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
May Pole Dance July 1956; Picnic Trip to Finchley July 1956; London Zoo Aug 1956; Windsor Castle Sept 1956
Four films capturing a family summer in 1956, with highlights coming from London Zoo, where a very different attitude to animal care is on display.
From the collection of:
Overview
A quartet of films of the Lawford family in 1956, starting with a neatly choreographed dance round the maypole with local children, presumably on a common in Harrow. Next is a picnic in Finchley, and then it’s to London to meet the animals. Trafalgar Square first to feed pigeons, and then London Zoo, to ride the elephant and camel. The fourth film is from Windsor Castle, showing marching soldiers – the children copycat, like Christopher Robin – and beautiful, eerie gardens.
Filmed respectively in May, July, August and September 1956, the highlight is the third film, showing a trip to London Zoo. What’s extraordinary to modern eyes is the very different conditions the animals are kept in. An elephant stands marooned on a concrete island eating food offered by the crowds; the Lawford children ride a camel round the zoo – all three at once! – and then do the same on the back of a baby elephant. We then see some bears in a tiny cage, fighting, swinging and getting rather personal. Also filmed are goats, a polar bear and a great grizzly, the latter on Bear Mountain, which now houses wallabies.
Related
Watch for free
May Day Ponies May Day Ponies
Non-Fiction 1974 4 mins Location: Upper Gornal
Sam Jeavons is a Black Country horse man through and through and May Day is a time to decorate his wagon and bring some colour to Upper Gornal's streets.
Watch for free
Springtime in an English Village Springtime in an English Village
Documentary 1944 7 mins Location: Stanion
An extraordinary and unexpected snapshot of rural life in wartime in which a young black girl is crowned Queen of the May.
Watch for free
The Legend of the Good Beasts The Legend of the Good Beasts
Puppet (live-action) 1956 24 mins
Fabergé animals in a Russian influenced Easter tale narrated by Peter Ustinov
Watch for free
Welcome Spring Welcome Spring
Amateur film 1952 9 mins Silent
Spring comes to Scotland in the 1950s: feed playful lambs, pick a host of glorious daffodils, and harness your faithful horse to the plough in this lovely amateur colour film.
Watch for free
Avalanche of Lambs Avalanche of Lambs
Non-Fiction 1923 1 mins
A fluffy white blizzard - of hundreds of newborn lambs - hits a Reading farm, keeping the shepherd's hands full.
Watch for free
Easter Parade, Hyde Park Easter Parade, Hyde Park
1958 4 mins Silent Location: Hyde Park
Easter Parade in Hyde Park, April 1958.
Watch for free
Irish and Proud of It Irish and Proud of It
Crime 1936 72 mins Location: Derry / Londonderry
Kidnapping, mobsters and moonshine! Is this a story is set in a country, which exists only in the minds of those who have never been to Ireland?
Watch for free
Eileen's Wedding 31st October 1955; Joan's wedding 31st March 1956 Eileen's Wedding 31st October 1955; Joan's wedding 31st March 1956
Home movie 1955 13 mins Silent Location: Brent
Great period footage of two suburban London weddings in these family films from the 1950.
Watch for free
Anzora Viola Cream, Masters of the Hair Anzora Viola Cream, Masters of the Hair
Advert 1925 1 mins Silent Location: Willesden
Animated advert showcasing the remarkable effects of Anzora Viola Cream, produced in London and the market leader until Brylcreem appeared.
Watch for free
Getting it Back: The Story of Cymande - Q&A Getting it Back: The Story of Cymande - Q&A
Inside Film 2024 22 mins
The director of a documentary about British funk pioneers Cymande joins the band at BFI Southbank to talk about the film.
Watch for free
The West Case The West Case
Action and Adventure 1923 28 mins Silent Location: Tilbury
Plotting world domination, Devil Doctor Fu-Manchu steals plans for a new aero-torpedo in this earliest surviving thrill-a-minute serial instalment.
Watch for free
Enter the Scala!!! Enter the Scala!!!
Inside Film 2024 16 mins
Filmmakers Jane Giles and Ali Catterall discuss their documentary Scala!!!, revisiting the legendary and inspirational cinema venue and some of the most notorious films that screened there.
Watch for free
Smith Smith
Charity appeal 1939 10 mins
Long thought lost, this Powell-directed promotional short for a veteran’s charity was only rediscovered in 2003.
Watch for free
An Airman's Letter to His Mother An Airman's Letter to His Mother
Documentary 1941 6 mins
A poignant, stirring letter from a recently deceased pilot to his mother is read by John Gielgud.
Watch for free
The NHS75 Celebration The NHS75 Celebration
Short documentary 2023 3 mins
Former Bristol Poet Laureate, Miles Chambers reads a poem specially commissioned for the 75th anniversary of the NHS.