New Motor Racing Film from Pathe

Associated British Pathe’s newly released film, ” Green to Glory,” is a slick, professional, documentary production covering the world of motor racing. To obtain general interest, and therefore a commercial audience, the subject has been treated in rather a spectacular and dramatic fashion and covers such aspects of the motor sporting scene as trials, driving tests and the like as it goes on to draw the picture of ” learner ” racing drivers. The photography throughout is superb and the shots of mechanics and designers at work, and details of engines and other machinery, are first class. The title is rather misleading, for the film does not wave the National flag ostentatiously but rather gives a general and colourful view of the motor-racing scene as might be seen from the layman’s point of view and, in the process, subtly emphasises Britain’s supremacy in the field.

Some errors creep into the commentary and there are one or two editorial licences which will irritate the expert, but these are far outweighed by the splendid camera work and the views of certain aspects of motor racing which are normally only seen by the privileged few. The film runs for 22 minutes and closes with several minutes of film taken from Jim Clark’s F.1 Lotus as it circulates round Brands Hatch in close company with several others at racing speeds, with no faking. The camera was pointed firstly over Clark’s shoulder, then behind at the other cars, then panning in close up on one, and the whole edited into an order which gave the impression of travelling with Clark during a race. Very exciting and original material. A film well worth looking out for and, even though it is aimed at a general audience, one which will enthrall the enthusiast.-L.A.M.