• Short Summary

    Former Battista official is shot, one of 200 people executed after Castro's take-over.

  • Description

    Cuba.

    Panning shot of men in court, pan to prisoner. CU.Lawyer. MS.Prisoner. MS.Defence Lawyer. MS.Spectators. MS.Prisoner (2 shots). CU.Pan: Jury. MCU.Jury. CU.Defendant. CU.Juror. MS.Spectators. Exterior shot: prisoner getting out of van. MS.CU.Prisoner writing. MS.Prisoner smoking. MS.Firing squad. MS.Preparing fire, shot prisoner falls into grave. MS.Dead man in grave.

    Information we have been given tells us that the prisoner filmed in this scene was Lieutenant Enrique Despaigne, who was charged with 53 murders while a member of the Batista regime which was overthrown by Fidel Castro. Castro himself features within the clip.

  • Tags

  • Data

    Film ID:
    2932.05
    Media URN:
    84467
    Group:
    Unissued unused
    Archive:
    British Pathé
    Issue Date:
    1959
    Sound:
    sound
    HD Format:
    Available on request
    Stock:
    Black & White
    Duration:
    00:01:31:00
    Time in/Out:
    01:08:13:00 / 01:09:44:00
    Canister:
    UN 3177 E

Comments (2)

  1. Unknown user says

    The as yet unnamed prisoner referred to in the shots list, and seen being executed, is Lieutenant Enrique Despaigne, an official of the former Batista regime overthrown by Fidel Castro.

    The shots list describes gives the detail "Prisoner writing" - Despaigne was writing a letter to his son.

    Note that Castro himself features within this footage.

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  2. Unknown user says

    Here's a link, from a magazine article in 1959, providing more information about this particular clip....

    http://www.latinamericanstudies.org/cuba/Time-1-26-1959.pdf

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