BFI

Moving pictures were able to bring the Empire closer to home for British audiences than ever before. India was a popular subject for travelogues through its status as 'the jewel in the crown', but also because of its exoticism. The 'otherness' of the activities of the people of the riverbank and the architecture would have been of huge appeal to contemporary western audiences.

This is essentially a 'phantom ride', and its dynamism was an important attraction to audiences, with the bustle of people on the riverbank paired with the rocking, forward motion of the camera. All this adds to a sense of realism, offering new insights into foreign lands previously only captured in paintings or still photographs.

Though always known - including in contemporary catalogues - as 'Panorama of Calcutta', the footage in fact appears to represent Varanasi, more than 400 miles further up the Ganges. It is likely that this film was included in Warwick's series of films principally shot around Calcutta.

Jez Stewart

*This film can also be viewed via the BFI's YouTube channel.

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