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Most Popular Free 2019

Our national fabric has many threads and deep colour. Each year, it gets more vivid and popular…

Includes highlights from our 2019 collections - Victorian Film, Advertising on Film and Disability on Film - as well as unexpected audience favourites reflecting life around the UK. 

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Guinness - Plinths Guinness - Plinths

Advert 1976 1 mins

Pete and Dud prove to be stout football fans in this Guinness commercial recalling a great sporting moment - however fleeting.

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Heinz Baked Beans : Common Market Heinz Baked Beans : Common Market

Advert 1972 1 mins

In 1972 Britain entered the European common market full of beans. What could go wrong?

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Cotmanhay Youth Report Cotmanhay Youth Report

Magazine and Review show 1982 11 mins Location: Cotmanhay

Trapped by disillusionment - Cotmanhay becomes a prison for Anthony.

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A Bit of Old Burnley A Bit of Old Burnley

Amateur film 1940 5 mins Silent Location: Burnley

Come for a drive around the streets of a busy Lancashire town.

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Folkestone Spacious and Gracious Folkestone Spacious and Gracious

Promotional 1969 10 mins Location: Folkestone

There's something for everyone in Folkestone as this promotional film claims - including lidos, fine dining, cliff railways and the weirdest fitness machines ever seen

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Lifestyle: Three Peaks Race Lifestyle: Three Peaks Race

Documentary 1976 26 mins Location: Ingleborough

As if running up one mountain isn’t foolhardy enough, these hardened men in shorts do three, displaying amazing endurance, as well as weary legs and wasted expressions.

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Solar Eclipse Solar Eclipse

Non-Fiction 1900 1 mins

The magic of a real solar eclipse filmed by a famous magician

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Watery Trail: River Medway Watery Trail: River Medway

Amateur film 1938 25 mins Silent Location: River Medway

Enjoy this curious couple’s epic quest to follow the River Medway - from its source at Butcher's Basin to the Thames Estuary at Sheerness

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The Agony of Belfast The Agony of Belfast

Non-Fiction 1920 2 mins Silent Location: Belfast

Raw reportage and indelible images of a ravaged city

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Ian Dury Ian Dury

Biopic 1983 52 mins

Blockheads lead singer talks about how becoming disabled has affected his life and music.

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In One End In One End

Documentary 1977 28 mins Location: Southwold

Real ale and folk music in the pub – performed by Fairport Convention – are celebrated in this portrait of Southwold on the Suffolk coast and the work of the Adnams brewery.

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The House that Moved The House that Moved

Current affairs 1961 3 mins Silent Location: Exeter

A medieval move that hits newsdesks around the world as a timber house finds a new settlement to satisfy the town planners.

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Ian McKellen at Newcastle Theatre Royal Ian McKellen at Newcastle Theatre Royal

Magazine and Review show 1968 3 mins Location: Newcastle upon Tyne

A young Ian McKellen remakes Shakespeare's Richard II for a modern audience at Newcastle Theatre Royal.

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Visit to Margate 1950 Visit to Margate 1950

Amateur film 1950 5 mins Silent Location: Margate

Holidaymakers flock to the beach to enjoy traditional coastal entertainments in this dazzling, colourful snapshot of Margate in its heyday.

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This is Bournemouth This is Bournemouth

Promotional 1969 17 mins Location: Bournemouth

Bournemouth. A holiday resort that’s got the lot. Sunshine, sandy beaches, gardens, shops, fine dining and entertainment - with sports stars and a few beauty queens thrown in

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7 Towns 7 Towns

Amateur film 1967 58 mins Location: Evesham

Worcestershire's historic towns: a heritage at risk from 1960s progress.

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The New Life The New Life

Promotional 1971 17 mins Location: Telford

"A new city - your city". Telford is a different kind of new town that's not just about brick and concrete.

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12th of July Procession, Carrickfergus (1981) 12th of July Procession, Carrickfergus (1981)

Sponsored film 1981 13 mins Location: Carrickfergus

'The Twelth' is commemorated with a parade through the streets of the city.

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A Safe Place to Be A Safe Place to Be

Documentary 1980 32 mins Location: Spitalfields

Racism in Spitalfields reaches crisis point in the 70s as the National Front attack the local Bangladeshi community

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Senghenydd - Glamorgan, South Wales, portrait of a mining town Senghenydd - Glamorgan, South Wales, portrait of a mining town

Documentary 1964 17 mins Location: Senghenydd

50 years after the Senghenydd mining disaster the town has changed, with new saw mill, bingo halls and television, but has the devastated community managed to resurrect itself?

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How It Feels to Be Run Over How It Feels to Be Run Over

Trick film 1900 1 mins Silent

A terrifying first-person brush with death at the hands of a dangerous driver

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Frank at 'Cities in the Park' Frank at 'Cities in the Park'

Amateur film 1991 4 mins Silent Location: Heaton Park

Sunday in the park with Frank Sidebottom and the Manchester music mob.

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The Nudists The Nudists

News 1971 9 mins Location: Devon

Country House offers naturists a way to air all.

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Great Western Road 1980 Great Western Road 1980

Amateur film 1980 15 mins Location: Glasgow

Take a virtual stroll down the streets of Glasgow’s iconic Great Western Road in this 1980s Scottish Film Archive remake of two comparable films shot in 1914 and 1922.