Biography of 'Templar Films '
Production company
Templar Film Studios was formed in 1949 by Robert Riddell-Black, David Low and Bill Russell, in a rented attic in Hope Street, Glasgow, moving to Clyde Street in 1951. The company was officially incorporated and registered as a business on the 4th March 1950, and by 1954 they had moved to larger premises in Lyndoch Street, Glasgow. The name was inspired by the medieval Knights Templar, who had at one time been so poor that two knights had to share one horse. Black and Low had one camera between them!
For the first six years Templar Films worked on a shoestring, shooting news for NBC in America, Gaumont-British News and the BBC Scotland’s Television Newsreel. They began to make religious and current affairs programmes such as Panorama for the BBC. In 1955 Low was shooting weekly football coverage and doing film-processing work for television. The company’s commitments to the BBC were growing and by 1960, it was given the production of a weekly programme called ‘Compass’.
Templar attracted many new entrants to the industry who as trainee cameramen and directors learnt their craft on production of documentaries for agencies such the Films of Scotland Committee and industrial sponsors. Templar Films along with Campbell Harper and Thames & Clyde became a mainstay of the Scottish film production industry in the 1950’s and 1960’s. Their best known title Seawards the Great Ships, took two years to make, and in 1961 won the first Hollywood Oscar in the short live action short category.
The company won over 30 international awards for its documentary and industrial films. While several directors and cameramen left, David Low became a director/cameraman and remained Riddell -Black’s right-hand man throughout most of the company’s life. Their partnership split in the mid 1970s when Black closed the Lynedoch St studio and moved to an industrial unit in Broadmeadows Industrial Estate, Dumbarton. The company finally ceased trading in 1980.
Researcher: Joan Allan
Films associated with 'COCOZZA, Enrico'
HMS FULMAR R.N. AIR STATION [8469]Add to my filmsNews footage of newly built facilities buildings at HMS Fulmar (RNAS Lossiemouth). |
1960 mute bw |
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HOGMANAY CELEBRATIONS [5039]Add to my filmsA film featuring people celebrating Hogmanay. A 'First footer' entering a house and people travelling on buses to various ballrooms. |
Onsite only |
1955 sound bw |
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HOLLOW MOUNTAIN, the [2214]Add to my filmsThe building of the Ben Cruachan pumped-storage hydro-electric scheme. (15 mins) [See also ref. 2790]. |
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1966 sound col |
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HORSESHOES [5131]Add to my filmsBlacksmith fitting a new horse shoe onto horse's hoof, followed by shots of new horse shoes being made in blacksmith's workshop. |
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1965 mute bw |
HOVERCRAFT [5242]Add to my filmsShots of a hovercraft test in the Clyde, near Dumbarton. |
1959 mute bw |
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HUNTERSTON [5407]Add to my filmsConstruction work on Hunterston A power station. |
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1964 mute bw |
HUTCHESON SCHOOL [5246]Add to my filmsExteriors of Hutchesons' Grammar School and its pupils. |
1969 mute bw |
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HYDROFOIL [5218]Add to my filmsThe hydrofoil, named 'Waterman' is lowered into water and driven around in circles. |
1961 mute bw |
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INFLATABLE LIFERAFT DEMONSTRATION AT DENNY [8840]Add to my filmsNews footage of trials of an inflatable liferaft at Denny's shipbuilding yard in Dumbarton. |
1960 mute bw |
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INTO ACTION [3592]Add to my filmsA training film for primary teachers of physical education, dealing with expressive movement, inventive movement, games skills and swimming. |
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1969 sound col |
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INVERARAY SCHOOL [5183]Add to my filmsExterior shot of Inveraray school; interior shots showing empty technical and home economics classrooms. |
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1963 mute bw |
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INVERNESS BRIDGE [5126]Add to my filmsConstruction work on the Inverness Bridge. |
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1961 mute bw |
