This film is part of Free
Official Opening of the Classic Hammersmith including Hammersmith Regatta News Reel
Who needs the Boat Race? Not Hammersmith, with its own regatta - complete with greasy pole competition. Nearby, the Classic Cinema reopens to fanfare.
Overview
Bored by the Boat Race? Wondering who comes third? The Hammersmith Regatta declares itself the everyman's rowing event in this local newsreel, and makes a strong case with the addition of a greasy pole competition. Away from the riverbank, the reopening of the Classic as a repertory cinema gathers much interest - and not just because of the free sherry on offer.
An opening double bill of American B-movie thriller The Brute Man (1946) and Silvana Mangano in the Italian Bitter Rice (1949) suggests a somewhat eclectic programming strategy. Unfortunately the cinema was closed before the decade was out, and the building was later demolished.
Related
London Street Scenes - Trafalgar Square London Street Scenes - Trafalgar Square
Non-Fiction 1910 1 mins Silent Location: Trafalgar Square
Spot the changes and continuities in this majestic Edwardian panorama of Trafalgar Square.
Animated Politics Animated Politics
Non-Fiction 1910 0 mins Silent Location: Woolwich
Woolwich candidates face the voters in the first of 1910's two general elections.
Miss Davison's Funeral Miss Davison's Funeral
Non-Fiction 1913 2 mins Silent Location: Bloomsbury
The funeral procession of suffragette Emily Davison - fatally injured at the Epsom Derby - passes through London to her final resting place in Morpeth.
To Defend the East Coast To Defend the East Coast
Non-Fiction 1914 1 mins Silent Location: Eltham
Magnificent artillery horses and their youthful riders parade the streets of Eltham as rapt locals look on.
Looping the Loop at Hendon Looping the Loop at Hendon
Non-Fiction 1914 1 mins Location: Hendon
Spectacular feats of early aviation at Hendon Aerodrome, North London.
Old London Old London
Non-Fiction 1914 6 mins Silent Location: Westminster
A revealing tour of London's notable buildings - some now lost for ever - which uncovers their intriguing histories.
Underground ticket barrier experiments, 1963 Underground ticket barrier experiments, 1963
Industry sponsored film 1963 5 mins Silent Location: Hammersmith
London Transport engineers experiment with two options for the automatic ticket gates being developed for the Victoria line.
Sport U Schule Sport U Schule
Amateur film 1958 7 mins Silent Location: Hackney
Hackney Downs School Cadets in athletics training and competition, filmed by teacher Joe Brearley.
Fourteen Acres of Green Fourteen Acres of Green
1977 13 mins Location: Hammersmith
Environmentalists wage war on the Greater London Council in this eye-opening account of a battle to save Hammersmith's open spaces.
Hammersmith Flyover, Hammersmith (1961) Hammersmith Flyover, Hammersmith (1961)
School programme and Educational film 1961 37 mins Location: Hammersmith
Watch – and learn – as the massive Hammersmith Flyover miraculously rises over Hammersmith Broadway during its complex construction period.
Boat Race That Wasn't Boat Race That Wasn't
Non-Fiction 1925 4 mins Location: Hammersmith
Oxford and Cambridge battle it out in traditional fashion on the River Thames.
Stevenage Comes of Age Stevenage Comes of Age
Factual TV 1967 7 mins Location: Stevenage
In the 21st year following the first New Town designation to Stevenage, Anglia TV report on the quality of life of two of its residents, also 21, London-born Russell and David.
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.
The NHS75 Celebration The NHS75 Celebration
Short documentary 2023 3 mins
Former Bristol Poet Laureate, Miles Chambers reads a poem specially commissioned for the 75th anniversary of the NHS.