Toy Fair (1958)

Brighton, Sussex.



Exterior. M/S of the sea front promenade. In the foreground two children - a boy and a girl - are on a mini-roundabout. They are sitting on tiny carousel horses. The boy turns a lever in the centre of the roundabout which makes it move. In the background another boy is driving a pedal operated horse and covered wagon, another similar cart sits empty nearby. Low angle C/U of the roundabout. The narrator explains these are toys on display at the Brighton Toy Fair. Top shot of the centre of the roundabout. M/S of a boy and a girl racing up the promenade in the covered wagons. High angle C/U of the wagons in action. Panning shot follows the wagons up the sea front past a couple and a small boy. The narrator explains that this year the trend is for cowboys and Indians, taking over from previous year's trend for space toys.



Interior. Inside one of the venues of the toy fair held at the Bedford, Grand and Metropole Hotels. The hotels house exhibits from two hundred British toy manufacturers. C/U of various cowboy models - a new innovation called 'Swoppets' - moving on a conveyor belt past a backdrop of a Western town. A sign moves past saying - 'Movable Models with Interchangeable Head and Bodies'. C/U of more cow boy figures in various poses with lassoes and on horseback. A pair of hands appear and demonstrate how the top half of a cowboy on horse back can be changed for another. The narrator jokes - "of course the kids won't get a look in when Dad's around". Various C/Us of different cowboy figures being held. Further demonstrations of their versatility - the moving limbs and interchangeable parts.



C/U of slowly revolving 'sets' filled with tiny model figures - the first is of a Spanish town scene complete with miniature Flamenco dancers. This turns to reveal a snow covered landscape with figures on skis and huskies pulling a sledge. The 'set' turns again to a rustic farm scene with a farmer feeding the pigs. The narrator comments that modern toy makers have more imagination than those of the past.



M/S of two very small girls playing with gigantic stuffed toys. The smaller blonde girl, holding a small stuffed tiger, sits on the back of a huge lioness while the older girl enters carrying a large black cartoon cat. The narrator explains these modern toys are washable and have "special screw-in eyes for safety". C/U of the older girl pulling at the eyes and stroking the whiskers of the black cat.



M/S of two boys, Barry Rumsey and Michael Bert, aged eleven and twelve standing in an area of the exhibition covered with posters and advertisements. A glamorous woman, Janine Glass, is demonstrating a toy gun that fires ping pong balls - the 'Summit Mark 1'. The narrator comments that if boys must have guns then at least this one is safe. C/U of Janine helping one of the boys load his gun. M/S of Janine and the back of the boy's head. In front of a boy is a target that he aims his gun at. M/S of Janine smiling encouragingly as the boy fires the gun. M/S taken from behind the target as both boys fire a deluge of ping pong balls.



C/U of a box of a model ship being opening to reveal all the parts inside. Tilt up to examples of completed model ships. Various shots of intricate model ships and boats complete with masts, rigging and sails designed for "the mechanically minded youngster of today".



M/S of two small boys playing with a model garage. One of the boys turns a handle at the top of the garage which moves a car lift. The other little boy is using a mini car wash - by using a pump he can wash his toy car with the real water from the hose.



Panning shot of various child mannequins in a variety of fancy dress costumes, mainly soldiers and cow boys.
FILM ID:73.03

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