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The Craster Family at Jotwara

An elephant ride and a regal garden party in 1930s Rajasthan

Amateur film 1934 11 mins Silent

Overview

The Craster family home movies offer a fascinating portrait of regal Rajasthan in the 1930s as well as a charming snapshot of filmmaker George and daughter Mary at home in Jotwara (Jhotwara). This film shows a garden party for the Viceroy, Lady Willingdon and Princess Alice of Athlone. However, most shots are of Mary - playing with her rabbit, dancing and performing for the camera and taking a ride on Lakshmi, one of the Maharajah’s elephants who often came to the house.

Colonel George Craster had a long and distinguished career in the Indian Army and was first commissioned in 1898. He retired in 1930 and became Chief Staff Officer of Jaipur State from 1931-35 where these films were taken. George’s orderly, Pertab Singh, appears in a number of the films. He had been with George throughout WWI and stayed with him when he was seconded to command the Jaipur State force.

Genres

Amateur film

Country

United Kingdom

Language

No Dialogue with English subtitles

Subjects

Colonial life Garden parties Viceroys Tigers Safaris Jotwara Aristocracy Family life

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