Chair Lift (1959)

Butlin's Holiday Camp, Ayrshire, Scotland.



Low angle L/S of two chair lift cars passing each other, silhouetted against a blue sky. Panning shot follows one of the cars. Low angle shot of one of the pylons holding up the lift cable as another car runs past. M/S of the chair lift running over the holiday camp. In the foreground holidaymakers are enjoying the sunshine on deck chairs and under sun shades, in the background are chalets and a fun fair.



C/U of a sign that reads 'chair lift entrance' - the lift works on the same principle as those used in coal mines to transport coal. Panning shot to a young woman, Lorna Cox, walking towards the entrance of the lift. The camera follows her as she enters. L/S of the holiday camp with the cliff tops and sea in the background taken from the moving lift car. Panning shot to Lorna sitting opposite the camera as she leans out of the car and admires the view. C/U of Lorna waving at passers-by below, panning shot to show the outside swimming pool. C/U of Lorna with her hair blowing in the breeze, panning shot to the cliffs - the narrator explains that before the lift was built there was a long uphill walk from lower camp to the ballrooms "which consumed nearly as much energy as an evening's solid crazy jiving". Point of view shot, taken from the front of the car, of another car passing in the opposite direction, in the distance we see the ocean. Panning shot, from the inside the car, follows a passing car containing a young couple. Low angle shot of the chair lift taken from ground level, the camera follows one of the cars running along the wire. The narrator reassures us of the lift's safety - the rope is over an inch thick, it is driven by a twenty horse power electric engine, the cars are locked securely on and only released at the two terminals. C/U of Lorna's face. L/S, from inside the moving car, of the swimming pool and people sunbathing on the grass. Point of view shot from the front of the car as it comes to a halt at the terminal. M/S of Lorna and a male companion being helped out of the car at the terminal. They walk off hand in hand. M/S of the cars running on the wire over the funfair and sunbathers.
FILM ID:95.03

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