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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"Oh to Be in England"
Bluebells, wisteria and snowdrops feature in this lovely colour film showing the effect of nature on the London suburb of Harrow after the war.
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Overview
One for those with green fingers, this film attempts to demonstrate that an English spring can be every bit as beautiful in the town as it is in the country. It starts with scenes of a snowy Harrow and sledging outside post-war prefabs, before we get extended luxurious shots of flowers, fields and gardens in the spring. It’s wonderfully English – never more so than the wisteria clinging to the front of a mock Tudor semi – and also shows some of the local landmarks and churches.
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