IONA [5172]Add to my filmsInside Iona Abbey, candles are extinguished. |
1963 mute bw |
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ITALIAN CHAPEL [5171]Add to my filmsThe return of Domenico Chiocchetti to the Italian Chapel in Orkney, showing restoration work to the chapel. Includes footage of the statue of St. George slaying the dragon created by Chiocchetti, and also a "Churchill Barrier" built by Italian prisoners of war. |
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1960 mute bw |
'JEANETTE' AT BOATBUILDING YARD, BUCKIE [8455]Add to my filmsNews footage of Messrs Jones & Sons boatbuilding yard in Buckie, including shots of the fitting-out of fishing boat 'Jeanette'. |
1960 mute bw |
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JET PROVOST T2 IN FLIGHT [8471]Add to my filmsNews footage of a Jet Provost T2 trainer in flight. |
1960 mute bw |
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JOHN BROWN'S II [8477]Add to my filmsNews footage of workers in John Brown's shipyard at Clydebank, including shots of the ss 'Transvaal Castle' under construction. |
1960 mute bw |
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JOHN BROWN'S YARD [8452]Add to my filmsNews footage of workers leaving John Brown's shipyard in Clydebank. |
1958 mute bw |
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JOHN BURNS [5177]Add to my filmsGeneral shots of the ferry, 'John Burns, London' approaching land and mooring at dockside. |
1964 mute bw |
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'KENYA' [5197]Add to my filmsThe warship 'Kenya' approaches Faslane Shipbreaking Industries' yard. |
1961 mute bw |
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KILMARNOCK DEMOLITION [5571]Add to my filmsDemolition, by controlled explosion, of two cooling towers in Kilmarnock [believed to be for the power station at Greenholm Street] |
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1976 silent bwcol |
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KILMORACK DAM [5405]Add to my filmsGeneral views of final construction work and of the Kilmorack Dam and hydroelectric scheme near completion. |
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1965 mute bw |
KINCARDINE POWER STATION [5427]Add to my filmsGeneral views of construction work on Kincardine Power Station, taken from various angles. |
1965 mute bw |
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KURREWA V [5542]Add to my filmsFootage of the construction of the Kurrewa V yacht at the Alex Robertson & Sons Yacht yard, Sandbank, Argyll. |
1964 silent bw |
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LACE-MAKING EXHIBITION [5168]Add to my filmsAn exhibition of lace-making. |
1961 mute bw |
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LADYWELL FLATS [5477]Add to my filmsGeneral views of the Ladywell High Rise Flats, Lord Provost at ceremony to commemorate the completion of the Ladywell Housing Development. |
1965 mute bw |
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LANGBANK BRIDGE [5123]Add to my filmsConstruction work on the Langbank Railway Bridge. |
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1965 mute bw |
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LAST RUN OF THE DORNOCH RAILWAY [5418]Add to my filmsSome footage from the last run of a steam train along the Dornoch Line. |
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1965 mute bw |
LAUNCH AND SEA TRIALS OF TS GEORGE [8834]Add to my filmsThe launch of cargo ship TS 'George' at Denny's of Dumbarton and her sea trials on the Firth of Clyde. |
1953 silent bw |
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LAUNCH OF MV INDIAN CITY [7806]Add to my filmsShipyard preparations and the launch of the Reardon Smith Line bulk carrier 'Indian City' at Fairfield's, Govan. |
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1967 silent col |
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LAUNCH OF S.S. 'WAROONGA': 28th May 1957 [5018]Add to my filmsA record of the launch of the S.S. 'WAROONGA' on Clydeside, in 1957. This ship was built for the British India Steam Navigation Co. Ltd. by Barclay, Curle & Co. Ltd. |
Onsite only |
1957 silent col |
LAUNCH OF THE T.S. TUG 'OTAGO' [5019]Add to my filmsA record of the launch of the T.S. Tug 'Otago' at Lobnitz yard. This ship was bound for the port of Otago, New Zealand and several New Zealanders were there for the launch, including Miss Jean McKenzie, the daughter of the harbourmaster in Otago and the ship's sponsor. |
1955 sound bw |
