This film is part of Free

Title of error

First Frenchman to Be Tennis Champion

French tennis aces Jean Borotra and René Lacoste prepare to face each other at Wimbledon.

Non-Fiction 1924 Silent

Overview

Jean Borotra and René Lacoste (on the left and right respectively), two giants of French tennis, face the camera ahead of the men’s singles final at Wimbledon. Together they would go on to win four singles titles at Wimbledon, but Borotra’s win here was the first one, and the first ever by a Frenchman. It’s a great shame we can’t see footage from the match, a see-saw affair in which Borotra finally overcame Lacoste in the fifth set. The final result was 6-1, 3-6, 6-1, 3-6, 6-4.

Together with Jacques Brugnon and Henri Cochet the four were known as The Four Musketeers. They dominated the game in the 1920s and into the 1930s.

Original title

First Frenchman to Be Tennis Champion Topical Budget 672-1

Genres

Non-Fiction

Country

United Kingdom

Language

No Dialogue with English subtitles

Watch for free

Sue Barker plays Evonne Goolagong Sue Barker plays Evonne Goolagong

Sport 1971 9 mins Location: Torquay

A young pretender takes on the Wimbledon Champion

Watch for free

Festival Wimbledon Festival Wimbledon

Sport 1951 22 mins

Extended highlights from the 1951 Wimbledon Tennis Championships

Watch for free

Centred on Wimbledon Centred on Wimbledon

Sport 1947 23 mins Location: Wimbledon

An account of the 1947 Wimbledon tennis championship

Watch for free

Colourful Wimbledon Colourful Wimbledon

Sport 1954 47 mins Location: Hampton

Wimbledon 1954, from the meticulous preparation of the 16 tennis courts to the finals and the glory on Centre Court.

Watch for free

Duke Beaten at Wimbledon Duke Beaten at Wimbledon

Non-Fiction 1926 1 mins Silent

The future King George VI takes to the court at Wimbledon Tennis Championships.

Watch for free

Sue Barker in the Ladies Tennis BP Cup Sue Barker in the Ladies Tennis BP Cup

News 1977 5 mins Location: Paignton

It's a question of Sue: tennis player Sue Barker competes against an American opponent in the Ladies Indoor Tennis BP Cup.

Watch for free

Starve Acre - Exclusive Q&A Starve Acre - Exclusive Q&A

Short interview 2024 24 mins

Daniel Kokotajlo talks to Nia Childs about Starve Acre, his folk horror about a couple digging deep into grief in the heart of the Yorkshire Dales.

Watch for free

Sky Peals - Exclusive Q&A Sky Peals - Exclusive Q&A

Short interview 2024 30 mins

Sky Peals director Moin Hussain and lead actor Faraz Ayub talk to Tomisin Adepeju about their magic realist drama.

Watch for free

Inside the Archive: The Early Films of Michael Powell Inside the Archive: The Early Films of Michael Powell

Documentary 2024 42 mins

Documentary exploring the BFI National Archive’s role in rediscovering and remastering the early films of Michael Powell.

Watch for free

Inside the Archive: The Riviera Revels Inside the Archive: The Riviera Revels

Short documentary 2024 12 mins

Bryony Dixon, curator of silent film at the BFI national archive, explores the origins of a series of comic travelogues, and Michael Powell's involvement in making them.