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royal première
Producer-director Marcus Dillistone introducing
The Troop to HRH The Princess Royal at the BAFTA première
SADDLING UP FOR ROYALTY
J ust days before HRH The Princess Royal attended the
premiere of his film The Troop, producer-director Marcus Dillistone slotted in the final piece of his three- year struggle by persuading
Oscar-winning veteran Sir John Mills to add a short narration.
As President of the Riding for The Disabled Association, Princess Anne attended the world premiere at Bafta in October of the 15-minute film, which proves a worthy tribute to the
superb horsemanship of the Royal Horse Artillery, the most senior unit in the British Army.
Dillistone and his associate pro- ducer Paul-Anthony Viollet are now negotiating a distribution deal for The Troop which was shot on 35mm Panavision using Fuji by the veteran cinematographer Alex Thomson BSC.
The project also received key support from Twickenham Studios, Oasis TV, Lee Lighting, Technicolor, Quantel, Grips, Allan Chapman & James and Fujifilm UK.
The premiere took place almost exactly three years on from that beau- tiful autumn morning in October 1996 when Dillistone stood on the corner of London’s Constitution Hill and first watched the King’s Troop go through its magnificent paces.
He’d been invited by a mutual friend to be a guest of Viollet, a Captain in the elite outfit who was, in turn, second in command to Major Keith Brooks, then The King’s Troop Commanding Officer. That early morning glimpse of imposing eques-
trian splendour led Dillistone on a two year journey to create a true Cinemascope experience.
Major Brooks made The King’s Troop available for filming during their engagement at the Royal Windsor Horse Show, which included the breathtaking highlight of its musi- cal drive and gun salute. Dillistone duly obliged with his unique filmed record. ■ JOHN WILLIS
The Troop was originated on Fujicolor Motion Picture Negative
Photos main: The Troop comes over the hill; from left to right: David Mountford, Marcus Dillistone and HRH The Princess Royal share a joke together; Lucie Dillistone with Sir John Mills; Bob Quinn of Fuji talking with HRH The Princess Royal at the première; Sir John and Lady Daubeney (left) arriving with Lynne Willis.
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