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LION INTERVIEW [9860]Add to my filmsFootage of Helena and Frank Farrar, founders of Southport and Colchester Zoo, at home with their pet lion Rajah, and also shots of animal trainer Alex Kerr in the circus ring with his tigers. |
Onsite only |
1956 silent bw |
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LION TAMING [9859]Add to my filmsFootage of Helena and Frank Farrar, possibly at Southport Zoo as they introduce a TV presenter to a cage of lions and a leopard. |
Onsite only |
1956 silent bw |
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LISMORE LIGHTHOUSE [5206]Add to my filmsA record of workers on the Lismore Lighthouse transferring shifts. They travel by rowing boats and are hoisted on to a large ship where men in naval uniform help carry supplies and luggage. |
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1965 mute bw |
LOCH GLASHAN DAM [5485]Add to my filmsShowing work being carried out on the surface of Loch Glashan hydroelectric plant and loch, workmen using the underground railway. |
1960 mute bw |
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LOCH LEE WATER SCHEME [5404]Add to my filmsGeneral views of Loch Lee and construction work on the water scheme there. Includes some interior shots. |
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1961 mute bw |
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LYCEUM AND EMPIRE THEATRES, EDINBURGH [5540]Add to my filmsExterior and interior shots of Empire Theatre and exteriors of the Royal Lyceum Theatre, Edinburgh. |
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1965 mute bw |
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MAID OF THE LOCH [5076]Add to my filmsMen painting the 'Maid of the Loch' paddle steamer. |
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1959 mute bw |
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MAKE WAY FOR STEEL [2244]Add to my filmsThe construction of Ravenscraig and Gartcosh steel works. |
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1966 sound col |
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MARYHILL BARRACKS [8594]Add to my filmsNews footage of the construction of flats on the new Wyndford Estate in Glasgow on the site of Maryhill Barracks, including shots of the barracks church and preserved masonry from the barracks site. |
Onsite only |
1960 mute bw |
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MARYHILL BARRACKS DEMOLITION [8465]Add to my filmsNews footage of the deserted site of Maryhill Barracks in Glasgow at the start of the process of demolition, and shots of the architects' model for the new Wyndford Estate. |
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1961 mute bw |
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MEADOWSIDE GRANARY II [5150]Add to my filmsThe cargo ship 'Korcula' is relieved of its grain cargo. This film shows the various mechanical processes involved and general shots of the Glasgow Granary buildings, since demolished. |
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1965 mute bw |
METROPOLE FIRES [5436]Add to my filmsFire at the Metropole Theatre, Glasgow. |
1961 mute bw |
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MODEL 4576 [8833]Add to my filmsA technical film by the National Physical Laboratory of testing tank trials for the hull model of the New Zealand car ferry 'Wahine', for builders the Fairfield Shipbuilding & Engineering Co. |
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1964 silent bw |
MORAY SEA SCHOOL [5192]Add to my filmsMoray Sea School pupils learning the ropes on board a boat. |
1963 mute bw |
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MORRIS CHAIR [5330]Add to my filmsThe creation of a new Bambi chair at the Morris Furniture Factory, Glasgow. Production processes in the factory are shown. |
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1965 mute bw |
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MOTHERWELL FLATS [5479]Add to my filmsGeneral views of the High Rise Flats in Motherwell, Provost at ceremony to commemorate the completion of the Motherwell Housing Development. |
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1962 mute bw |
MR. KIHATA VISITS THE CLYDE [5068]Add to my filmsMr. Kihata visits Gorbals flats and takes a tour of Lithgows Shipyard in Greenock. Presumably a ship is being built for him there? |
1965 mute bw |
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MURRAYFIELD [5226]Add to my filmsShots of an empty Murrayfield stadium. |
1964 mute bw |
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