Garden Party At St James’s Palace (1914-1918)

Garden Party at St James’s Palace. London. M/S of parade of men and women walking in gardens - all dressed in exotic eastern or Arabian costumes. Among them is a regal-looking man who seems to be the Sultan. His entourage includes people carrying cushions, fans and drums. Following his entourage is a line of women in head-veils and draped dresses, making elaborate postures as they walk along - it looks quite funny! We then see the Sultan sitting on a throne in the garden, watched by a group of people in fashionable dress, just in front of the camera. The girls in draped dresses come into shot and dance for the Sultan and watching crowd. They then dance off again, leaving just one woman dancing in a frenzied fashion before the Sultan, then taking an elaborate bow. He hands her something. Cut to M/S of the Sultan and this dancing girl acting out a love scene - good clinch! She’s obviously bewitched him with her exotic beauty and dancing prowess! They don’t actually kiss - he looks a bit old