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Fifth Facade

Documents the making of the Sydney Opera House, from the selection of the site to its official opening.
Year : 1971 | Total Duration : 28 Minutes | Producer : Anthony Buckley
Director : Donald Crombie |
A dress rehearsal for 'War and Peace', the inaugural performance at the Sydney Opera House. A person wearing a traditional headdress, standing at the top of the major 'sail', throwing something into the air, for the opening ceremony of the Sydney Opera House, 1973. Balloons on a barge, for the opening ceremony of the Sydney Opera House, 1973. Cinematographer Bruce Hillyard, filming the opening ceremony of the Sydney Opera House, 20th October 1973. Cinematographer Michael Edols, filming a marching band, at the Sydney Opera House opening ceremony, 20th October 1973.
Cinematographer Michael Edols, filming at the opening ceremony of the Sydney Opera House, 20th October 1973. Crowds and various cultural groups seated for the opening ceremony of the Sydney Opera House, 20th October 1973. Crowds gathered for the opening ceremony of the Sydney Opera House, 20th October 1973. Crowds gathered for the opening ceremony of the Sydney Opera House, 20th October 1973. Crowds gathering along the forecourt, for the opening ceremony of the Sydney Opera House, 1973.
Crowds gathering on the forecourt for the opening ceremony of the Sydney Opera House, 1973. Crowds of people gather at the forecourt of the Sydney Opera House, for the opening ceremony. Crowds of people gathered at the forecourt of the Sydney Opera House, balloons fill the air, for the opening ceremony. Crowds of people gathered at the forecourt of the Sydney Opera House, balloons fill the air, for the opening ceremony. Crowds of people gathered at the Sydney Opera House forecourt, balloons fill the air, for the opening ceremony.
Crowds of people gathered at the Sydney Opera House forecourt, for the opening ceremony. Crowds watch as Prime Minister Gough Whitlam and his wife arrive for the opening ceremony of the Sydney Opera House, 20th October 1973. Crowds watching a marching band arriving for the opening ceremony of the Sydney Opera House, 20th October 1973. Crowds watching a marching band at the opening ceremony of the Sydney Opera House, 20th October 1973. Crowds watching cultural groups and dignitaries arriving for the opening ceremony of the Sydney Opera House, 20th October 1973.
Crowds watching cultural groups and dignitaries arriving for the opening ceremony of the Sydney Opera House, 20th October 1973. Crowds watching cultural groups and dignitaries arriving for the opening ceremony of the Sydney Opera House, 20th October 1973. Crowds watching cultural groups and dignitaries arriving for the opening ceremony of the Sydney Opera House, 20th October 1973. Crowds watching cultural groups and dignitaries arriving for the opening ceremony of the Sydney Opera House, 20th October 1973. Crowds watching cultural groups and dignitaries arriving for the opening ceremony of the Sydney Opera House, 20th October 1973.
Crowds watching cultural groups and the Royal Australian Navy band at the opening ceremony of the Sydney Opera House, 20th October 1973. Detail of the Sydney Opera House during construction. Exterior shot of the Sydney Opera House as it nears completion. Exterior shot of the Sydney Opera House. Exterior shot of the Sydney Opera House.
Exterior shot of the Sydney Opera House. Exterior shot of the Sydney Opera House. Female singer accompanied by a marching band performing at the opening ceremony of the Sydney Opera House, 20th October 1973. Ferries, naval ships and various water vessels on the harbour, for the Sydney Opera House opening ceremony in 1973. Ferries, naval ships and various water vessels on the harbour, for the Sydney Opera House opening ceremony in 1973.
Film crew at the base of the 'sails', during advanced work on Stage II of the construction of the Sydney Opera House in March 1966. Film crew being craned up inside large wooden crates, during the construction of the Sydney Opera House. Film crew in an improvised dark room, possibly reloading film into camera. Film crew setting up equipment for the opening ceremony of the Sydney Opera House. Governor of New South Wales, Sir Arthur Roden Cutler with his wife, arriving for the opening ceremony of the Sydney Opera House.
Interior shot of the northern foyer at the Sydney Opera House. John Olsen's mural "Salute to Five Bells" to the left. Interior shot of the Sydney Opera House during construction. Interior shot of the Sydney Opera House. Large wooden crates being craned up, during the construction of the Sydney Opera House. Marching band playing at the opening ceremony of the Sydney Opera House, 20th October 1973.
