Snow was Geoffrey Jones' first film for British Transport Films (BTF) but it
owes its existence to a happy twist of fate. In September 1962 Jones began his
research for a film about design for the British Railways Board. Armed with a
16mm camera, he travelled throughout the country, shooting film 'notes' of
anything he found particularly interesting.
Viewing the footage, Jones was struck by several images of black steam trains
churning down the tracks against a glaring white backdrop, and hit upon the idea
of making a new, separate film contrasting the comfort of the passengers with
the often Herculean efforts of the workmen to keep the trains going in hazardous
conditions. On January 31st, 1963 Jones met with BTF head Edgar Anstey.
Realising that the film would have to be made quickly or delayed until the
following winter, Anstey agreed straightaway and shooting commenced the very
next day. Jones and his barebones crew proceeded to chase winter conditions
across the country.
Unable to afford his first choice of music, 'Teen Beat' by American Jazz
musician Sandy Nelson, Jones had British musician Johnny Hawksworth re-record
the tune, expanding it to twice its original length by reducing it to half its
original speed at the start and steadily accelerating the tempo over a period of
eight minutes to a speed approximately twice as fast as the original. Daphne
Oram of the BBC Radiophonic Workshop added various filters.
Viewing Snow can be a hypnotic experience. Jones begins the film with a slow
military throb, with the railway station and tracks all but buried beneath a
mountain of snow and ice. The pace increases with the workmen's clearing of the
tracks, and while the trains barrel through the snow-covered countryside, the
music accelerates. The percussive editing between trains and environment reaches
a joyous crescendo with a rapid succession of pounding snow, churning pistons,
fields of livestock and the ever-present tracks, ending in a wild flourish of
percussion.
Snow received at least 14 major awards upon its release, as well an Oscar
nomination in 1965. It has been screened around the world and remains a
favourite of fans of Geoffrey Jones' work and British Transport Films. Most
importantly, this film marked the first full realisation of Jones' signature
style, which he would expand upon and refine in subsequent films like Rail
(1966), Trinidad and Tobago (1964) and Locomotion (1975).
James White *This film is included in the BFI DVD compilation 'Geoffrey Jones: The Rhythm of Film'. This film can also be viewed via the BFI's YouTube channel.
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