Claude Friese-Greene was born on 3 May 1898 in Fulham, London. Son of William and Edith Friese-Greene his path in the film industry was perhaps mapped out at an early age as his father played a significant part in the development and invention of film processes that would influence much of Claude's later career...He left school at 14 as a 'cine-technician', helping his father William on developing his two-colour process which had become so much of an obsession...
After the (1st World) war Claude began to pursue a career as a commercial pilot. With his attachment to the cinema industry the two paths of his career were ideally merged when he worked for Aerofilms. Founded in 1919 it was the world's first commercial aerial photography company, where Claude worked as a 'technical manager'.
Many of the company's films were aimed at showing grand shots of the country, and also showing how the world was changing in the aftermath of the First World War, such as the journey from London to Paris by air and 'Across England in an Aeroplane' where Claude tried to get colour in by tinting the film. The same theme of painting an epic picture of life in Britain is echoed in the film 'Open Road'...
'The Open Road' (1926) was filmed over three years with the intention of showing the journey as 26, ten minute episodes before feature films. But despite the existence of Wardour Films promotional material, 'Open Road' was only ever exhibited at trade shows.
This from the BBC, which has just broadcast a 3-part documentary on Friese-Greene's film. The whole film is currently available on the Beeb's website, at
http://www.bbc.co.uk/history/programmes/openroad/claude_biography.shtml
It's beautiful and affecting stuff, as very old colour film always seems to be: such a surprising way of seeing a world that's long since disappeared. I thought anybody who didn't know about it should have the chance to see it - I couldn't find an existing thread.
― Doktor Faustus (noodle vague), Sunday, 7 May 2006 10:36 (nineteen years ago)
Perhaps inevitably I think of Talk Talk producer/member Tim Friese-Greene -- any connection?
― Ned Raggett (Ned), Sunday, 7 May 2006 13:12 (nineteen years ago)
Dunno. Could well be the same family though - it's not exactly a common name.
― Doktor Faustus (noodle vague), Sunday, 7 May 2006 13:14 (nineteen years ago)
Pretty cool, thanks for the link...I wonder what hoops one had to jump through to record in color back in the 20s.
― Joe (Joe), Sunday, 7 May 2006 23:39 (nineteen years ago)
There's an explanation elsewhere at the site. I think he shot using black and white film, and then coloured in the frames: b/w, red, b/w, green. When played back at the appropriate speed it creates the appearance of colour.
― Doktor Faustus (noodle vague), Monday, 8 May 2006 06:09 (nineteen years ago)
Perhaps inevitably I think of Talk Talk producer/member Tim Friese-Greene -- any connection?Mentioned this to my dad when he was recommending the BBC show and he said he'd read that Tim Friese-Greene is Claude's grandson.
― Bill A (Bill A), Monday, 8 May 2006 07:41 (nineteen years ago)
It's fascinating, though I much preferred last year's series, The Lost World of Mitchell and Kenyan which had footage from 1901/2 of bustling Edwardian streets and workers streaming out from mills and factories. Quiet haunting seeing all these faces from a far off, wholly different age.
http://newsimg.bbc.co.uk/media/images/40719000/jpg/_40719851_kids220300_bfi.jpg
― David Merryweather Goes To Far (scarlet), Monday, 8 May 2006 08:07 (nineteen years ago)
Yes, that series was amazing
― Vitbe... *pause*... Is Good Bread (Dada), Monday, 8 May 2006 09:07 (nineteen years ago)