Marching band playing to people attending the opening ceremony of the Sydney Opera House, 20th October 1973. Naval vessels, yachts and boats on the harbour around Fort Denison, for the Sydney Opera House opening ceremony in 1973. People on boats gather in the harbour for the Sydney Opera House opening ceremony in 1973. People on boats in the harbour for the Sydney Opera House opening ceremony in 1973. Pre-cast concrete panels at construction site of the Sydney Opera House.
Queen Elizabeth II delivering a speech for the opening ceremony of the Sydney Opera House, Queen Elizabeth II with other dignitaries including Prince Phillip on stage, for the opening ceremony of the Sydney Opera House. Queen Elizabeth II with Prince Phillip, waving to the crowds from their car, at the opening ceremony of the Sydney Opera House. Sailor on the steps of the Sydney Opera House, doing semaphore signals. Scaffolding and cranes around the exterior of the Sydney Opera House. Taken during advanced work on Stage II of the construction.
Scaffolding and cranes around the exterior of the Sydney Opera House. Taken during Stage II of construction. Scaffolding around the exterior of the Sydney Opera house. Taken during advanced work on Stage II of the construction. Scouts gathered at the Sydney Opera House forecourt, for the opening ceremony. Sections of the Sydney Opera House during construction. Stage set up for 'War and Peace', the inaugural performance at the Sydney Opera House.
Sydney Opera House during construction with Australia Square and AMP buildings in background. Sydney Opera House during construction with scaffolding on exterior walls. Sydney Opera House during construction with scaffolding over the exterior walls. Sydney Opera House during construction with scaffolding over the exterior walls. Sydney Opera House during construction.
Sydney Opera House during construction. Sydney Opera House during construction. Sydney Opera House during construction. Sydney Opera House during construction. Sydney Opera House during construction.
Sydney Opera House during construction. Sydney Opera House during construction. Taken during Stage II of the construction of the Sydney Opera House in March 1966. Taken from the scaffolding during construction of the Sydney Opera House towards Fort Denison. Various crew members filming during rehearsals of 'War and Peace', the inaugural performance at the Sydney Opera House.
Various cultural groups seated for the opening ceremony of the Sydney Opera House, 1973. Workmen on site during the construction of the Sydney Opera House in March 1966. Yachts and boats on the harbour, for the Sydney Opera House opening ceremony in 1973.
Photograph of watercolour painting "Looking east over Circular Quay from Millers Point" by artist Conrad Martens.
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Access No. 33290 | 13 secs | 1800s | Sydney, NSW, Australia | © State Library of New South Wales | Colour |
Fade to WS B&W photograph "Fort Macquarie in the foreground looking toward the North Shore (Milsons Point & Kirribilli)", Bennelong Point, 1870. Taken from Government House.
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Access No. 145048 | 9 secs | 1800s | Sydney, NSW, Australia | © State Library of New South Wales | B&W |
Fade into zoom into photograph "Ferry wharves at Circular Quay: Looking NE towards Circular Quay East and Government House land". 1895.
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Access No. 145049 | 10 secs | 1890s | Sydney, NSW, Australia | © City of Sydney Archives | B&W |
Fade into zoom out from sepia toned early photograph of Sydney Cove from Bennelong Point "Circular Quay from Fort Macquarie showing carts", 1912.
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Access No. 145050 | 13 secs | 1910s | Sydney, NSW, Australia | © State Library of New South Wales | B&W |
Fade into photograph "Fort Macquarie Tram Depot", Bennelong Point, 1912.
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Access No. 145051 | 10 secs | 1910s | Sydney, NSW, Australia | © State Library of New South Wales | B&W |
Fade into zoom out from sepia toned 1930 photograph "Circular Quay from Sydney Harbour Bridge" with city buildings and skyline behind.
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Access No. 145052 | 12 secs | 1930s | Sydney, NSW, Australia | © State Library of New South Wales | B&W |
Fade into zoom out from high angle photograph of Bennelong Point "Circular Quay from Sydney Harbour Bridge", 1931 with curve of Farm Cove and eastern suburbs behind.
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Access No. 145053 | 12 secs | 1930s | Sydney, NSW, Australia | © State Library of New South Wales | B&W |
High angle WS over tram depot on car lined street on Bennelong Point showing trams on lines outside depot and emerging from the building. Fade to WS of depot with roof removed and trams on outside tracks. LS to ferry on Sydney Harbour. Dissolve into WS of demolished depot with ferry travelling away from camera in background.
