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Shiraz is a historical romance set in seventeenth century India. It was a co-production between Britain, Germany and India directed by Franz Osten, who had made the film 'Prem Sanyas' (Light of Asia) in India two years before. When a caravan is attacked, an infant princess gets separated from her family and is adopted by a potter who names her Selima. As she grows up, the potter’s son, Shiraz, falls in love with her but she is abducted by slave traders and sold at auction to the Crown Prince of India. The Prince also falls in love with her but can’t marry her, as she is not of noble birth. This drives Dalia, an admirer of the prince, into a jealous rage and she looks for ways to betray Selima. Dalia gives Shiraz a pass to get into the palace to see Selima but the two are caught together and Shiraz is sentenced death through crushing by an elephant. This is where the scene in this clip begins. The servant who gave Shiraz the pass to the palace is poisoned by Dalia but manages to confess to the prince just in time to save Shiraz’ life. Selima’s royal ancestry is discovered and she marries the Prince. After her death he builds a monument to her memory: the Taj Mahal. Associated British Picture Corporation donated the original negative of the film to the National Film and Television Archive in 1962 and from this a viewing print was made in 1995. |
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