Marrakech - Desert Paradise (1948)

c 1948



Duplicate copy of documentary found on tape PM1679.



Marrakech, Morocco, Africa. Pictured by Terry Ashwood.



Street scenes and views of rooftops. History of Marrakech in voice-over. Atlas mountains. Prison? Hotel grounds. Waiters. Orange trees. Donkeys carrying goods and people. Women wearing the traditional yashmak (or yashmac). A busy market. Buses are crammed with people and produce.



Child walks along - attention is drawn to his unusual shaven head and pigtail. Narrow streets with rush mats stretched across. Bazaars and souks. Voice-over speaks of the slave trade. Rails of clothes in a souk are featured. Joke made about the people of Marrakech catching up with the West - "the latest in underwear" - long undershirts. "Exported, let's hope from Birmingham - a batch of kitchen equipment" - pots and pans hanging up are shown. Spice seller with his spices laid out in piles on a newspaper. Money changes hands with stall owners. China seller. Bread seller. "Doctors" selling animal hides and jackal teeth. Makers of opium pipes don't want to be filmed. Beggars. Oranges. Cakes are cooked in oil. Arabian mint tea seller. Top shot of the market. Snake charmer. Cobra. Many people watch the snake charming act. Young boy dances and pulls faces. Grain market. Elderly men bargaining. Nice C/Us of faces. Women walk with babies on their backs carrying heavy loads on their heads. Return to the hotel.



Winston Churchill on holiday in Marrakech.



Note: some very nicely shot C/Us of faces and general market scenes. See also "North African Market Town" which shares much of the visual material. Seems that material from "North African Market Town" reedited and soundtrack added to become "Marrakech - Desert Paradise". Some shots unique to each film.
FILM ID:2865.03

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