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Access No. 145054 | 23 secs | 1950s | Sydney, NSW, Australia | © NFSA | B&W |
CU tilt up B&W photograph of Danish architect Jorn Utzon holding plans, wearing hard hat and looking to camera.
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Access No. 145055 | 6 secs | 1960s | Sydney, NSW, Australia | © Restricted Access - Contact Film Australia Collection Library | B&W |
Pan across Danish forest and woodland. Dissolve into pan across river then along street past row of white houses with red tiled roofs. Pan from view of sea to buildings and street of seaside town of Hellebaek. WS Kolborg Castle, Elsinore seen from sea and pan to nearby shipyard. GS ship seen amongst industrial machinery of shipyard.
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Access No. 145056 | 1 min 2 secs | 1970s | Denmark | © NFSA | Colour |
CU pan along steps dissolving into narrower pattern of MS steps. Tilted revolving pan looking up exterior steps to sails of Sydney Opera House. Travelling aerial of Sydney Harbour, Opera House and city taken from above Kirribilli then looking into Farm Cove and East. Aerial travelling over Sydney Harbour Bridge over Opera House. Zoom into lower aerial circling the Opera House.
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Access No. 145057 | 2 mins 13 secs | 1970s | Sydney, NSW, Australia | © NFSA | Colour |
Interior shots of Sydney Opera House with camera panning from view from windows to structural wall supports and stair cases and view of seating in empty theatre hall. Dissolve to montage of rows of seating from different angles. VS in theatre of staging manoeuvring showing stagehands using hydraulic lifts to extend stage, lowering portions of stage and moving heavy theatre props. Track through backstage area past props to tracks along corridors.
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Access No. 145058 | 1 min 43 secs | 1970s | Sydney, NSW, Australia | © NFSA | Colour |
GS actors seated against wall of rehearsal room with dancers practising in front of them. Zoom out to conductor, pianist, director at table and dancers. MS director briefing opera singers on their roles and VS of singers in informal rehearsal. GS choreographer interrupting rehearsal to correct the curtsey of singer. CU to director and WS of conductor and pianist. GS singers dancing and dissolve into high angle shot of performers dancing in full costume in proper performance on stage.
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Access No. 145059 | 3 mins 50 secs | 1970s | Sydney, NSW, Australia | © Contact Film Australia Collection Library | Colour |
Aerial zoom out to bird's eye view of Sydney Opera House (helicopter shadow visible on Opera House sails). High angle WS from North Sydney over expressway with Opera House in mid distance and city in background. WS of Opera House seen across harbour with yachts sailing past. WS Sydney Harbour from the east with LS to Sydney Harbour Bridge and Opera House. WS top half of Opera House sails rising above greenery of the Royal Botanic Gardens with Cahill Expressway and gardens in foreground. WS unusual high angle of Opera House sails rising behind inner east housing. WS of them framed by gentle green slope at Lady Macquarie's Chair and blue sky.
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Access No. 145060 | 45 secs | 1970s | Sydney, NSW, Australia | © NFSA | Colour |
CU architectural elevation drawing of Sydney Opera house with fades to stylised ink drawings. WS photograph of Japanese pagoda in misty landscape and fades to other ink drawings and photograph of ziggurat at Ur.
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Access No. 145061 | 40 secs | 1970s | Sydney, NSW, Australia | © Restricted Access - Contact Film Australia Collection Library | Colour |
High angle B&W photograph of early structural work, "Sydney Opera House, progress shot from Unilever House, 1963."
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Access No. 145062 | 6 secs | 1970s | Sydney, NSW, Australia | © State Library of New South Wales | B&W |
Fade to WS B&W photograph of ancient amphitheatre.
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Access No. 145063 | 6 secs | 1970s | Sydney, NSW, Australia | © Restricted Access - Contact Film Australia Collection Library | B&W |
B&W photograph of early construction work on Opera House.
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Access No. 145064 | 2 secs | 1970s | Sydney, NSW, Australia | © Restricted Access - Contact Film Australia Collection Library | B&W |
WS of Sydney Symphony Orchestra rehearsing for one of the first performances at Opera House on 29th September, 1973. Zoom in to MS of the famous Swedish opera singer Birgit Nilsson in profile with conductor occasionally in frame. Zoom out to singer, conductor Sam Wannamaker and a few musicians. High angle WS of performers on stage and high shot over strings section. Various zooms with Nilsson singing next to Wannamaker.
