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
War Looms Over London (September 1938)
Atmospheric film capturing the mood of the capital ahead of the war. From ARP adverts to the building of bombshelters, London prepares for war.
From the collection of:
Overview
A year prior to Britain and Frace declaring war on Germany, this vibrant, rich and relatively early amateur colour film depicts the capital's sense of unease as the populace faces the prospect of war. Filmmaker Sydney F. Martin, multi-award winning amateur and founder of the Wanstead and Woodford Cine Club, evocatively captures the capital's hunger for news and the active preprations for the worst - air raid precaution and gas mask posters plastered across the city.
This film is from the collection of Enfield Local Studies Library and Archive