Taylor Collection

Taylor Collection – Film 4

B&W. 7:09min. Manipuri, India. 1934 or 1935. Film made by A.W. Taylor. ‘ 4 December – Our tour to Ukhrul’. Departure by car to Yanganpokpi. Portrait of ‘Bottle Nose, A Lumb of Ukhrul’. Porters being offered ‘Akbar Shah’ cigarettes. On route passing by Thamnapokpi. Continuing the tour on foot on a path in the hills: Mrs Taylor followed by Tengkukai. Arrival at Songphel and drinking ‘Zu’ (rice beer). Mr. Taylor giving medical attention to villagers. Portraits of young women. Landscape scenes of early morning mist. Tuinem: village scenes, portraits of villagers, and scenes of medical consultations and help – ‘The Lumbu translates the doctor’s orders’. Trip to Ukhrul. Porters getting paid. Close up scenes of headmen, some smoking. Mr.Taylor being offered rice beer by one of the headmen. On tour to Ukhrul across terraced hills. Portraits of villagers and porters. A British fort; soldiers and villagers. (film with captions)

Taylor Collection – Film 3

B&W. 6:06min. Shillong, Meghalaya, India. 1932 -34.Film made by A.W. Taylor. ‘ 2/10th Gurkha Rifles – Guard Mounting’. Inspection of arms. ‘The Smartest Rifleman’ – Portrait of a Gurkha soldier. ‘ 2/10th Gurkha Rifles – Changing guard’. ‘Gallipoli Day Sports – Shillong, 1932 ‘. ‘Tug of war’. ‘The Winners – Three cheers for the ‘weaker sex’. ‘Inter Company – Family Relay Race’. ‘The distribution of prizes’. Sacrificial ceremony. (film with captions)

Taylor Collection – Film 2

B&W. 19:08min. Shillong, Meghalaya, India. 1932. Film made by A.W. Taylor. Scenes of a religious (?) gathering. ‘Shillong Gymkhana Races. Pujahs. 1932’: scenes of riders, spectators and races. ‘Tat races’. ‘Shillong golf course’ – extended sequence of a gold game. European woman playing golf. Scenes of the Shillong golf course and Club. Journey by car across a forest. Portraits of local communities. Europeans swimming in a river. Picnic scenes. ‘On the way to Government House’ – welcome of official party arriving by car (possibly Lord and Lady Willingdon). ‘At the Shillong Race Course’ – scenes of spectators; ‘The Bracken View Cup – Mr. J.S. Vickers’ Jacques d’Or wins’. Close shots of Lord Willingdon watching the race. ‘The Countess of Willingdon presents the prizes’. General views of bazaar; European women assessing various products and fruits. (film with captions)

Taylor Collection – Film 1

B&W. 10:21min. Assam, India. 1932-36. Film made by A.W. Taylor. ‘The Indian military hospital Shillong’. General views of the hospital. ‘The morning meal’. ‘Kit inspection’. ‘The sick parade’ – military medical staff administering medication. Scenes of inoculation and dressing of wounds. ‘Anti-malaria measures. Catch and kill mosquitoes!’ ‘Dhobi day’ – dhobi wallahs carrying laundry to the river. ‘The family hospital’ – Assamese women and their children waiting for medical consultations. ‘Baby weighing’. Military medical staff organizing a ‘field ambulance’: a mule and camel train carrying medical equipment and supplies. (film with captions)