National Screen and Sound Archive of Wales preserves and celebrates the sound and moving image heritage of Wales, making it accessible to a wide range of users for enjoyment and learning. Its film collection reflects every aspect of the nation’s social, cultural and working life across the 20th century, giving a fascinating insight into Welsh filmmaking, both amateur and professional.
This film is part of Free
Video Player is loading.
Conway Castle - panoramic view of Conway on the L.& N.W. Railway
Conwy's bridge, castle and station glide past, as if in a dream, in this beautiful phantom train ride film (no ghosts but apparently no train either) from 1898.
From the collection of:
Overview
Phantom train ride film: no ghosts but no apparent sign of the train either, the camera being attached to the very front of the locomotive. This beautiful film, shot in February 1898, has a dream-like quality and is hand tinted (possibly stencilled). It is believed to have been coloured some time after it was first shown as no contemporary reviews or advertisements refer to what would surely have been a major selling/talking point, 1898 being very early for coloured films.
This film was made in response to the first American phantom train ride film (by the British Mutoscope and Biograph's parent company, the American Mutoscope and Biograph Company), 'The Haverstraw Tunnel', which showed the scenery around the Hudson river and a tunnel and so delighted the audience that the British operation decided to make their own version, which also proved very popular - it showed not only in London but also in Rochester, New York, and then travelled all over Europe, still being shown in cinemas as late as 1910. This film is preserved by the EYE Filmmuseum, Netherlands.
Related
Watch for free
Tram Journey through Southampton Tram Journey through Southampton
Non-Fiction 1900 1 mins Silent Location: Southampton
A moving tour through lively turn-of-the-century Southampton.
Watch for free
Churned Waters Churned Waters
Non-Fiction 1899 1 mins Silent
A hypnotic study of the wake of a ship at sea
Watch for free
Panorama of the Paris Exhibition No. 3 Panorama of the Paris Exhibition No. 3
Non-Fiction 1900 1 mins Silent
An unusual view of Paris, shot from a boat travelling down the Seine. You can even see the Eiffel tower - almost!
Watch for free
Railway Ride over the Tay Bridge Railway Ride over the Tay Bridge
Non-Fiction 1897 5 mins Silent Location: Tay Bridge
Stunning train's eye views across the Tay rail bridge from Fife to Dundee
Watch for free
Phantom Ride - Chamonix Phantom Ride - Chamonix
Non-Fiction 1900 2 mins Silent
Admire the view but don't look down, as this short film takes you on a breathtaking trip through the Alps
Watch for free
A Steamship Passes By A Steamship Passes By
Non-Fiction 1899 1 mins
With energetic waving of handkerchiefs to those on shore, a large steamship heads off
Watch for free
The Song We Sing is About Freedom The Song We Sing is About Freedom
Documentary 1975 17 mins Location: Trawsfynydd
Across the communist/capitalist divide of the Cold War, a choir from Hungary visits a choir in Blaenau Ffestiniog and both discover, despite differences, a shared humanity.
Watch for free
Middlewich Show Middlewich Show
Amateur film 1937 15 mins Silent Location: Conwy Castle
Cauliflowers, chickens, cattle, and the Dairy Queen of Cheshire - if you enjoy country life, then this show is for you.
Watch for free
Cadwch Gymru'n Daclus (Keep Wales Tidy) Cadwch Gymru'n Daclus (Keep Wales Tidy)
Public Information Filler 1970 1 mins Location: Conwy Castle
Keep Wales Tidy! That’s the message for everyone, not just the children who are seen here attacking the litter in a Conwy Castle picnic area.
Watch for free
Around Snowdonia Around Snowdonia
Travelogue 1937 11 mins Location: Caernarfon
A timeless landscape steeped in history that is little changed today, but was surely made to be filmed!
Watch for free
Gems of Wales - Conway Gems of Wales - Conway
Travelogue 1942 4 mins Silent Location: Conwy
Conwy, the ‘a’ no longer officially included in the name, has many a draw for the visitor including an Elizabeth mansion (‘Plas Mawr’) and the smallest house in Britain.
Watch for free
Conway Bridge Centenary Celebrations Conway Bridge Centenary Celebrations
Non-Fiction 1927 12 mins Silent Location: Conwy
Centenary for suspension bridge built by world famous engineer Thomas Telford, a man born the son of a Scottish shepherd. The bridge was first opened to the public on 1st June 1826.
Watch for free
If I Make It To The Morning If I Make It To The Morning
Drama 2024 9 mins
A Chinese teenager dreams of living with her cool aunt in New York, until tensions boil over during a crab dinner.
Watch for free
We’ll Go Down in History We’ll Go Down in History
Documentary 2025 25 mins
Two years in the life of TRUK United FC, a beacon for positive change and trans inclusivity in football.
Watch for free
Wrong Bathroom Wrong Bathroom
Drama 2024 9 mins
A trans high-schooler is tempted by toxic masculinity in the boys’ bathroom.
Watch for free
Dragfox Dragfox
Animation & Artists Moving Image 2024 8 mins
A child struggling with their identity and a charismatic fox (voiced by Sir Ian McKellen) learn to embrace their differences in this heart warming stop-motion animation.
Watch for free
Wait, Wait, Now! Wait, Wait, Now!
Drama 2024 13 mins
A Maori and a Kiwi teen buddy up to raid their mum’s wardrobe and pucker their lips with red.
Watch for free
NGGAK!!! NGGAK!!!
Drama 2024 8 mins
‘I pronounce you wife and wife.’ A young couple design their perfect wedding online, but then mum dials in.