Anecdotal Tit Bits: Making “The Bridge on the River Kwai”-by Michael Roberts ONE: The Theme Tune and George Siegertsz Source:Thuppahis The mainline tale about the production process in Ceylon in the composition of the outstanding film The Bridge on the River Kwai – a film based on an actual wartime commando operation involving the destruction of a bridge being built with POW labour by the Japanese war machine in Thailand – can be read at https://thuppahis.com/2021/08/02/kitulgala-and-the-classic-movie-bridge-on-the-river-kwai/ Its digital presentation has generated sideline tales from within the Sri Lankan circuit of 2021 which merit public exposure for the historical record. The Wikipedia account about the film runs thus: “The Bridge on the River Kwai is a 1957 epic war film directed by David Lean and based on the 1952 novel written by Pierre Boulle. Although the film uses the historical setting of the construction of the Burma Railway in 1942–1943, the plot and characters of Boulle’s novel and the screenplay are almost entirely fictional. The cast includes Alec Guinness, William ...
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Radio Ceylon: King of the Airwaves in the Mid-Twentieth Century Source:Thuppahis Gaston de Rosayro, in Daily News, 13 February 2017 where the title reads “When Radio Ceylon was King of the airwaves!” World Radio Day was first celebrated in 2012, following its declaration by the UNESCO General Conference. It was subsequently adopted as an International Day by the organisation. The theme for the 2017 edition of the event is ‘Radio is You!’, a call for greater participation of audiences and communities in the policy and planning of radio broadcasting. In reality, Sri Lanka should be at the forefront of the festivities and has every right to hold such an exalted position. Few may be aware that this nation was a pioneer among broadcasting nations and was the first among South East Asia. In actual fact, the history of Radio Ceylon dates back to year 1925, when its first precursor, Colombo Radio, was launched on December 16, 1925. Certain historians ...
Sep 14, 2021
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Articles
Tagged Bob Harvie, CHRIS.GREET, Eardley Peiris, Greg Roszkowski, Iris Cockburn, Jimmy Barucha, Lourdes de Kretser, Mark Anthony Fernando, Mervyn Jayasuriya, Mil Sansoni. Hector Jayasinghe, Norton Pereira, Pearl Ondaatje, Percy Bartholomeusz, Prosper Fernando, Thevis Guruge, Tim Horshington, Vernon Corea, World Radio Day
Repetitions galore …on radio Source:Island The lockdowns, which crop up on a regular basis, have enabled me to give ear to some of our local radio stations…let’s say, more frequently than I would normally do – the oldies stations, in particular. Unfortunately, I haven’t seen any improvements – for the better. These stations are made up of ONLY request programmes, with almost the same names being mentioned, on air…let’s say, 24/7. ...
May 28, 2021
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Articles
Tagged CHRIS.GREET, Jimmy Bharucha, Leon Belleth, Mark Anthony Fernando, Vijaya Corea
A TRIBUTE – CHRIS GREET: Deep feelings not always shown, heartfelt merriment on display by Ernest Macintyre Chris Greet first belonged to a Colombo that is only a historical memory of Lankans of his vintage, of a few days ago. A few people that would be, and naturally fewer as days go by. A Colombo, associated with the old Radio Ceylon off Bullers Road, the early Lionel Wendt Theatre, the Regal Film Theatre, The Majestic in Bambalapitiya. Cargills, Millers, Apothecaries and Caves in the Fort shopping area and clanging tram cars in Pettah running past the Rupee Stores. Chris made his early life moving between these, remnant colonial places, as daily liver, outstanding radio announcer and voice artist and merry actor in shows at theatres in the city. I came to know him well after Bullers Road became Baudhaloka Mawatha. Neither Chris nor I knew who Buller was, so we were not ...
“GREET, HIS LIFE & TIMES” – By Des Kelly Many tributes have already been made, including one from Joe Van Langenberg & “your’s truly”, in Australia on eLanka. My apologies for naming Tuesday the 29th of December as the day of his passing, it was actually Monday, the 28th, according to a much more reliable source, his son, Steve. This, together with this main “son re- father” account of his dad’s hectic, wonderful, & remarkable life, in a brief but touching tribute/semi-autobiog. Chris was a truly multi-talented individual, never satisfied with seeing the world pass by without his involvement in something or the other. Most times, it was both. On behalf of eLanka, I would like to say thank you to Stephen Greet for this more in-depth story on the man who was his dad. It’s a great ...
Jan 5, 2021
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Articles, DESMOND KELLY
Tagged CHRIS.GREET, Des Kelly, Stephen Thornton
“VALE’ CHRIS GREET” – By Des Kelly It is with great sadness that I inform all members of eLanka of the passing of not just a very good friend, but also of someone who was a true legend of our beautiful Motherland, Sri Lanka. There were only a very few Sri Lankans of this halcyon era in Lanka that that didn’t know Chris, be it even only his dulcet tones on Radio Ceylon, if not personally. The era I write about was during the 1950’s. We were both young & carefree, Chris, just a few years older than me owned a second-hand Mayflower car, in which he would pick me up in order to attend a few rehearsals of my song Dreamworld, and on the way, the car would inevitably break down, and Chris would then get out, kick the closest tyre and say to me, “don’t worry Desmond, she ...
Dec 31, 2020
Posted by eLanka admin In
Articles, DESMOND KELLY, Joe Van Langenberg
Tagged CHRIS.GREET, Jimmy Barucha, Joe Van Langenberg, Tim Haushington, Wijeya Corea
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“VALE’ CHRIS.GREET” – By Des Kelly It is with great sadness that I inform all members of eLanka of the passing of not just a very good friend, but also of someone who was a true legend of our beautiful Motherland, Sri Lanka. There were only a very few Sri Lankans of this halcyon era in Lanka that that didn’t know Chris, be it even only his dulcet tones on Radio Ceylon, if not personally. The era I write about was during the 1950’s. We were both young & carefree, Chris, just a few years older than me owned a second-hand Mayflower car, in which he would pick me up in order to attend a few rehearsals of my song Dreamworld, and on the way, the car would inevitably break down, and Chris would then get out, kick the closest tyre and say to me, “don’t worry Desmond, she may ...
Dec 30, 2020
Posted by eLanka admin In
Articles, DESMOND KELLY, Obituaries
Tagged CHRIS.GREET, Dreamworld
