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Former international cricketer Bill O’Reilly recalls Don Bradman’s captaincy during the 1937 and 1938 test cricket series.
Curator’s notes
Former international cricketer Bill O’Reilly recalls Don Bradman’s captaincy during the 1937 and 1938 test cricket series. O’Reilly is interviewed in a studio and framed awkwardly with too much headroom and an odd flesh-toned backdrop that strangely matches his chair and face. However, O’Reilly does give a good summation of the question marks surrounding Bradman as the Australian cricket captain during this time.
His recollections continue as a voice-over accompanied by professionally filmed cricket footage from the era. One can see how the filming of live sport had become more sophisticated by this time with multiple cameras at different vantage points. It set the standard for how the game is filmed today. The slow-motion footage allows the viewer to more fully appreciate the athleticism and technique of both bowler and batsman.
The historical footage is then effectively edited and freeze-framed to match O’Reilly’s narrative as he mentions locations and players. There is a charming use of old-fashioned editing transitions, or wipes, which are sympathetic to the era in which the footage was shot.