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Access No. 145065 | 2 mins 50 secs | 1970s | Sydney, NSW, Australia | © Contact Film Australia Collection Library | Colour |
WS of Sydney Opera House seen across water. Fade to WS of northern broadwalk with outdoor tables and chairs with Sydney Harbour Bridge in background. Track and tilt to northern foyer and circling tilts around the various sails of the structure. LS to visitors in the northern foyer of the Concert Hall. CU graphics showing how sections from a spherical model can be used to build a model of the Opera House with commentary by Jorn Utzon. Aerial track along western side of Opera House.
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Access No. 145066 | 1 min 34 secs | 1970s | Sydney, NSW, Australia | © NFSA | Colour |
MS Kate Fitzpatrick on stage in the Drama Theatre of the Sydney Opera House during a dress rehearsal for "The Threepenny Opera". WS of performers on stage and VS of cast singing and dancing featuring the characters Jenny, Macheath and Mrs Peachum plus cast.
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Access No. 145067 | 2 mins 55 secs | 1970s | Sydney, NSW, Australia | © Contact Film Australia Collection Library | Colour |
CU view and slow pan over tiles on exterior of sails of Sydney Opera House. zoom into ceramic tiles. Various tilts and zooms. Track from roof down to internal lining and roof structure.
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Access No. 145068 | 1 min 20 secs | 1970s | Sydney, NSW, Australia | © NFSA | Colour |
MS performers gathered around piano rehearsing opera with Wannamaker at piano, conductor and male and female singers. Zoom into male singer being led by conductor.
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Access No. 145069 | 19 secs | 1970s | Sydney, NSW, Australia | © Contact Film Australia Collection Library | Colour |
Zoom in to sepia toned photograph of Jorn Utzon standing in front of image of semi completed Sydney Opera House. Zoom in to ECU of his face.
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Access No. 145070 | 31 secs | 1970s | Sydney, NSW, Australia | © Restricted Access - Contact Film Australia Collection Library | B&W |
Tilt to MS male opera singer in rehearsal. Various tracks and pans through backrooms and corridors of Sydney Opera House. Track of lounge area inside Opera House with view of passing ferry and apartment buildings lining shores of Kirribilli.
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Access No. 145072 | 38 secs | 1970s | Sydney, NSW, Australia | © Contact Film Australia Collection Library | Colour |
Zoom out from ferry on Sydney Harbour to high angle views over spectator crafts on harbour and masses of people crowded on shores around Kirribilli and under Sydney Harbour Bridge pylons for the official opening events for the Sydney Opera House. WS of streamers being thrown from Opera House over spectators. High angle pan from streamers joining tugboats on harbour to tips of Opera House shells. High angle zoom into Opera House forecourt with Royal entourage arriving in car to assembled crowds. Tilt to jet plane flyover. High angle WS over Opera House with boats scattered over harbour. GS Queen Elizabeth II standing at microphone buffeted by wind. Zoom out as she takes her seat.
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Access No. 145073 | 47 secs | 1970s | Sydney, NSW, Australia | © NFSA | Colour |
High angle track of helicopter fly-over for the official opening events for the Sydney Opera House. LS down to crowds surrounding Opera House. WS helicopters over spectator crafts on Sydney Harbour with Opera House and city in background. High angle shot over Queen Elizabeth II being accompanied up the forecourt stairs of the Opera House and VS of her walking through the crowds. High angle shot looking west under the Sydney Harbour Bridge and zoom in to helicopter formation past. Zoom out to helicopters flying back over the Opera House. VS around Opera House and tilt down to hundreds of colourful balloons being released and VS flying over Opera House and boats.
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Access No. 145074 | 1 min 31 secs | 1970s | Sydney, NSW, Australia | © NFSA | Colour |
GS flags and bunting for the official opening events for the Sydney Opera House. WS fireworks in night sky and good high angle shots of them with Opera House below dimly lit. WS patrons climbing forecourt steps with ocean liner lit up in background. High angle patrons in foyer. VS people using internal staircases. High angle shot of people walking past John Olsen screen. VS inside Concert Hall and high shot over conductor taking bow with concert about to start. VS inside empty spaces of Concert Hall.
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Access No. 145075 | 1 min 6 secs | 1970s | Sydney, NSW, Australia | © NFSA | Colour |
Fade from black to early morning WS of the Sydney Opera House and circling aerials over the sails. Various aerials around the Opera house showing ferry wharves, Harbour Bridge and harbour and city views.
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Access No. 145076 | 1 min 10 secs | 1970s | Sydney, NSW, Australia | © NFSA | Colour |
National Film and Sound Archive - Australia