Old footage of Malta surfaces

Robert (A) Falzon

Dec 23rd 2009, 18:16

I had just logged onto the Times of Malta website this morning here in Australia and to my very pleasant surprise I read about and then watched the old footage of Malta.

It brought back memories of my father's uncle (iz-zijju Karmnu) in Balzan who had a number of "mozz u nagg" (goats and sheep) at his small farm not far from Balzan church where I was born.

I also remember another character in Valley Road, Balzan (who used to keep a large herd of goats) not far from the Master Pasta Factory and Mr Maceli who used to teach at the primary boys school in Birkirkara.

The Ghonnella also reminded me of Gulia tal-muzew from Brared Street and another dear old lady (tal-muzew) in Naxxar Road, Birkirkara just around the corner from home. These two lovely characters used to go to il-kunvent tal-patrijiet tal-Karmnu in Valley Road, Birkirkara.

Well done Times of Malta - thank you for the pleasure you gave me today. I wish all your readers and staff Il-Milied it-Tajjeb.

Sue Mercieca

Dec 22nd 2009, 15:32

Couldnt help but notice the old entrance to Valletta if I am not mistaken and also part of the old Opera House. Lovely buildings. Makes me wonder why so much money is being squandered on plans to rebuild these two zones of Valletta when the writing is there for all to see on the wall. In my humble opinion - they should be rebuilt as they were, on the outside - while on the inside new plans should be drawn that accomodate today's needs.

Paul Borg

Dec 22nd 2009, 08:05

After viewing the video I must say that there is the most peculiar editing in the Malta "phase": The is frequent and very "jarring" intermingling of footage from Tunis: including Tunisian street scenes, Tunisian street vendors and even one of a man holding a Tunisian newspaper in French titled "Tunis Socialiste". The focus of the film is also on the exotic rather than the normal for example goats in street and women in the "ghonella". In the Malta street scenes, for example, (including the "ghonella" sequences) by far the bulk of the women in the background were dressed in modern fashionable clothes. Interesting from an architectural background point of view rather than the foreground subject matter.

Darren Casar

Dec 21st 2009, 17:22

Another interesting clip from the 1950s http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=rL6tzRmoSps

A. Grech

Dec 21st 2009, 14:53

What can I say? Just thank you Times of Malta, yep, those were tht times.....

Frankie Spiteri

Dec 21st 2009, 13:43

I also just saw this. It is a similar video on this link
http://www.youtube.com/user/travelfilmarchive#p/search/1/PBkfpYc2GN4
This one also shows the granaries in use etc.
Titled "People of the Mediterranean 1933"
Enjoy

M. Deguara

Dec 21st 2009, 12:35

Amazing!!

Jeremy Lanfranco

Dec 21st 2009, 12:30

The original video WITH SOUND can be seen here

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=F7s0TG7dD7A

at 21min 44 secs through the whole of the film.

Enjoy it !!

James A. Tyrrell

Dec 21st 2009, 11:56

Fascinating! I agree with Adrian Cachia that all this type of footage should be bought up. It could be made into a brilliant documentary of times gone by of interest to both Maltese and tourists.

SGrech

Dec 21st 2009, 11:31

I love the fact that they used to milk the goats in the roads in Valletta (8min)! Cup of tea with milk? hold on, let me grab the goat :o)

Adrian Cachia

Dec 21st 2009, 11:24

The government should buy this footage. I am sure there is plenty of it around the world!