Temples of India (1938)
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Uploaded by BFIfilms on Apr 1, 2010
Don't come looking here for an insider's portrait of Hinduism; the religion on offer is like something out of the adventures of Indiana Jones, performed in the style of 'The King and I'. Nevertheless, this film offers a rare glimpse of religious ritual and architecture in India in the late 1930s.
The temples in question include those at Mysore, Varanasi and Belur and we also get to see a dancer performing Shiva's 'Dance of Destruction'. The film ends rather oddly with a moonlight trip to the Taj Mahal, the filmmaker appearing to forget that it was built by a Muslim emperor. But despite its limitations in objectivity and logic, Jack Cardiff's Technicolor cinematography lifts the film to a rather higher plane. (Robin Baker)
For more information about Jack Cardiff visit http://www.screenonline.org.uk/people/id/458373/
You can watch over 1800 other complete films and TV programmes from the BFI National Archive free of charge at the BFI Mediatheque. There are Mediatheques at BFI Southbank, London, QUAD, Derby, Central Library, Cambridge and Wrexham Library: http://www.bfi.org.uk/mediatheque
http://www.derbyquad.co.uk/bfi-mediatheque
http://www.cambridgeshire.gov.uk/leisure/libraries/online/bfi_media.htm
http://www.wrexham.gov.uk/english/community/libraries/LibHome.htm
- 46 likes, 1 dislikes
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Top Comments
All Comments (8)
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I'm very impressed by the footage of the male Madame Menaka Ballet dancer starting around 6:48; beautiful!
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Despite the inaccuracies the capture of some of the ancient rituals and temples was spectacular. Thanks for sharing
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Only Cardiff could obtain such magical atmosphere...
Thanks a lot for the uploadings pal !!!
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@latham29 "most beautiful by midnight" they say in the movie :)
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Loved it! Wonder what is inaccurate though as I do not know much of Hinduism.
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Strange why they filmed the Taj Mahal in the night time !!!!
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Delhiby hendaye82,181 views
Fantastic film! The quality of the colour photography is amazing for the 30s. Can't believe that this was made at the same time as Gone With the Wind and Wizard of Oz. Thanx again bfifilms for sharing your great films.
latham29 1 year ago 23
Very interesting, amazing video! Thanks for sharing!
Fabyr 1 year ago 11