This film is part of Free
Discoveries
This morale-boosting variety extravaganza – filled with radio personality Carroll Levis' discoveries - is like a wartime Britain's Got Talent.
Overview
Touring England in search of talent, something like a 1930s Simon Cowell, Canadian-born wireless personality Carroll Levis hosted a BBC Radio series in the pre-war years showcasing his "discoveries". This cinema spinoff includes performances by some of the young unknowns he discovered, including singers, comedians, and a couple of rather good Laurel and Hardy impersonators.
While this unashamedly patriotic variety spectacular was shot before conflict commenced, the clouds of war were visible on the horizon – and pride of place is given to a rousingly flag-waving rendition of There'll Always Be an England, sung by a well-scrubbed lad surrounded by the stoic Empire troops who stand at the ready.
Related
Five Guineas a Week Five Guineas a Week
Musical 1956 33 mins
1950s song and dance revue set in a colourful world of boarding houses and coffee bars
Devil's Rock Devil's Rock
Drama 1938 51 mins Location: Bangor
Will new open-air microphone technology give Richard Hayward the chance to silence his critics? Watch as Cushendun and Bangor steal the show.
Shooting Stars Shooting Stars
Comedy 1937 32 mins
Black music hall stars Scott and Whaley perform stereotypical minstrel routines in blackface in this 1937 touring revue.
The Rise and Fall of Nellie Brown The Rise and Fall of Nellie Brown
Musical 1964 70 mins Location: Liverpool
An incredibly joyous TV musical about a young woman's search for her long-lost cousin.
Twinkling Fingers Twinkling Fingers
Musical 1940 11 mins
Pianists Charlie Kunz and Mark Hambourg tickle the ivories for our entertainment in this jolly musical short.
Song of Toledo Song of Toledo
Musical 1953 31 mins
This merrily musical short film takes a jovial trip across picturesque 1950s Spain aboard the Talgo Express
Islington Central Methodist Church Stone Laying Ceremony Islington Central Methodist Church Stone Laying Ceremony
Amateur film 1962 3 mins Silent Location: Highbury
Formal fashions and colourful headwear adorn the attendees of a traffic-stopping parade and stone laying ceremony at the site of a new church.
Cup Final Drawing Nearer Cup Final Drawing Nearer
Non-Fiction 1922 1 mins Silent Location: Highbury
FA Cup third round: Arsenal v Leicester City and Cardiff City v Nottingham Forest.
Alive and Kicking Alive and Kicking
Documentary 1937 8 mins Silent Location: Highbury
Arsenal footballers including Ted Drake, Eddie Hapgood and Cliff Bastin show off their skills in training for this council film to promote healthy living.
Library at Work Library at Work
Documentary 1922 13 mins Silent Location: Westminster
Short film celebrating several London libraries, from the grand British Museum reading room to children’s reading hours at smaller local libraries.
Gaumont British News No 243 Gaumont British News No 243
Non-Fiction 1936 10 mins Location: Twickenham
Society weddings, FA Cup finals and Shakespeare’s birthday all feature in this newsreel from 1936, featuring amusingly droll commentary.
Battle for Wembley Battle for Wembley
Non-Fiction 1928 1 mins Silent Location: Highbury
Heaving terraces and goalmouth action at Highbury for this FA Cup fourth round encounter between Arsenal and Everton.
Khichdi Khichdi
Animation & Artists Moving Image 2023 16 mins
The interwoven stories of four best friends who reunite in the UK, thirty-five years after training together as nurses during their teens in Ferozepur, Punjab.
Dr XYZ: A Medical Drag Transthology Dr XYZ: A Medical Drag Transthology
2023 15 mins
A satirical take on the healthcare service announcements of the 1960s and 70s.
Every Moment Counts Every Moment Counts
Animation & Artists Moving Image 2023 9 mins
A short animation that offers a window into the world of children’s palliative care.
Police Story: Panel Discussion Police Story: Panel Discussion
Inside Film 2024 24 mins
Panel discussion on Jackie Chan's 1985 action classic Police Story, with Chase Armitage, Sam Mak and Jadey Duffield.
China O'Brien: The Reunion China O'Brien: The Reunion
Documentary 2024 60 mins
Cynthia Rothrock, Richard Norton and Keith Cooke reunite three decades on from the groundbreaking martial arts classic.
Women in Action Panel Discussion Women in Action Panel Discussion
Inside Film 2024 28 mins
Action Xtreme - the UK's leading action film studio - hosts this panel discussion with four leading women in action cinema - Soo Cole, Jo Rolison, Jadey Duffield and Ioanna Karavela.