James Guthrie's Home Movies of Tibet (1945) - extract

Highlights from the BFI National Archive's extensive collection of films shot in Tibet prior to the Chinese occupation can now be seen in the BBC/BFI co-production, 'The Lost World of Tibet' (2008). Featuring a potent interview with the Dalai Lama an extended version the documentary is available to buy on DVD from the BFI Filmstore - http://filmstore.bfi.org.uk/acatalog/info_7836.html

This film includes a rare close-up of the young Dalai Lama being carried along in his golden palanquin.

This amateur film was made by Major (later Lieutenant-Colonel) James Guthrie who held the post of Medical Officer in Gyantse from 1934 to 1936 and Civil Surgeon of Bhutan and Tibet from 1945 to 1948. He was accompanied by his wife, Joan, during the second tour of duty. The post was primarily to ensure the health of members of the Diplomatic Mission in Lhasa but medical services were also made available to Tibetans and regular clinics were held in Lhasa and the surrounding countryside.

Major Guthrie did much to overcome local resistance to western medicine and such was his acceptance that he was entrusted to remove a cyst from the Dalai Lama's peacock as well as advise on many other medical conditions amongst the local populace. (Jan Faull)

You can now watch over 20 hours of films made in Tibet between 1922 and 1949 in the Mediatheque at BFI Southbank. These include the films of plant hunter and botanist George Sherriff (his love of nature is reflected in the remarkable jewel-like colours of his films); Frederick Bailey: Political Agent, butterfly collector and spy and remarkable footage of Mallory and Irvine's ill-fated attempt to conquer Everest. http://www.bfi.org.uk/mediatheque

Category:

Travel & Events

Tags:

• BFI
• Tibet
• Tibetan
• China
• Dalai
• Lama
• Buddhism
• Buddhist
• Lhasa
• Himalayas

[lobdet]

This video footage is just wonderful!!! I do hope there are more to share from your archives.

[BFIfilms]

Over 20 hours of early films featuring Tibet are now available to view free of charge in the BFI Mediatheques in London, Derby and Cambridge (opens May 2009). The BFI/BBC documentary, The Lost World of Tibet, featuring a wide range of colour footage from these films, is now available to buy on DVD.

[QG001]

There's no Musik on we cant hear what they're talking about.!!!!!!!!!

[BFIfilms]

This is silent, unedited home movie footage left exactly as it was shot by James Guthrie. Extracts from Guthrie's home movies were used in the BFI/BBC documentary 'The Lost World of Tibet'.

[mossfitz]

What o what can any single Chinese person think they have to gain in any possible way by subsuming this culture to their power. Are not the vast swathes of homogenuity among their own billions enough! The chinese must be forced at every oppertunity to feel the intense embarrassment of this. - or does it simply come down to the need for territory for their excessive population - also plenty good cause to lose face. Shame!

[swordofpakistan]

free tibet boycott china

[iamlumin]

@chwh66h Ya, except over a million are dead thanks to the Chinese. And we have no freedom to speak our minds in our own land and we are out numbered in many areas by Han. The sudden and complete absence of every Chinese in Tibet, now that would be luck!

[chwh66h]

So many monks in feudal Tibet. They don't work and are unproductive. The Tibetan peasants must be paying high taxes to support and feed them. No wonder Tibet then is so backward and poor. Luckily the Chinese came and change everything. Now the Tibetans are enjoying a much higher standard of living.

[transhimalaya]

Torgya scene..throwing dice by black n white face dance in front of 3 abbots of 3 monastery...proceed by Nechung oracle trance.

Then Serpang procession...nig drum cham by gonkar choide cham.

HH chipgyur to Norbulingka marks the begin of summer season.

[HumanRightsVideosTib]

Splendid footage !!!!!

[Euterperocks]

I sure would like to see that full 20 hours of footage. Unfortunately, I'm in Canada, and a trip to the UK isn't possible. It would be wonderful to release all the footage as a special DVD set. Thank you for sharing this clip.

[transhimalaya]

The annual cham dance at potala namgyal courtyard..................!

Throwing of dice, future forecasting...between abbots of 3 monastery and LU GONG............!!

[ChinaKillsTibetans]

9.22 to 9.47

The footage of the Tibetan army is highly significant because it proves the existence of the Tibetan army.

I saw this BBCWorldwide video today.

Panshen monks prepare for the Panshen Lama - A Year in Tibet - BBC Travel & News

watch?v=_kOJibkFzi0

At 11 seconds BBCWorldwide is not even sure if there was an invasion in Tibet !

So I will have to tell BBCWorldwide to get their reporters to visit you and buy your footage.

[artaylor5615]

wow, very impressive stuff