Neptune’s Court (1934)

Full title reads: “NEPTUNE’S COURT! Crossing the line ceremony is featured in Navy Week Display at Portsmouth.“ Portsmouth, Hampshire. Crossing the line (Equator) ceremony is performed in Portsmouth. King Neptune, along with his court (ladies in waiting, judges etc.) all in period costume, walk on the improvised stage. Audience is screaming and clapping, waiting for the ceremony to start. Neptune and one of the ladies are seated on ’throne’. Judge is standing next to a small table looking at some paperwork. A chair is placed next to small swimming pool ready for those who are crossing the equator for the first time - they have to pay homage to the King Neptune. They are placed on the chair one by one and rubbed with mud (or similar) across the face and dropped into the pool where several people are waiting to give them a good wash. Navy officers and sailors in the audience are having fun watching the spectacle. More shots of the men being rubbed across the face and dropped into the pool. A nice short se