National Screen and Sound Archive of Wales preserves and celebrates the sound and moving image heritage of Wales, making it accessible to a wide range of users for enjoyment and learning. Its film collection reflects every aspect of the nation’s social, cultural and working life across the 20th century, giving a fascinating insight into Welsh filmmaking, both amateur and professional.
This film is part of Free
Sunshine Girl
What makes a South Wales Sunshine Girl? Well, the answer may vary depending on whether you ask a chauvinist or a feminist!
From the collection of:
Overview
Ten hopefuls compete to become the South Wales Sunshine Girl. It is all to play for, so long as they are willing to bare almost all for the big screen and smile along as they are used to advertise various businesses operating in the area. In return, the winner will scoop a 2-week holiday for 2 in Jersey, or a stay in Ostend. A runner up can walk away with a "luxury dressing table", "lux-a-flex blinds" or one of the 120 sea trips offered by White Funnel Pleasure Steamers.
The South Wales Sunshine Girl competition, won by Ann Roberts, was sponsored by the Palace Ballroom, Merthyr. Many such competitions were held the same year - e.g BBC Women's Dress Sense Competition (1st prize a trip to Paris), Miss Secretary 1959, South Wales Dairy Princess and, probably not the pick of the bunch, Welsh Turkey Queen! See Karl Francis' film ‘Miss Rhymney Valley' (1985) for a chauvinist v feminist wrangle about beauty contests. The song 'Sunshine Girl' is sung by the famous Cardiff (Senior) Snowflakes Choir. Formed in 1926 it performed at the first Llangollen International Musical Eisteddfod in 1947 and one of its members worked in films in the USA 1936-39 as a body-double for Shirley Temple.
Related
Domestic Help Domestic Help
Advert 1952 2 mins
A cup of Horlicks helps a struggling husband bring home the bacon in this 1950s advert.
Crowning Glory Crowning Glory
Advert 1936 14 mins
Limp-haired lover Betty rekindles romance with dashing Dick by swapping to Amami Shampoo and Wave Set in this 1930s advertising film.
Ask My Mum Ask My Mum
Advert 1940 3 mins
Snow White wouldn’t look like Snow White without her special washing powder.
Eldorado Ice Cream Ad; Beautiful Women Eldorado Ice Cream Ad; Beautiful Women
Advert 1937 1 mins Silent
An ice cream a day keeps the wrinkles away…
The Clue of the Gleaming Hair (Eve Shampoo Advert) The Clue of the Gleaming Hair (Eve Shampoo Advert)
Advert 1937 6 mins Silent
Luscious hair solves a mysterious disappearance.
Fairy Liquid - Nanette Newman Fairy Liquid - Nanette Newman
Advert 1980 1 mins
Stepford wife Nanette Newman becomes the face of mild green Fairy Liquid in this iconic advert.
Local Cinema Advertisements - Blaenau Ffestiniog and Merthyr Local Cinema Advertisements - Blaenau Ffestiniog and Merthyr
Advert 1942 7 mins Silent Location: Blaenau Ffestiniog
Who could deny these advertising claims: "Attractive hair is the ambition of every woman", and "Your family will enjoy Lincoln potatoes"?
Tank 'Julian' in Merthyr Tank 'Julian' in Merthyr
Non-Fiction 1918 5 mins Silent Location: Merthyr Tydfil
Julian', a battle-scarred tank, is the toast of Merthyr in June 1918. Spot 3 women without hats in the crowd that greets the monster guest.
Owen Humberstone Prosser - Ebbw Vale Owen Humberstone Prosser - Ebbw Vale
Amateur film 1959 16 mins Silent Location: Crumlin
Owen Humberstone Prosser, an expert on railways and canals, captured the Crumlin Viaduct on film in 1959, before its demolition in 1967, a victim of the Beeching rail cuts.
Civic Year 1976-7 Civic Year 1976-7
Amateur film 1976 14 mins Silent Location: Merthyr Tydfil
A visual diary recording the events of a civic year which includes the installation of the mayor, a parade and a visit from Prince Charles.
Mayors of Merthyr Tydfil Mayors of Merthyr Tydfil
Amateur film 1950 15 mins Silent Location: Merthyr Tydfil
A collection of Installation Ceremonies introducing Merthyr Tydfil's various mayors over a period of years.
Presentation of the Freedom of the Borough of Merthyr Tydfil to Arthur Lewis Horner Presentation of the Freedom of the Borough of Merthyr Tydfil to Arthur Lewis Horner
Amateur film 1959 13 mins Silent Location: Merthyr Tydfil
Arthur Lewis Horner is honoured in the most prestigious way by being granted the Freedom of the Borough of Merthyr Tydfil.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.