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.
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Watts Family Films: Christmas 1974/Summer 1975/Christmas 1975, Epsom (1974/75)
A giant dolls house, new baby and paddling pool all feature in this film covering a calendar year in the London suburbs.
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Overview
There’s a year of life in this nine-minute reel, starting with young child Karen exploring a snowy garden before an abrupt shift to a summer day. The summer of 1975 was a scorcher, and she cools off her doll in a paddling pool – her pregnant mother also soaks her feet. Next it’s Christmas 1975 and while the new-born baby is soothed by grandma, Karen sets to work on the presents, first distributing to grandparents, each time with a kiss, and then opening her own stash.
Lovely shots from suburban Epsom in 1975, capturing a hot summer in the garden and then Christmas day, with a new baby playing second fiddle to some serious present opening. As well as a toy piano, musical Santa and various soft toys, the older child also receives a huge dolls house, hand-made by father Graham who can be seen applying finishing touches to the electrics while the child fills the rooms with furniture. Finishes with some close-up shots of the carpeted and wallpapered interior of the doll’s house. Also includes shots of the toddler painting, perhaps preparing the nursery for the new baby.
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