London’s Screen Archives enables Londoners see their past come alive on film. Managed by Film London, we are a unique network of historic film collections that cares for, collects and screens heritage film across the city. Together we preserve London’s rich film heritage from feature films to home movies, public information films, newsreels, and records of the capital’s many different industries.
This film is part of Free
Gaumont British News No 243
Society weddings, FA Cup finals and Shakespeare’s birthday all feature in this newsreel from 1936, featuring amusingly droll commentary.
From the collection of:
Overview
“The normally drab and colourless city of London became gay for an afternoon,” begins this newsreel from 1936, which kicks off with a society wedding at St Paul’s. Later items including military inspections, Shakespeare’s birthday, Hollywood fashion and rugby and football finals, all discussed with a droll, self-deprecating commentary. This newsreel would be shown around the world, so reflects the way London wanted people to regard it in 1936.
The bulk of the film features the FA Cup final between Arsenal and Sheffield United. Gaumont cameras were banned, so after some fine shots of the crowds in London and arriving at the stadium, they take to the air and film the game from an airplane above the stadium, all the while giving a cheeky running commentary. This makes an interesting aside to an eclectic newsreel.
Related
Watch for free
Twickenham's Town Hall Empire News Bulletin No. 42 Twickenham's Town Hall Empire News Bulletin No. 42
Non-Fiction 1926 1 mins Silent Location: Twickenham
Umbrellas, top hats and maces are all out and proud at the royal opening of new council chambers in Twickenham.
Watch for free
Mods & Rockers Mods & Rockers
Drama 1965 27 mins Location: Twickenham
A mop-topped Mick Fleetwood bashes the drums and steals the show in this bizarre 1960s beat ballet music film.
Watch for free
Father Thames Father Thames
Documentary 1935 17 mins Location: Thames Head
Swans, boats and bridges are celebrated by lyrical commentary and fine images in this delightful tour of the Thames from “trivial” beginnings to torrential end.
Watch for free
Prize Day Prize Day
Non-Fiction 1930 1 mins Silent Location: Twickenham
An energetic display of tightly co-ordinated acrobatics impresses dignitaries – including the Home Secretary – at the police orphanage’s annual prize day.
Watch for free
London's New Borough London's New Borough
Non-Fiction 1926 6 mins Silent Location: Twickenham
Bunting, boats, funfairs and donkey rides as cheering crowds celebrate the great day Twickenham is made a municipal borough.
Watch for free
Lt Pimple and the Stolen Submarine Lt Pimple and the Stolen Submarine
Comedy 1914 14 mins Silent Location: Twickenham
The intrepid Lieutenant Pimple thwarts foreign enemies in an action-packed wartime spy spoof.
Watch for free
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.
Watch for free
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.
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.