Screen Archive South East is a public sector moving image archive serving the South East of England. The archive's collections of magic lantern slides, films, videos and associated materials capture the many varied aspects of life, work and creativity from the early days of screen history to the present day and serve as a rich and invaluable historical resource.
This film is part of Free
![](/sites/default/files/styles/landscape_480x270/public/hero-images/acfae279ca0f45a98b1719ed456e9850.jpg?itok=TkeDoS3K)
A Christmas Story
It's Christmas 1952 and after the presents, the decorations and the cake are made ready, all generations of the family gather for the big party
From the collection of:
![Logo for Screen Archive South East](/sites/default/files/styles/association/public/association-logos/Screen_Archive_South_East_logo_black_1.jpg?itok=88yixjXN)
Overview
This nostalgic film starts with close-ups of hands writing cards, wrapping presents, decorating the house and the Christmas cake. A tin-plate toy bus meanders across the floor and jumps into its box for wrapping. It is marked 'To Richard'. Then the guests, both young and old, start arriving. Wearing party hats they pose by the dinner table, laughing, pulling faces and joking with the camera. Interestingly, all the Christmas cards seen on the mantlepiece are secular.
Peter Mills was quite a skilled cameraman, as the degree of technical sophistication in this amateur film from the early 1950s shows. From the end of that decade and into the 1960s, Mills worked as Peter Watkins' assistant cameraman on a number of productions - including 'The Forgotten Faces' and 'Dust Fever.' Peter Watkins is perhaps best known for his controversial drama-documentary film 'The War Game', which would go on to win the 1967 Academy Award for Best Documentary Feature, despite being banned by the BBC who had originally commissioned the film.
Related
![](/sites/default/files/styles/landscape_32x18/public/hero-images/N_212079_01of01.jpg?itok=6chpQ_S0)
Toys Will Be Toys Toys Will Be Toys
Animation & Artists Moving Image 1988 5 mins Location: South Shields
Barbie dolls in pink battle khaki killing machines in a Christmas animation that cocks a snook at the “Disney Doctrine”.
![](/sites/default/files/styles/landscape_32x18/public/hero-images/38c6df46e11f6a54c5a70903fe64f9ca.jpg?itok=xyX5pAwQ)
A Bronte Christmas A Bronte Christmas
Documentary 1980 14 mins Location: Haworth
Richard Whiteley joins children on the Worth Valley Railway Santa’s Special, while the Haworth Town Band sing On Ilkla Moor Baht 'at.
![](/sites/default/files/styles/landscape_32x18/public/hero-images/3c3ca1758e3421fb376f14ff5419d3fd.jpg?itok=kx3DS-cH)
Christmas in Belfast Christmas in Belfast
Government sponsored film 1977 2 mins Location: Belfast
Christmas in Belfast at the height of 'The Troubles'. Not the most wonderful time of year.
![](/sites/default/files/styles/landscape_32x18/public/hero-images/6fe9bb4ab3eadf35a952bab4170d3e7d.jpg?itok=wqEzoYEv)
The Rise and Fall of Nellie Brown The Rise and Fall of Nellie Brown
Musical 1964 70 mins Location: Liverpool
An incredibly joyous TV musical about a young woman's search for her long-lost cousin.
