This film is currently unavailable

Blitzed Cities of Bristol and Bath
Vivid colour footage of the wartime devastation wreaked on Bristol and Bath - and the barely affected village of Chew Magna.
Overview
This ambitious amateur colour film vividly captures the devastation wreaked on Bristol and Bath by the bombing raids of winter 1940-41. Also featured are rare glimpses of the nearby picturesque village of Chew Magna, which was barely affected. Film stock was rationed during the war and nearly all wartime footage was shot in black and white - so this film is remarkable for being in colour.
The film has an unlikely production company - a local Bristol optician - and was 'produced especially' for Ernest D Fear in Kansas City, USA, whose connection with the filmmaker is unclear. The optician appears to have been successful in business too - there is still a Bristol optician trading under the name M.W. Dunscombe.
Related

StoryTrails: The People's Map Newport StoryTrails: The People's Map Newport
Documentary 2022 12 mins Location: Newport/Casnewydd
This map showcases a curated selection of audio stories and digitally animated 3D scans of the people and places in and around Newport.

StoryTrails: The People's Map Wolverhampton StoryTrails: The People's Map Wolverhampton
Documentary 2022 14 mins Location: Wolverhampton
This map showcases a curated selection of audio stories and digitally animated 3D scans of the people and places in and around Wolverhampton.

StoryTrails: The People's Map Omagh StoryTrails: The People's Map Omagh
Documentary 2022 15 mins Location: Omagh
This map showcases a curated selection of audio stories and digitally animated 3D scans of the people and places in and around Omagh.

StoryTrails: The People's Map Slough StoryTrails: The People's Map Slough
Documentary 2022 15 mins Location: Slough
This map showcases a curated selection of audio stories and digitally animated 3D scans of the people and places in and around Slough.

StoryTrails: The People's Map Dundee StoryTrails: The People's Map Dundee
Documentary 2022 14 mins Location: Dundee
This map showcases a curated selection of audio stories and digitally animated 3D scans of the people and places in and around Dundee.

StoryTrails: The People's Map Swansea StoryTrails: The People's Map Swansea
Documentary 2022 15 mins Location: Swansea/Abertawe
This map showcases a curated selection of audio stories and digitally animated 3D scans of the people and places in and around Swansea.

New Perspectives: Fish Tank New Perspectives: Fish Tank
Short documentary 2025 4 mins
Adam Smith of Northumbria University explains why Andrea Arnold's coming-of-age story, about a girl who uses dance to escape, is his favourite film on BFI Player.

New Perspectives: Pusher New Perspectives: Pusher
Short documentary 2025 5 mins
Noah Ball of Northumbria University explains why you should seize the chance to watch Nicolas Winding Refn's debut.

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.

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.

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.

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.