This film is part of Free

Down by the Sea

Peacehaven, near Lewes, gets the star treatment in this spiffing celebrity travelogue.

Advert 1925 8 mins Silent

Overview

Picturesque Peacehaven, near Lewes, is the co-star of this spiffing travelogue. The other lead role is taken by stage and screen star Hilda Bayley, touring the Sussex resort: an early example of celebrity endorsed promotional filmmaking. The film was produced by Pathé, possibly for its Pathé Pictorial cinemagazine series, but more likely as a stand-alone piece sponsored by an outside agency for tourist promotion purposes.

The experienced professionalism of Pathé’s technicians shows in some strikingly well-composed scenic views, the vivacious Ms Bayley often placed in the foreground. The actress is best known today for playing opposite Ivor Novello in his debut feature Carnival (1921) and for her starring role in the notorious Cocaine (1922), which is available on BFI Player.