Why Beauty Matters II. The Queen's Realm - A Prospect of England

This is an absolutely wonderful film "magical and often very funny" (the Express) from the BBC's documentary team in the 1970's. "Beauty to make the heart lift in joy and wonder" (Daily Mail).

I have re-uploaded following the BBC's wonderfully fresh new HD release. Good for them: this film shouldn't have lain in their dusty archive for so long!

["Why Beauty Matters is a 2009 British documentary film written and presented by philosopher, the late Sir Roger Scruton. In it, Sir Roger argues for the importance and transcendental nature of beauty. It has been blocked Worldwide by the BBC"].

Original Titles

The BBC's new release of this film changed the original, rather beautiful opening and closing titles, replacing them with "modernised" minimalist graphics. I have kept the originals in this upload and thereby introduced a slight transition glitch at both ends. However I believe that small defect was worth it in the interests of preserving the original presentation.

I was mesmerised and deeply impressed by this film. It first aired in 1977 in the UK on BBC 2. It is a wonderful, and refreshingly unapologetic, evocation of England - expressed (not uncritically) in aerial photography, English music, and poetry.

From the BBC

The last of three films in the series "A Prospect of England".

The Queen's Realm is an aerial anthology - film, poetry, and music of England - with Sir John Betjeman, the then Poet Laureate, and other distinguished artists (see below).

This film looks from the air at England through the seasons of the year. From the cliffs of Cornwall to the Fame Islands, from Castle Howard to Harlow New Town - this is a land of wild uplands and tamed suburbia, of rural solitude and seaside holiday camps, of industrial chimneys and landscaped gardens, of Roman walls, Georgian canals, steam engines and motorways.

To accompany the pictures, Sir John Betjeman has chosen verse from the English poets, ranging from Shakespeare to Philip Larkin, linked with his own commentary".

Voices

Sir Michael Hordern; Richard Pasco;
Prunella Scales,; Janet Suzman; Sir John Betjeman.

Film and music editor: Edward Roberts
Producer: Edward Mirzoeff
(c) BBC 1977

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