Birth Of A Record (1955)

Holborn, London. Low angle shot of a street sign which reads: “Denmark Street“ - Borough of Holborn. Various shots of pieces of sheet music in the windows of shops in what the narrator describes as “London’s Tin Pan Alley.“ The sheet music includes that for “Please Opportunity“ by Norman Wisdom - others are mostly unrecognisable. Interior of an office. Ruby Murray and Ronnie Harris are choosing songs to record. C/U of Ronnie as he looks at a piece of music, he nods his head in approval. They are in the office of “hit publishers“ Jimmy and Bill Phillips. C/U of Jimmy or Bill then of the pianist (Les Paul) who begins to play a tune. Ronnie begins singing. Shots of Ronnie singing as he sits in the office are intercut with shots of the pianist, the publishers and Ruby who obviously approves. Ronnie stands beside the pianist and sings. The song is “I Wonder“. There is some discussion between the publisher and Ruby then she has a go at a new song. Ruby sings “Bambino“ holding the sheet music up