This film is part of Free
Every Valley
An impression of life in the industrial valleys of south Wales, from daybreak to midnight, and of the growing part played in that life by buses and railways.
Overview
An impression of life in the industrial valleys of south Wales, from daybreak to midnight, and of the growing part played in that life by buses and railways. The free verse spoken by Donald Houston acts as a link on the soundtrack between various arias, choruses and orchestral interludes from Handel’s Messiah which utter their own comments – lyrical, ironic or humorous – upon the pictures of Welsh life and landscape that they accompany.
Related
Wexford Railway Station (1902) Wexford Railway Station (1902)
Non-Fiction 1902 2 mins Silent
A flurry of activity at Wexford Railway Station as passengers alight an Edwardian steam train.
Bicton Woodland Railway Bicton Woodland Railway
Current affairs 1976 2 mins Silent Location: Bicton Park
Bicton Woodland Railway reopens to passengers for the summer season
Godfrey Davies: The Last Train from Peterchurch Godfrey Davies: The Last Train from Peterchurch
Amateur film 1953 5 mins Silent Location: Peterchurch
Railway services on the Golden Valley line in Herefordshire slip into history.
Train Ride to Devil's Bridge Train Ride to Devil's Bridge
Travelogue 1964 11 mins Location: Aberystwyth
12 miles of magic as we journey on the Vale of Rheidol Railway, one of the Great Little Trains of Wales
This Is York This Is York
Travelogue 1953 21 mins Location: York
The Stationmaster at York guides us through a typical day, from dawn to dusk.
A Letter for Wales A Letter for Wales
Drama 1960 22 mins
Cinema star Donald Houston recalls his memories of railways and the romance of the Welsh landscape.
Presentation to J.O.D. Wade Pontypridd Hospital 1935 Presentation to J.O.D. Wade Pontypridd Hospital 1935
Home movie 1935 7 mins Silent Location: Pontypridd
Jimmy Wade, a hard-working and dedicated surgeon whose hands saved many in the Valleys, retires in 1935 armed with silver candlesticks.
Spare Time Spare Time
Documentary 1939 14 mins Location: Sheffield
A rare glimpse into the leisure pursuits of ordinary people in pre-war Britain.
Peterston-Super-Ely July 26th Peterston-Super-Ely July 26th
Amateur film 1946 17 mins Silent Location: Whitchurch
August shows in south Wales (Peterston-super-Ely, Pontypridd, Rumney, Aberdare and Whitchurch): horses, drays and the hammer and sickle.
A Spring Wedding - the 11th of March 1963 A Spring Wedding - the 11th of March 1963
Amateur film 1963 10 mins Location: Pontypridd
Bedding, table lamps, coffee set, lighter, toaster … gifts that will set up Patricia Morgan and Kenneth Haynes for married life after their wedding at St Mary’s Church, Glyntaf.
Coals and Courtship Coals and Courtship
Comedy 1919 30 mins Silent Location: Pontypridd
Knockabout comedy that grabs attention through its setting of the Pwyllgwaun colliery near Pontypridd.
All's Well End's Well All's Well End's Well
Amateur film 1953 9 mins Silent Location: Pontypridd
Drama involving collecting boxes after the new year’s day party held by the Pontypridd branch of The League of Pity (now NSPCC’s School’s Fundraising) in 1953 at the New Inn Hotel.
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.
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.
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.
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.
New Perspectives: Oldboy New Perspectives: Oldboy
Short documentary 2024 4 mins
Discover why Dan George of Northumbria University believes everyone should experience Oldboy at least once.
New Perspectives: Wings of Desire New Perspectives: Wings of Desire
Short documentary 2024 4 mins
Trixie Parkin-Christie of Northumbria University offers fresh insight into why Wings of Desire remains essential viewing.