This film is part of Free
Boat Race That Wasn't
Oxford and Cambridge battle it out in traditional fashion on the River Thames.
Overview
Topical Budget's intrepid camera crew take to the water for the annual University boat race - a firm sporting favourite and focus for inter-university rivalry. 1925 was an eventful year as the Oxford team were caught short at Hammersmith when their boat became waterlogged, leaving Cambridge to secure a hollow victory. Not the first time a boat had sunk during the race: in 1912 a gale forced both teams under.
Unusually long by Topical Budget’s standards, the extended coverage of this newsreel item reflects both the popularity of the event and the logistical achievements of the film crew who went some lengths to capture the action.
Related
Underground ticket barrier experiments, 1963 Underground ticket barrier experiments, 1963
Industry sponsored film 1963 5 mins Silent Location: Hammersmith
London Transport engineers experiment with two options for the automatic ticket gates being developed for the Victoria line.
Sport U Schule Sport U Schule
Amateur film 1958 7 mins Silent Location: Hackney
Hackney Downs School Cadets in athletics training and competition, filmed by teacher Joe Brearley.
Fourteen Acres of Green Fourteen Acres of Green
1977 13 mins Location: Hammersmith
Environmentalists wage war on the Greater London Council in this eye-opening account of a battle to save Hammersmith's open spaces.
Official Opening of the Classic Hammersmith including Hammersmith Regatta News Reel Official Opening of the Classic Hammersmith including Hammersmith Regatta News Reel
Non-Fiction 1951 5 mins Location: Hammersmith
Who needs the Boat Race? Not Hammersmith, with its own regatta - complete with greasy pole competition. Nearby, the Classic Cinema reopens to fanfare.
Hammersmith Flyover, Hammersmith (1961) Hammersmith Flyover, Hammersmith (1961)
Industry sponsored film 1961 37 mins Location: Hammersmith
Watch – and learn – as the massive Hammersmith Flyover miraculously rises over Hammersmith Broadway during its complex construction period.
An All-round Athlete An All-round Athlete
Non-Fiction 1914 1 mins Silent Location: Putney
Swimming champion Walter Brickett enters the record books with an incredible feat of physical endurance.
New Perspectives: Tangerine New Perspectives: Tangerine
Short documentary 2025 3 mins
Harry Wallace, a student at Northumbria university, explains why Sean Baker's LA-set comedy-drama, about a transgender sex worker on the hunt for her cheating -ex, is worth your time.
Daniel Craig in Conversation with Mark Kermode Daniel Craig in Conversation with Mark Kermode
Inside Film 2025 44 mins
Daniel Craig talks to Mark Kermode about his acting career, from his early role in Love is the Devil through to the Luca Guadagnino directed Queer.
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.