![](/sites/default/files/styles/landscape_32x18/public/hero-images/m%2526w_0.jpg?itok=SrAH7QOW)
Morecambe and Wise - Be Wise Don't Drink and Drive Morecambe and Wise - Be Wise Don't Drink and Drive
Public Information Filler 1963 1 mins
Ernie tells Eric to ‘be wise’ and not drive home after their Christmas party
![](/sites/default/files/styles/landscape_32x18/public/hero-images/Santa%2520Claus.jpg?itok=LiBCGyXg)
Santa Claus Santa Claus
Fantasy 1898 1 mins Silent
These Victorian children's Christmas wishes come true in a very special early British film
![](/sites/default/files/styles/landscape_32x18/public/hero-images/N_214626_01of01.jpg?itok=w9YGppFN)
Local Trader's Gazette Local Trader's Gazette
Advert 1930 9 mins Silent Location: East Sussex
This amazing discovery shows how cinema advertising used to look in Bygone Britain - a truly nostalgic gem of a film for lovers of Britain's past
![](/sites/default/files/styles/landscape_32x18/public/hero-images/a2efe43db0ce4cc5437010a6a7e67bb4_0.jpg?itok=zXhcs27P)
Britain, Kingdom of the Seas Britain, Kingdom of the Seas
1981 29 mins Location: Devon
Conservationists stand guard as the National Trust and National Trust for Scotland keep a vigilant watch on the UK’s coastline
![](/sites/default/files/styles/landscape_32x18/public/hero-images/c8a223fcc8e5b6f88f4fd32252dd0e58_0.jpg?itok=XPwDNG6D)
Last Chord: The Life Story of a Merchant Seaman Last Chord: The Life Story of a Merchant Seaman
Amateur film 1947 12 mins Location: Kent
There's high drama in this short film from Sonny Hanson and R P Cue - which features a maritime tragedy and men of the Dungeness lifeboat service
![](/sites/default/files/styles/landscape_32x18/public/hero-images/02453cd754daf8fa0b93fbebb7739cd0_0.jpg?itok=hpb9Fu6o)
Family Holidays Family Holidays
Amateur film 1935 13 mins Silent Location: Kent
Three summer holidays feature in Ernest Freelove's film - with beach frolics, miniature trains and Grandma's 1930s style mobility scooter
![](/sites/default/files/styles/landscape_32x18/public/hero-images/717b4029a6ecc6bfb7c458ba0e79c209_0.jpg?itok=saafYJo7)
Ramsgate to Richmond Ramsgate to Richmond
Amateur film 1967 12 mins Silent Location: Ramsgate
Join the jolly crew aboard this cabin cruiser as it journeys from Ramsgate to Richmond in John Clague's fascinating maritime epic
![](/sites/default/files/styles/landscape_32x18/public/hero-images/9a4fe0785648c4e34a7ffdb88302912e_0.jpg?itok=YZdqrc_c)
Filmic Review: no. 1 Filmic Review: no. 1
Amateur film 1934 14 mins Silent Location: London
A Barnes Brothers spectacular which takes in London's pageants, Margate's crowds, Birchington's carnival and Land's End's rocky coastline
![](/sites/default/files/styles/landscape_32x18/public/hero-images/Shoot-Your-Shot-02.jpg?itok=KREdlpBS)
Shoot Your Shot Shoot Your Shot
Drama 2022 12 mins
An emotional stand-off takes flight, as teen best friends Ronit and Brennan come to terms with navigating that fuzzy feeling in their stomachs, all whilst learning to skateboard.
![](/sites/default/files/styles/landscape_32x18/public/hero-images/Yellow-04.jpg?itok=Bt5NDkC8)
Yellow Yellow
Drama 2023 13 mins
In Taliban controlled Afghanistan, Laili walks into a Chadari store in Kabul to buy her first full body veil from a Talib shopkeeper and face a new future.
![](/sites/default/files/styles/landscape_32x18/public/hero-images/%25E2%2580%258ELook-Like-You-02.jpeg?itok=2R3w9luT)
Look Like You Look Like You
Drama 2022 13 mins
While visiting the adoptive family of her eight-year-old biological son, Tara relays advice she gathered from growing up as a queer outcast.
![](/sites/default/files/styles/landscape_32x18/public/hero-images/NEHEMICH-02.jpg?itok=ba9fjUy4)
Nehemich Nehemich
Drama 2023 23 mins
Banished in a dilapidated village hut during her menstruation, a young girl waits to elope with her lover.
![](/sites/default/files/styles/landscape_32x18/public/hero-images/1717526943-default-ovp-poster-image.jpg?itok=Fk8VLsGa)
Interview with Pam Cullen Interview with Pam Cullen
Inside Film 2020 53 mins
Interview with Pam Cullen who at 97 boasts an incredible career spanning over fifty years in the Indian film industry.
![](/sites/default/files/styles/landscape_32x18/public/hero-images/muscleqanda.jpg?itok=8sw22r7R)
Muscle - Exclusive Q&A Muscle - Exclusive Q&A
Short interview 2024 34 mins
Director Gerard Johnson talks Nia Child through the making of Muscle, an adrenalized drama that tears into the stereotypes of masculinity and male friendship.