A Star Is Born, London style ...

Here is an interesting oddity - a 14 minute newsreel on the 1954 London premiere of A STAR IS BORN.

We are familiar with the footage of the American premieres in New York and L.A. when all the stars of the time turned out - these are among the extras on the restored dvd. But this London premiere footage is quite intriguing too - as narrated by and featuring Dickie Attenborough and his wife Sheila Sim. Theres also Diana Dors, Janette Scott and her mother Thora Hird, and at about 8.00 minute mark, divine Kay Kendall. Jack Hawkins, John Gregson, Finlay Currie Kenneth More and more are also in attendance, as is Laurence Olivier greeting the guests on behalf of the Variety Club, I half expected Dirk Bogarde to turn up as well, being such a Garland fan. We see the preparations for the screening - how movies were shown then! There is also some black and white footage from the film, a Projector favourite here, and there is the old Warner cinema too which I knew so well.