Screen Archive South East is a public sector moving image archive serving the South East of England. The archive's collections of magic lantern slides, films, videos and associated materials capture the many varied aspects of life, work and creativity from the early days of screen history to the present day and serve as a rich and invaluable historical resource.
This film is part of Free
Colonial Wedding
Cloche-hatted wedding guests, armed with confetti, lie in wait for the newly weds as they exit from a Shanghai church while their limousine gets the treatment.
From the collection of:
Overview
This short film shows an expat wedding in Shanghai. The couple are probably Nancy and George Bowler who were friends and colleagues of William and Charlotte Simpson. It was William who filmed the raucous goings on outside the church while the couple were still inside. The limousine, complete with smiling Chinese chauffeur, and rented from the Joffre Garage, gets the traditional treatment reserved for such occasions.
William Simpson, who made this film, worked for the Bradford Dyers Association in Shanghai, at Number 1, The Bund. His wife Charlotte was born in China's Lushan mountains and she married William, who originally came from Bradford, in Shanghai's St Ignatius Roman Catholic Cathedral. The couple left Shanghai before the city was overrun by the Japanese Army and by 1938 had left China for good.
Related
Princess Di Wedding and Winter Snow Princess Di Wedding and Winter Snow
Amateur film 1982 4 mins Location: Harrow
Everyone's home in Harrow to witness Lady Di's debut as a Royal and a record-breaking winter causes chaos in 1981.
The Best Man The Best Man
Drama 1986 83 mins Location: Derry / Londonderry
The bar flies prepare for the big day with betting, boozing and banter. But will best man Billy break more than his ma’s heart before the wedding?
Wedding of Princess Elizabeth and Philip Mountbatten Wedding of Princess Elizabeth and Philip Mountbatten
1947 1 mins Silent
Royal nuptials at Westminster Abbey, attended by the great and good including King George VI and Winston Churchill
The Royal Wedding The Royal Wedding
Non-Fiction 1923 5 mins
The wedding of Queen Elizabeth II's future parents, as later incarnated by Colin Firth and Helena Bonham Carter in 'The King's Speech'.
Princess Mary Wedded to Viscount Lascelles at Westminster Abbey Princess Mary Wedded to Viscount Lascelles at Westminster Abbey
Non-Fiction 1922 8 mins Silent
Newsreel of the lavish royal marriage, which was probably the biggest British newsreel story of the decade.
Princess Mary's Thought Princess Mary's Thought
Non-Fiction 1922 1 mins Silent
The sartorial build up to the lavish nuptials of Princess Mary and Viscount Lascelles in 1922.
21 Days in China - a British teacher's impressions 21 Days in China - a British teacher's impressions
Non-Fiction 1972 6 mins Location: Shanghai
"Education must be combined with productive labour", so says a Chinese slogan. Western cameras are special guests to capture 70s school days - eastern style!
Shanghai c.1932 Shanghai c.1932
Amateur film 1932 46 mins Silent Location: Shanghai
Join the Eng family on the long journey by ship from Europe to Shanghai, China
A Visit to Fuzhou with the Bradford Dyers Association and Shanghai Views A Visit to Fuzhou with the Bradford Dyers Association and Shanghai Views
Amateur film 1929 4 mins Silent Location: Shanghai
The bustling waterways of rural Fouzhou contrast sharply with the frenetic pace of life in Shanghai, as seen in this atmospheric film from the late 1920s.
Parades and air-raids in Shanghai Parades and air-raids in Shanghai
Amateur film 1937 17 mins Silent Location: Shanghai
While the bombs fall on Shanghai its foreign expats continue to play, as this unique film shows. But it's only the lull before the storm - because the Japanese are on their way.
Life in Shanghai Life in Shanghai
Amateur film 1933 17 mins Silent Location: Shanghai
A Dragon procession, a Japanese beer festival, two duck shoots and a day at the races all feature in this remarkable film from 1930s Shanghai.
Outward Bound through the Suez Canal and on to Shanghai Outward Bound through the Suez Canal and on to Shanghai
Amateur film 1938 10 mins Silent Location: Shanghai
Travel in luxury on the 'slow boat to China' in this remarkable film from 1938, passing through the Suez Canal to Hong Kong, Shanghai and beyond.
Silver Haze - Exclusive Q&A Silver Haze - Exclusive Q&A
Short interview 2024 29 mins
Vicky Knight sits down with Rowan Woods for an extended discussion on the making of the film Silver Haze. *Contains Spoilers*
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.