of the people finishing the job and relaxing look staged, sailors definitely wear make-up and are most probably typecast for the film. There are some beautiful shots of “Queen Elizabeth“ as it leaves the harbour - magnificent. FILM ID: A VIDEO FROM BRITISH PATHÉ. EXPLORE OUR ONLINE CHANNEL, BRITISH PATHÉ TV. IT’S FULL OF GREAT DOCUMENTARIES, FASCINATING INTERVIEWS, AND CLASSIC MOVIES. FOR LICENSING ENQUIRIES VISIT British Pathé also represents the Reuters historical collection, which includes more than 136,000 items from the news agencies Gaumont Graphic (1910-1932), Empire News Bulletin (1926-1930), British Paramount (1931-1957), and Gaumont British (1934-1959), as well as Visnews content from 1957 to the end of 1984. All footage can be viewed on the British Pathé website.