South West Film & Television Archive
This wonderful and lovingly crafted film show was a blissful two hour nostalgic trip through the archives of local television interviews and documentaries. Focusing on Cornwall’s most prolific and popular writers, the film led us back to the days before colour and flashy techno trickery, a gentler time with Daphne DuMaurier chatting to Cliff Michelmore and walking her dogs in the gardens of Menabilly, whilst happily puffing on a cigarette.
A sharp and witty dialogue between A.L. Rowse and Robert Robinson was greeted with laughter and fondness, as the genteel BBC chap goaded the great man about his loathing of the working class, when Rowse’s own father was a clay miner.
Superb shots of Daymer Bay and St. Enedoc evoked memories of Betjeman and his wonderful poetry, an interview with the lovely Winston Graham provided an insight into the Poldark novels and also served as a reminder of the gentleman in every sense of the word.
Charles Causley spoke of his love for Cornwall and the Cornish, his passion for teaching and his surprise at how much he was loved in return.
We shared footage of Leo Walsmley leaving the quayside on one of his fishing expeditions, Rusty Eplett standing on the working docks with vast numbers of cargo ships on the river waiting to carry away the best clay in the world to the world.
Visitors and locals alike revelled in this fabulous offering and look forward to more of the same at the Fest next year.