Let’s go along with War Horse News’ mysterious foreign correspondent, our friend Sam Lane. She’s on the ground in London and her lens and her eyes are wide open. Sam was able to arrive early in Leicester Square on Sunday, and photographed the preparations for the Royal Premiere of War Horse at the Odeon Theatre, as well as the arrival of some of the stars and the most special guests of honor. Let’s go!
There was no question which moving was showing at the Odeon on Sunday night! (photo © Sam Lane)
War Horse posters in London used the horizontal four-fold movie poster format instead of the vertical format usually seen in ads and in the USA. It looked like 100 or so of them were attached to movable barricades for a block or so in front of the theater. (photo © Sam Lane)
Roll out the red carpet! A city block's length (at least) arrived in vans. (photo © Sam Lane)
Not just any old red carpet for the stars of War Horse! (photo © Sam Lane)
Who was the first star to arrive? It was Joey, the War Horse himself! (photo © Sam Lane)
"Joey", a.k.a. Sultan, an Andalusian who was one of many horses who played the star in War Horse, was escorted by Tom Cox of Devils Horsemen stunt riders. Dan Nedrous of Devils Horsemen was one of the assistant horsemasters of the film. He was in the background, on safety duty. (Photo © Sam Lane)
Right, I can't explain the bit either. War Horses can adapt to anything! (photo © Sam Lane)
War Horse Equine Artistic Advisor Ali Bannister had her share of fans behind the barricades: her mother was there to watch her daughter and her artwork on the red carpet--Ali had to do the makeup on Sultan (he played Joey in the trenches scene in the film) before he walked the carpet. It was a fun night for everyone! (photo © Sam Lane)
The man behind War Horse: American producer/director Steven Spielberg arrived at the theater and walked own the red carpet right to Joey and greeted him first! (photo © Sam Lane)
War Horse star Patrick Kennedy gave autographs to fans on the barricades. He played Lieutenant Waverly in the film, although he pronounces it "Left-tenant". He's as charming offscreen as his role was onscreen! (photo © Sam Lane)
War Horse star Benedict Cumberblatch has the best name in show business. He's quite a star in Britain, and War Horse earned him a lot of American fans, too. He played Sherlock Holmes in the BBC production that is currently showing in the USA on PBS Masterpiece. (photo © Sam Lane)
Who doesn't have a soft spot in his or her heart for the artistic officer Captain Nicholls from War Horse? He was played by Tom Hiddleston, whom you might recognize as Loki from Thor or from PBS Masterpiece's Return to Cranford series and many other films and shows. (photo © Sam Lane)
The guests of honor at the War Horse Royal Premiere were members of British military units associated with Prince William or Prince Harry. The evening was a fundraiser for their foundation that aids servicemen. (photo © Sam Lane)
Servicewomen guests at the War Horse premiere were the modern-day counterparts of the World War I troops portrayed so well in the film. (photo © Sam Lane)
The guests of honor were essentially the hosts, as well. War Horse made the Duchess of Cambridge (the former Kate Milddleton) shed a tear, according to Steven Spielberg. Here she is arriving with her husband, the Duke of Cambridge--Prince William to Americans. (photo © Sam Lane)
Photographer Sam Lane at home after the premiere shows off her treasures: one of the posters from the barricades--removed with permission of a policeman, and a scrap of the War Horse red carpet that was a gift from the carpet-layers. Well done, Sam! (photo © Sam Lane)
Be sure to visit Sam Lane’s Flickr stream to see more photos from the premiere night. And to read her account of what happened that night, her Posterous blog, Living in London 2012, has all the details in the first person! Sam is a rising star photographer in the big city who has a very horsey background as daughter of a well-known horse veterinarian. She has her horse eye out in London and we expect she’ll be a great connection during the Olympics.
There’s nothing like a foreign correspondent, especially a fearless one who knows and loves horses! Thanks, Sam!
All content © 2011 Fran Jurga and EquiSearch
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