This film is part of Free

Title of error

South Bank

Magnificent monument to the arts or architectural monstrosity? The jury's out on Britain's new National Theatre

1973 5 mins

Overview

Is this the "ugliest sight in Europe?" As the bulldozers move in on London's South Bank, this 1973 news report explores the latest uproar over modern architecture. Following in the footsteps of the Royal Festival Hall and Hayward Gallery, building designs for the new National Theatre seem set to divide opinion. But as history teaches us, today's hideous edifice may well be tomorrow's magnificent monument.

This news item was released in 1973 as part of This Week in Britain, a long-running cinemagazine series from the Central Office of Information. Never seen by domestic UK audiences, TWIB was made on behalf of the Foreign and Commonwealth Office for screening overseas, with the aim of promoting British culture, science and industry to international audiences. This government film is a public record, preserved and presented by the BFI National Archive on behalf of The National Archives, home to more than 1,000 years of British history.

Country

United Kingdom

Location

National Theatre

Language

English

Subjects

Currently unavailable

StoryTrails: The People's Map Newport StoryTrails: The People's Map Newport

Documentary 2022 12 mins Location: Newport/Casnewydd

This map showcases a curated selection of audio stories and digitally animated 3D scans of the people and places in and around Newport.

Currently unavailable

StoryTrails: The People's Map Wolverhampton StoryTrails: The People's Map Wolverhampton

Documentary 2022 14 mins Location: Wolverhampton

This map showcases a curated selection of audio stories and digitally animated 3D scans of the people and places in and around Wolverhampton.

Currently unavailable

StoryTrails: The People's Map Omagh StoryTrails: The People's Map Omagh

Documentary 2022 15 mins Location: Omagh

This map showcases a curated selection of audio stories and digitally animated 3D scans of the people and places in and around Omagh.

Currently unavailable

StoryTrails: The People's Map Slough StoryTrails: The People's Map Slough

Documentary 2022 15 mins Location: Slough

This map showcases a curated selection of audio stories and digitally animated 3D scans of the people and places in and around Slough.

Currently unavailable

StoryTrails: The People's Map Dundee StoryTrails: The People's Map Dundee

Documentary 2022 14 mins Location: Dundee

This map showcases a curated selection of audio stories and digitally animated 3D scans of the people and places in and around Dundee.

Currently unavailable

StoryTrails: The People's Map Swansea StoryTrails: The People's Map Swansea

Documentary 2022 15 mins Location: Swansea/Abertawe

This map showcases a curated selection of audio stories and digitally animated 3D scans of the people and places in and around Swansea.

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.