The East Anglian Film Archive, the first and largest Regional Film Archive in England, was established in 1976. Since 1984, EAFA has been owned and operated by the University of East Anglia, Norwich (UEA), to support research and work to preserve our moving image heritage. More than 250 hours are freely available online as examples of the wide range of film which attracts interest the world over.
This film is currently unavailable
Video Player is loading.
Bathing Beauty Contest
Butlins bounces back after the war and, as a bid to forget the years of austerity, focus is on glamour as Clacton campers parade as prospective beauty queens.
From the collection of:
Overview
It was William King, a businessman from Cambridge we have to thank for this film of fun and frolics at Butlins. William had a holiday house at nearby Holland-on-sea and, as an enthusiastic amateur film maker, would visit Butlins at Clacton to film campers participating in events. These films were then screened at the Camp as part of the entertainment.
Billy Butlin's holiday camps were a successful formula providing budget holidays for thousands of working families keen to experience the on-site facilties and continuous timetable of entertainment. The Clacton-on-sea camp opened in 1938 but was soon requisitioned during WW2 as a training camp. Butlins reopened in 1946 and continued to operate there until 1983.
Related
Watch for free
Easter Holiday Troubles Easter Holiday Troubles
Non-Fiction 1968 3 mins Silent Location: Great Yarmouth
Great Yarmouth, Cleethorpes, Skegness and Clacton all feature sunbathing, donkey rides, bank holiday traffic queues and rowdy youths.
Watch for free
Picnic and Pleasure Purstuits Picnic and Pleasure Purstuits
Home movie 1933 4 mins Silent Location: Clacton-On-Sea
Picnicking on the beach, followed by swimming in the sea, donkey rides, more swimming at the lido and finally, horse riding.
Watch for free
Dolphins at Clacton Pier Dolphins at Clacton Pier
Home movie 1974 7 mins Silent Location: Dovercourt
A charming film by amateur filmmaker, Paul Amos recording the visit of a group of children from the Wagtail Club to the Aquarium at Clacton Pier.
Watch for free
Frinton Flyer Frinton Flyer
Amateur film 1970 2 mins Location: Clacton-On-Sea
Ted Hammond, an amateur filmmaker from Essex filmed this travelogue, but it’s not clear whether the car or the driver is the Frinton Flyer!
Watch for free
Five Minutes By The Sea At Clacton Five Minutes By The Sea At Clacton
Amateur film 1950 9 mins Silent Location: Clacton-On-Sea
The essence of a relaxed family holiday at Clacton, Essex in September 1950
Watch for free
Nine Men and a Boat Nine Men and a Boat
Amateur film 1964 20 mins Location: Clacton-On-Sea
Drama made by members of Clacton Cine Club. Daily life is interrupted by an emergency sea rescue.
Watch for free
Twin Peaks star Kyle MacLachlan on working with David Lynch - Q&A Twin Peaks star Kyle MacLachlan on working with David Lynch - Q&A
Inside Film 2025 38 mins
Kyle MacLachlan talks to BFI CEO Ben Roberts about working with David Lynch on the legendary series Twin Peaks.
Watch for free
On Falling - Exclusive Q&A On Falling - Exclusive Q&A
Inside Film 2025 30 mins
Writer-director Laura Carreira talks to Nia Childs about her debut feature, On Falling.
Watch for free
Layla - Exclusive Q&A Layla - Exclusive Q&A
Short interview 2025 27 mins
Writer, director and performer Amrou Al-Kadhi talks to Rico Johnson-Sinclair about their debut feature.
Watch for free
All We Imagine As Light - Exclusive Q&A All We Imagine As Light - Exclusive Q&A
Short interview 2025 28 mins
Payal Kapadia discusses her Cannes prize-winning and Bafta-nominated drama with Ashanti Omkar.
Watch for free
Khichdi Khichdi
Animation & Artists Moving Image 2023 16 mins
The interwoven stories of four best friends who reunite in the UK, thirty-five years after training together as nurses during their teens in Ferozepur, Punjab.
Watch for free
Dr XYZ: A Medical Drag Transthology Dr XYZ: A Medical Drag Transthology
Documentary 2023 15 mins
A satirical take on the healthcare service announcements of the 1960s and 70s.