This film is part of Free
Car Assembly, Calcutta
Motorcars take shape - outdoors in a Kolkata yard
Overview
An industrial film with a difference - it takes place outdoors. Allenberry & Co., in Calcutta (now Kolkata) where these shots were taken, ran a thriving business importing and assembling Buicks and Chevrolets. They are now part of Deepak Industries Ltd. The footage seen here is preserved on the piece of film that went through the camera - a 16mm 'camera reversal positive', meaning that this is an amateur, or at most semi-professional production.
Related
Boat Repairs - Sunderbans Boat Repairs - Sunderbans
Amateur film 1935 11 mins Silent
Stunning colour footage showing colonial life in the hills of Assam and bustling activity on the lakes below
Devil Dancers of Sikkim Devil Dancers of Sikkim
Travelogue 1934 9 mins
Hear the Lama band, see the sacred dances: welcome to Sikkim, in the shadow of the Himalayas.
Sir John Laing Missionary Films Calcutta, Darjeeling & Bihar Sir John Laing Missionary Films Calcutta, Darjeeling & Bihar
Amateur film 1947 12 mins Silent
Rare amateur footage of East India
Darjeeling: A Foothill Town Darjeeling: A Foothill Town
Travelogue 1934 10 mins
Evocative travelogue exploring life at the foot of the Himalayas, including tea gardens and a Buddhist shrine
Panorama of Calcutta, India, From the River Ganges. Panorama of Calcutta, India, From the River Ganges.
Non-Fiction 1899 2 mins Silent
One of the earliest films to be shot in India apparently shows the Calcutta ghats - or does it?
Scenes at his Excellency the Viceroys's Garden Party at Belvedere Scenes at his Excellency the Viceroys's Garden Party at Belvedere
Non-Fiction 1926 6 mins Silent
Indian high society enjoy themselves at a Calcutta garden party held to welcome the new Viceroy, Lord Irwin.
happiness happiness
Short documentary 2025 18 mins
From solidarity protests for Palestine to sleepless nights wrestling with the horrific realities – a rabbit-hole inquiry into alleviating insomnia.
Womb Womb
Drama 2025 15 mins
A Māori girl in the custody of an English couple savours her mother’s weekly visitations, making her long for a place to belong.
We Had Fun We Had Fun
Drama 2025 19 mins
An eldest son treats himself to a weekend getaway, dangerously leaving his siblings to their own devices.
Ka Ba Ddi: A Breath, a Move, a Game Ka Ba Ddi: A Breath, a Move, a Game
Animation & Artists Moving Image 2025 10 mins Silent
In this South Asian team sport, players repeating ‘kabaddi’ frantically cross boundaries on the court, tagging their opponents before returning.
Capybaras Capybaras
Animation & Artists Moving Image 2024 11 mins
Chickens and capybaras are unlikely allies.
Elephant Families Elephant Families
Documentary 2025 15 mins
When London’s Elephant and Castle shopping centre was demolished, it uprooted the community that made it their home.