The Media Archive for Central England is the public screen archive for the East and West Midlands. An independent charity and company based at the University of Lincoln, MACE acquires, catalogues, preserves and makes widely available moving image materials that inform our understanding of the diverse cultures and histories of communities between the Lincolnshire coast and the Welsh border.
This film is part of Free
At the Midnight, In the Silence
Conjuring up demons in Birmingham.
From the collection of:
Overview
The full opening line of the Robert Browning poem is: "At the midnight in the silence of the sleep, when you set your fancies free". The fancies of this group of Birmingham film-makers appear to be of the Aleister Crowley variety from pentagrams to Ouija boards with a spot of mind reading thrown in. Surrealism with a West Midlands' twist?
Filmed in February 1966 at Bristol Road Studios in Birmingham.
Related
Hints and Hobbies No.11 Hints and Hobbies No.11
Cinemagazine 1926 14 mins Silent
Jiu-jitsu for ladies, how to get ink off a white apron and other life essentials courtesy of the 'Hints and Hobbies' team.
Lobsters Lobsters
Documentary 1936 15 mins
Follow the life cycle of the king of crustaceans in this quirky documentary by Bauhaus artist László Moholy-Nagy.
Audrey Hepburn Test Audrey Hepburn Test
1952 6 mins Silent
The future Holly Golightly exudes a certain grace even for a modest screen test, in the earliest known colour footage of the timeless star.
Facts and Fancies Facts and Fancies
Documentary 1951 24 mins
Joan Collins gets to grips with the by-products of coal in her first screen appearance
Cabtrack The Direct Auto-control Personal Taxi Service Cabtrack The Direct Auto-control Personal Taxi Service
Government sponsored film 1972 16 mins Location: London
Could computer-controlled taxis solve the traffic crisis? Maybe not, but this film's a must for technology buffs (and fans of early electronic music).
Is This Your Life? Is This Your Life?
Amateur film 1957 9 mins Silent
An unusual and visually sophisticated commentary on the routine drabness and drudgery of everyday suburban existence.
Wheelchair Access Wheelchair Access
Magazine and Review show 1981 7 mins Location: Selly Oak
From Selly Oak to Birmingham's Head Post Office in a wheelchair - how hard could it be?
New Fifty Pence Piece New Fifty Pence Piece
News 1969 2 mins Location: Birmingham
Don't become a victim of the new fifty penny piece!
Arthur Dooley Arthur Dooley
News 1971 8 mins Location: Birmingham
A middle class designed city with no style - Arthur Dooley pulls no punches in Birmingham.
Decent Place with Hot and Cold Decent Place with Hot and Cold
Documentary 1970 27 mins Location: Birmingham
An impressively stark documentary study of Birmingham slums - past and present.
Pakistani Bus Driver Pakistani Bus Driver
News 1974 2 mins Location: Birmingham
Bus timetables are sacrosanct to some but to others there are more important things in life - and faith is one of them.
Indian Businessman Indian Businessman
News 1975 4 mins Location: Leicester
He arrived in Britain with £3 and went on to become one of the richest business men in the Midlands. How did Amrat Parmar do it?
Sky Peals - Exclusive Q&A Sky Peals - Exclusive Q&A
Short interview 2024 30 mins
Sky Peals director Moin Hussain and lead actor Faraz Ayub talk to Tomisin Adepeju about their magic realist drama.
Inside the Archive: The Early Films of Michael Powell Inside the Archive: The Early Films of Michael Powell
Documentary 2024 42 mins
Documentary exploring the BFI National Archive’s role in rediscovering and remastering the early films of Michael Powell.
Inside the Archive: The Riviera Revels Inside the Archive: The Riviera Revels
Short documentary 2024 12 mins
Bryony Dixon, curator of silent film at the BFI national archive, explores the origins of a series of comic travelogues, and Michael Powell's involvement in making them.
New Perspectives: Oldboy New Perspectives: Oldboy
Short documentary 2024 4 mins
Discover why Luke Bean of Northumbria University believes everyone should experience Oldboy at least once.
New Perspectives: Wings of Desire New Perspectives: Wings of Desire
Short documentary 2024 4 mins
Samantha Arnold of Northumbria University offers fresh insight into why Wings of Desire remains essential viewing.
Horace Ové on Pressure Horace Ové on Pressure
Inside Film 2005 36 mins
The acclaimed director discusses his landmark film in this interview from 2005.