Film Number

6908

Title

CHRISTMAS IN THE CARIBBEAN SEA 1926

Producer

Cyril Parkinson

Date

1926

Gauge

16mm

Colour

b/w

Sound

silent

Running Time

52 mins 25 secs

Description

A four part travelogue to the West Indies during Christmas 1926:
Reel 1
Begins with shots of an ocean liner RMSP Arcadian setting sail across the Atlantic and includes a graphic sequence showing a map of the Atlantic as a hand holds a pen highlighting various destinations of the trip. The Parkinson family and friends are seen aboard the ship sitting on the deck reading, playing games and participating in races. Scenes show Afro-Caribbean people rowing off the coast of Barbados, including a harbour police boat on patrol. Continues with footage of streetscenes with horse-drawn vehicles and people walking along past shops in unidentified town. Members of the holiday party are seen bathing at Crane beach and travelling by car to the Port of Spain. Scenes show a Trinidadian young man climbing up a coconut tree and preparing fruit, while local women carry goods on their heads and a woman called Mandy poses for the camera as making a straw hat. A brief sequence shows a man holding a devil crab. Concludes with shots of a lone man smoking on a boat interspersed with a hand writing postcard style notes to friends.
Reel 2
Continues with Trinidadian streetscenes showing a local woman selling fruit. Scenes aboard the ocean liner during a boat drill, people are seen in emergency boats as being lowered to sea. There are shots of the port La Guaira seen from the ship deck, with mist covered mountains in the background. Footage includes a train journey on the Caracus railway, with a brief stop in Caracus and shots of the Venezuelan countryside from the moving train. Passengers take a break after the train stops to clear a landslide. Scenes in Willemstadt, Curacao show bustling streets and a visit to an ostrich farm. Various streetscenes and the docks of Cristobal showing the entrance to the Panama Canal as boats sail along. Includes more shots of passengers participating in deck games aboard cruise ship, including a tug-of-war match. Ends with passengers stood at the docks of Colon and shots of the harbour.
Reel 3
Ocean liner Arcadian makes it's way up the Panama Canal passing through the Gaillard Cut, past boats and docks as passengers sit watching from the ship deck. Footage includes a trip to Panama City with a panoramic view from the hillside and a visit to the Presidential 'Heron' Palace. The trip continues to Jamaica with shots of a cotton tree, the Lord Rodney memorial in Spanish Town and a young Jamaican boy poses for the camera. There are shots of Kingston streets and the ocean liner Arcadia docked in the harbour. Members of the party play tennis and paddle in a swimming pool, while a couple practice dance steps in a large room. More scenes include a day at the horse races and Havana streets and harbour.
Reel 4
Final reel of the Parkinson's trip around the Caribbean trip, including harbour and forest scenes around Bermuda and the Azores Islands. Begins with shots of men playing with a tortoise on an outside patio, streetscenes with horse-drawn vehicles along in unidentified town and people buying souvenirs from street sellers. Passengers are seen in a small boat climbing ashore. Includes a sequence showing two exotic birds stood on top of a cage. Parkinson family members are seen sat on deck having drinks and a picnic, a couple play a hoop throwing game and a group of men (some dressed in uniforms) smoke as posing for the camera.