By British Pathe | Published on Aug/17/2015

Women’s Island (1957)

Published on Apr 13, 2014

Grand Cayman, West Indies.

The clips show:

Beautiful aerial shot of the white sandy coast of Grand Cayman and the clear blue sea. M/S of the waves crashing against rocks, in the background trees and houses are visible.

M/S of passengers alighting from a British Airways aeroplane, they are greeted by two men in uniform. C/U of cameraman, Stan Goozee, being given directions by an air hostess. He is carrying his camera. The narrator jokes that Stan has been sent along to keep an eye on the other cameraman as this island is known as “the island of women”.

High angle shot of a woman crouched on a rock by the sea picking up shells. C/U of her hand taking shells from a small rock pool and placing them in a wicker basket. M/S of the woman as she picks up her basket and walks away. The narrator points out “wherever you look you can see women working – no comment!” M/S of a patio looking out over the beach. An older woman is sitting on a deck chair making jewellery from shells lying on a table. The first woman joins her. C/U of the older woman’s hand taking a shell from the table and tying it with wire to other shells to create a broach. C/U of the first woman’s face, tilt down to a small bouquet of flowers she is binding with yarn. C/U of a box and a basket filled with shells. Panning shot to shells, flowers and jewellery displayed on the table. Various C/Us of pieces of jewellery the women have made. According to the narrator the island has very little industry so men have to leave the island to find work elsewhere or go to sea.

M/S of an old women sitting on a chair beneath some trees making straw hats. C/U of her face. tilt down to her hands as she weaves. M/S of the woman, behind her are displayed some examples of her completed work. Panning shots of the straw hats. The women mostly work making souvenirs and gifts to sell to tourists.

M/S of Stan fiddling with his tripod and camera. In front of the camera are two little girls and two women, in the background the beach and the sea are visible. Stan shows one of the women how to look through the lens of his camera before directing her to sit with the others. The narrator explains that for most people on the island this is the first film camera they have ever seen – allowing them to have a look at is also good icebreaker and helps them feel relaxed for later filming! M/S of the women rope making – a skill past down from mother to daughter. C/U of Stan filming them. C/U of one of the women deep in concentration. Tilt down to her hands at work. C/U of the other woman. M/S of the two girls also rope making. C/U of one of the little girls, tilt down to her hands twisting the rope, panning shot to a coil of rope she has completed. M/S of the group. The two adults get up and go over to what appears to be small washing line. One of the women turns a handle attached to one of the posts to twist small strands of rope into one big one, the other woman walks the length of the line guiding the twist. C/U of the woman’s hands as she guides the rope.

M/S of a very small girl and a boy. M/S of the waves crashing against the rocks with the town in the background.
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Link to watch video clips named in article go to: http://www.vision3e.ky/historical-clips-womens-island-1957

Screen shots from video